2nd series for After You've Gone

The comedy will get eight new episodes, plus a Christmas special, later this year.

The recommission comes after the show managed to grow its audience by 1.7million over its initial seven-week series. Ratings for the first episode in January were 4.1million, which grew to a peak of 5.8 million.

It is the second hit BBC One sitcom from My Family creator Fred Barron to use the American method of employing a large team of writers.

BBC One controller Peter Fincham said: ‘Comedy is really hitting its stride on BBC One with the return of Jam and Jerusalem, Not Going Out and now a new commission for After You've Gone.

‘The comedy strategy of commissioning pilots is delivering for BBC One audiences.’

The premise of After You've Gone is that Lyndhurst’s character Jimmy Venables has to move in with his mother-in-law Diana, played by Celia Imrie, while his ex-wife is overseas.

The BBC recently apologised after a Sunday-afternoon repeat of the show used language unsuitable for children.

Published: 4 Apr 2007