The BBC has ordered a second series of drama Doctor Foster after its first run proved a hit with viewers.
The series, which tells the story of an unravelling marriage, was a ratings winner, with the finale the highest-rating drama episode for the BBC after Call the Midwife.
It drew an average consolidated weekly audience – viewing across all platforms over seven days – of 8.2 million across the series. The finale was watched by a consolidated audience of 10.1 million.
Suranne Jones, who plays Gemma, the hard-working GP who finds out that her husband is having an affair, said the second series will look at her character’s life after “divorce, deceit and revenge.”
“I am thrilled to announce we will all be reunited to tell Gemma’s next chapter,” said Jones. “I can’t wait for the audience who invested in these characters to find out the explosive twists and turns. Now we can look into what happens to a woman after divorce, deceit and revenge has taken its toll.”
Jones is currently in demand, with ITV also announcing that she is set to begin filming a three-part special of crime drama Scott & Bailey, with Lesley Sharp, that will be set in Manchester.
Mike Bartlett, the writer and creator of Doctor Foster, said he had been “astounded” by the response.
“We’re now going to tell the next chapter in Gemma’s story,” he said. “Her life in Parminster may look better on the surface, but as she will discover to her cost, every action has its consequences eventually. No one comes through hell unscathed.”
Doctor Foster is produced by Drama Republic and has been commissioned by Charlotte Moore, controller of BBC1, and Polly Hill, controller of BBC Drama Commissioning.
