ITV renews The Durrells

The Durrells has started strongly on ITV

UK commercial broadcaster ITV has commissioned a second run of family drama The Durrells after airing just two episodes of the first.

ITV claims that the series, produced by Sid Gentle Films, is its best-rating new drama of the year and its highest-rating new show since September 2014.

The first episode launched on ITV to 6.4 million viewers and a 29% audience share, making it the channel’s best-performing new drama since Cilla in September 2014. The first episode has since consolidated to 8.2 million viewers and a 33% share.

The programme, recently picked up by SVT in Sweden, is written by Simon Nye (Men Behaving Badly). It focuses on a woman who takes her family to Greek island Corfu for a new start.

Filming on the second series will take place later this year in Corfu.