Dawn French's sitcom Can You Keep a Secret? has been recommissioned for a second series by the BBC after its opening episode attracted an audience of 5.3 million within 28 days. The show will return to BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
The series launch ranked as the third biggest comedy debut on BBC iPlayer since 2024, drawing 3.3 million viewers (62% of the audience) over the same period. It trailed only Ludwig and Amandaland in the streaming figures.
The first series, which concluded on BBC One on 11 February, followed Debbie Fendon (French), a domineering grandmother who makes a reckless decision after her reclusive husband William (Mark Heap) is mistakenly declared dead. William hides in the loft while the family awaits a life insurance payout, a scheme that unsettles their son Harold (Craig Roberts) and his wife Neha (Mandip Gill), a police officer.
Creator and writer Simon Mayhew-Archer said he was "enormously grateful" to viewers, while French said she was "chuffed as an actual chuff" to be returning. Executive producer Kenton Allen praised the show's "brilliantly mischievous premise", and BBC comedy director Jon Petrie said it had "struck a chord".
Filming for the second series will take place later this year in the West Country. The production is a co-venture between Big Talk Studios, Mayhay Studios and CBS Studios, with Paramount Global Content Distribution handling distribution.
