The BBC has confirmed a third series of Ludwig, with production currently underway. The renewal was greenlit before the second series was even transmitted, according to reports from Wales Online.
David Mitchell will reprise his role as John 'Ludwig' Taylor, alongside Anna Maxwell Martin as Lucy Betts-Taylor. The third run will consist of six hour-long episodes, though a transmission date and further casting details have not yet been announced.
Creator and cast reaction
David Mitchell said at the time of the announcement: "I am delighted that Ludwig will be returning to solve more of Mark Brotherhood's brilliant mysteries. I can't wait to get started and have renewed the subscription on my denouement-learning app."
Kenton Allen, Executive Producer and CEO of Big Talk Studios, remarked: "Ludwig has become one of those rare shows that genuinely cuts through - critically, commercially and internationally. We're hugely grateful to the BBC, ZDF and ITV Studios for the confidence they've shown in greenlighting a third season ahead of the launch of series two."
Allen added: "What Mark Brotherhood has created is brilliantly original, hugely entertaining and deceptively distinctive in the way it blends smart comedy with a richly satisfying detective engine. At the heart of that success is the remarkable partnership between David Mitchell and Anna Maxwell Martin, brought to life by an exceptional creative team. In a crowded global market, for audiences to have embraced Ludwig on this scale feels incredibly special. There's clearly nothing puzzling about that."
Christmas special announced
BBC executives have announced a Christmas special of Ludwig will air this year, forming part of the Ludwig series 2 commission. The hour-long episode will feature Sir David Suchet, Jason Flemyng, Joe Wilkinson, Cathy Tyson, Alexandra Roach, and Kiell Smith-Bynoe alongside Mitchell and Maxwell Martin.
Set in Yorkshire rather than Cambridge, the special follows John, Lucy, and Henry as they arrive at a secluded Christmas-themed hotel for what was meant to be a well-deserved break, only for a sudden blackout to transform the festive celebrations into a chilling locked-room murder mystery. Stranded by a blizzard and completely cut off from the outside world, the guests find themselves forced to spend the night alongside a killer.
Ludwig seasons one and two are available on BBC iPlayer now.
