The BBC has announced the renewal of its acclaimed comedy-drama Ludwig for a third series ahead of the release of the second series, which airs later this year.
The cryptic show stars comedian David Mitchell as John "Ludwig" Taylor, an introverted puzzle designer who steps into the shoes of his missing twin brother, a detective chief inspector.
The series also features Anna Maxwell Martin, with Fleabag's Sian Clifford and Scottish actor Mark Bonnar joining the cast as regulars for the upcoming instalment.
Ludwig's debut series proved a significant success for the broadcaster, attracting over 9.5 million viewers within 28 days.
It became the BBC’s biggest scripted series since 2024 and marked the largest comedy launch episode since at least 2018.
The highly anticipated second series will see Mitchell’s character, John, take on a new role as a crime scene consultant for the Cambridge Police Authority.
John’s identical twin brother, James, remains missing, but the consultant has been banned from using any police resources to look for his sibling or uncover exactly what he was investigating.
But John will not stop, and neither will Maxwell Martin’s character Lucy Betts-Taylor – who is the wife of his missing brother James.
The smash-hit show is created and written by Mark Brotherhood and produced by Big Talk Studios, part of ITV Studios, in association with That Mitchell and Webb Company.
The first series featured appearances from stars such as Sir Derek Jacobi, Felicity Kendal, Rose Ayling-Ellis and Hammed Animashaun, as well as Ralph Ineson and Karl Pilkington.
Award-winning comedian and actor Mitchell, known for Peep Show, said: “I am delighted that Ludwig will be returning to solve more of 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 chief executive at Big Talk Studios, said: “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 green-lighting a third season ahead of the launch of series two.
“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.”
Jon Petrie, BBC director of comedy commissioning, added: “Ludwig is exactly the kind of smart, distinctive, audience-pleasing show we love at BBC comedy.
“Sharp writing, a compelling story, big laughs and, naturally, a generous helping of puzzles.
“The team at Big Talk have crafted something truly distinctive and much-loved, and we’re excited to see what mysteries Ludwig tackles next.”
The second series of Ludwig will air later this year, and will be available to watch on BBC iPlayer and BBC One.
Further details about the third series are yet to be revealed.
