UPSTART CROW AXED BY BBC, DAVID MITCHELL REVEALS PREVIOUS PLANS FOR CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

David Mitchell has revealed that "quite recently" the BBC gave "serious consideration" to commissioning more Upstart Crow.

David Mitchell said (via The Sun): "There was a time, quite recently, when the BBC was giving serious consideration to more Upstart Crow, possibly in the form of a Christmas special. But sadly nothing has come of it and now there are no plans for future episodes, which is a shame because it was a show of which I felt enormously proud and I know Ben - who I think is a genius - did too."

Meanwhile, David Mitchell's hit BBC comedy drama Ludwig looks set to have its first ever Christmas special on BBC One later this year. Whilst there has been no official confirmation, listings seen by TV Zone suggest a "Christmas Special" was filmed alongside its second series earlier this year. The BBC declined to comment when approached by TV Zone.

Meanwhile, the broadcaster has also commissioned a third series. The series is a Big Talk Studios (part of ITV Studios) production in association with That Mitchell And Webb Company and is a ZDF co-production for Germany.

Series one was the biggest launch for a comedy on the BBC since at least 2018, attracting 9.5 million viewers (28-day figure), episode one has continued to accrue viewing outside of 28 days, now up to 11.8 million.

Starring David Mitchell and Anna Maxwell Martin the smash hit six-part detective series is created and written by Mark Brotherhood and produced by Big Talk Studios in collaboration with That Mitchell and Webb Company.

David Mitchell will return as ‘Ludwig', alongside Anna Maxwell Martin as Lucy Betts-Taylor, the wife of John’s missing brother James. David Mitchell says: “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.”

Ludwig continues Thursdays at 9pm on BBC One.