BBC Three”s hit drama series Being Human is returning for a fifth series. The unconventional trio of a vampire, a werewolf and a ghost has been granted another six episodes, to air in 2013.

Creator and Exec Producer Toby Whithouse said: “The response to series four has been terrific. We’;re thrilled that the audience has taken the new cast into their hearts and are delighted to have this opportunity to expand their world further, exploring new characters and telling new stories.”

Series four launched with 1.2m viewers and consolidated figures show the series has sustained an average 950,000 viewers across the run. Commenting, Zai Bennet, Controller of BBC Three, said: “In Being Human, Toby has created an extraordinary, funny, touching, supernatural world and I”m thrilled to bring it back for a fifth series.”

Produced by Touchpaper Wales, a Zodiak Media Company, for BBC Cymru Wales, the hit drama has also found success as a US version on cable channel Syfy. Both UK and US versions have also sold well round the world. Rob Pursey, Executive Producer, Touchpaper Television says: “When we first made the pilot episode for Being Human we didn”t dream we”d be making a fifth series. It”s a testament to the ambition of the writing and the performances that it”s stayed so fresh.”

In other news, BBC One has ordered four feature-length episodes of 1960s North-east based cop drama George Gently. The films will still star Martin Shaw and will be created by Peter Flannery (The Devil”s Whore, Our Friends in the North).

The first film, Gently With Class, “sees a darker side of 1968 as the social landscape of the Western World is being shaken to its core. In Paris, riots rage as the workers and students take to the streets. In the United States, thousands rally against the Vietnam War. And in England, antipathy for the upper class”s outmoded social graces and their abuse of privilege is growing.”

Inspector George Gently is made by Company Pictures, executive produced by Peter Flannery, George Faber, Charles Pattinson and Claire Ingham for Company Pictures, and Polly Hill for BBC One. The films are produced by Faye Dorn, who is joined by the two directors from the last series Gillies Mackinnon (Hideous Kinky, Above Suspicion) and Nicholas Renton (When Harvey Met Bob, A Room With A View). The series is currently filming on location in Durham and the North East and will be shown on BBC One later in the year.