Stephen Mangan is starring in a three part series for BBC4 based on Douglas Adams” book series Dirk Gently”s Holistic Detective Agency. The 3-parter follows a one-off episode in December 2010, which attracted 1.1m viewers, three times the channel”s slot average.

The three-part run is created by screenwriter Howard Overman (Misfits); based on the books by Adams. Other cast members aside from Mangan include Darren Boyd, Helen Baxendale, Jason Watkins and Lisa Jackson.

Overman, who wrote the one-off and is writing Episode 1 of the new run, said: “It”s a real honour to back in the world of Dirk”s holistic detection. He”s the loosest of loose cannons and it”s always fun putting such outrageous lines in his mouth to see them so skillfully delivered by Stephen Mangan and the rest of the cast.”

Producer Chris Carey added: “Dirk Gently feels like a rare and precious storytelling gift. Douglas Adam”s books are treasure troves filled with brilliant details and profound, hilarious observations that Howard and the other writers endlessly mine to lead them off into new tales for Stephen and Darren to bring to life on screen.”

The series is directed by Tom Shankland and produced by Chris Carey with music by Daniel Pemberton. Executive producers are Saurabh Kakkar for ITV Studios and Brian Minchin for the BBC. The series is produced by ITV Studios in Association with The Welded Tandem Picture Company for BBC Cymru Wales for BBC4. Ep 2 is written by Matt Jones, Ep 3 written by Jamie Mathieson.