Recommission of Eagle Eye Drama’s detective series will be made up of ten episodes

Eagle Eye Drama’s Patience will return to Channel 4 for a third, expanded series.

The latest run of the detective drama will be made of ten episodes rather than the eight that comprised each of Patience’s first and second series.

Patience follows autistic criminal records archivist Patience as she continues her work with City of York Police, bringing her unique insight to a series of perplexing cases.

The third series will delve further into Patience’s romantic life, as well as highlighting her growing relationship with her estranged half-sister Joy as she investigates whether the car crash that killed their father really was an accident.

The second series of the detective drama concluded earlier this week and, according to C4, is the channel’s most watched show so far this year across linear and streaming. The first episode, which aired on 7 January, attained an average 28-day audience of 4.2m, according to data supplied by the broadcaster.

The series stars Ella Maisy Purvis as the titular character, with Jessica Hynes as DI Frankie Monroe. They are supported by returning actors Nathan Welsh, Mark Benton, Adrian Rawlins, Tom Lewis, Ali Ariaie and Liza Sadovy.

Patience was acquired for C4 by Polly Scates, head of acquisitions and is produced by ITV Studios-backed Eagle Eye Drama. Jo McGrath and Walter Iuzzolino exec produce, with Jen Burnet producing and Maatern Moerkerke returning to direct alongside Jan Matthys.

Series three is written by Matt Baker, Amy Shindler and Beth Chalmers and produced in association with Eagle Eye sub-label Happy Duck Films, and is supported by the Belgian Tax Shelter. Filming begins in York and Belgium in March.

Beta Films will handle worldwide distribution, though PBS Distribution holds the North American rights to the drama, which is adapted from the original series Astrid & Raphaëlle, produced by JLA Productions for France TV.

McGrath said: “Audiences across the world have taken Patience to their hearts and it’s wonderful to see the series performing so strongly in the UK, becoming the eighth most streamed show across all platforms midway through its run. This is testament to the quality of our outstanding cast, led by Ella Maisy Purvis and production team, led by director Maarten Moerkerke. Happily, they will all be returning to deliver another gripping extended series of ten episodes.”

Scates added: “The show has really captured the hearts of our viewers, and there’s genuine excitement to see where Patience’s investigations take us next in the City of York.”