David Mitchell-fronted comedy is BBC’s biggest scripted launch since 2024

BBC hit comedy Ludwig has secured a third run ahead of its series two launch.

The Big Talk-produced title swiftly became the BBC’s biggest scripted series launch since 2024 and biggest comedy launch since 2018, attracting 9.5m viewers for its opener after 28 days. The episode has since accrued 11.8m.

Hailing from writer Mark Brotherhood, the upcoming six-part detective caper will see David Mitchell and Anna Maxwell Martin return to front. Ludwig is produced in association with That Mitchell And Webb Company and is a ZDF co-production for Germany,

Kenton Allen, Big Talk Studios chief executive and exec producer on Ludwig, 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 greenlighting a third season ahead of the launch of series two.”

The third series will be written by Brotherhood, with Chris Foggin serving as lead director.

The exec producers are Allen and Toby Welch for Big Talk Studios, Brotherhood, David Mitchell, Kathryn O’Connor and Chris Sussman. Claus Wunn and Frank Seyberth exec produce for ZDF. The series producer is Anthony Wilcox, with Anya Wilson serving as producer.

The new series was ordered for the BBC by Jon Petrie, the outgoing director of comedy commissioning, with Seb Barwell is the commissioning editor. Ludwig is produced in association with ITV Studios which also handles international distribution.

The second series of Ludwig will air later this year.