BBC TV drama series set for longer runs

The BBC have lined up a 12-episode second series for conspiracy thriller The State Within (written by Lizzie Mickery and Daniel Percival) before the show has even broadcast, reports Liz Thomas in The Stage.

There has been a shift away from the traditional format of six or eight episodes for programmes, with big budget shows such as Doctor Who, Rome and Robin Hood already running to 12 or 13 shows, a move that was recommended as part of BBC director-general Mark Thompson's Creative Futures policy blueprint for the Corporation's future. It stated it was necessary to consolidate the number of titles broadcast and invest in fewer quality dramas that make an impact.