More Law & Order: UK on Order

LONDON: ITV has commissioned a further 13 episodes of Law & Order: UK, based on Dick Wolf’s smash-hit U.S. drama, which was recently renewed for a record 20th season on NBC.

ITV launched the first season of Law & Order: UK in February, garnering 6.5 million viewers and a 26-percent share. The new season will continue to be co-produced by Kudos Films and Television, Wolf Films and NBC Universal. The executive producers are Jane Featherstone (Spooks, Ashes to Ashes), Andrew Woodhead (The Fixer, Spooks) and Stephen Garrett (Burn Up) for Kudos and Dick Wolf, the creator and executive producer of Law & Order, for Wolf Films. The producer will be Richard Stokes, who also produced the first season.

Law & Order is the most successful brand on prime-time U.S. television. It holds the record for most consecutive Emmy nominations (11), and is the longest-running crime series in U.S. television history.

Laura Mackie, the director of drama at ITV, said: “This new commission brings our total order to 26 episodes which demonstrates our commitment to series that have concepts and storylines that can run long term. Audiences clearly loved the first series which featured the cream of British acting talent with gripping ‘torn from the headlines’ story lines and this will again be at the heart of the new series. Kudos and Wolf Films made Law & Order: UK dynamic and fast paced and I’m delighted to be collaborating with them again on the new run.”

Wolf added: "This is a great day for the Law and Order brand. On the heels of the original Law and Order tying Gunsmoke‘s all time drama series record of 20 years, and Law and Order: SVU‘s renewal for season 11, its wonderful to have pick ups on both sides of the Atlantic. I am very proud of the work the actors, producers, writers and crew have done on Law and Order: UK and it would be my sincerest pleasure for it to be one of the cornerstones of ITV’s programming slate for years to come."

Angela Bromstad, the president of NBC and Universal Media Studios, who also oversees international TV production for NBC Universal, commented: “NBC Universal is delighted with the commission of a second series of Law & Order: UK, which has clearly been a great success with British audiences. We are proud to work in partnership with ITV, Kudos and Dick Wolf in the continuing production of such high-quality television drama with broad and enduring appeal.”

Stephen Garrett, the executive chairman of Kudos, continued: “We’re immensely proud of the show’s success and the fact that something so quintessentially American feels so essentially British. ITV’s support has been absolute and in these difficult times another order of 13 episodes is a ringing endorsement of their continuing commitment to quality prime-time drama.”