BBC One comedy After You’ve Gone, has been recommissioned for a further 20 episodes following the success of the first two series and the recent Christmas special.

The series will return to screen later this year with a series of eight episodes followed by a 2008 Christmas special, a series of ten episodes will air in 2009 again followed by a one-off at Christmas.

After You’ve Gone will see sparks fly once more between Nicholas Lyndhurst (playing Jimmy Venables) and Celia Imrie (playing his mother-in-law, Diana) as they unite in a bid to share not only parental duties but also the family home while Jimmy’s ex-wife is overseas.

Dani Harmer, star of Tracy Beaker, will also return to screen as Jimmy’s smart talking daughter, Molly, alongside Ryan Sampson as Jimmy’s brilliantly, eccentric son, Alex.

Kenton Allen, BBC Creative Head of Comedy Talent and Comedy North, says: “American style team writing is now alive and kicking within BBC Comedy. This fantastic commitment to After You’ve Gone means we can now deliver family sitcom in consistent volume to BBC One with all the genuine benefits that team writing brings.”