Conceived from the novels by ex-SAS soldier Chris Ryan, Series 1 aired in May 2010 and co-starred Andrew Lincoln, Orla Brady, Shelley Conn and Colin Salmon.

Jointly commissioned by Sky and HBO/Cinemax, Strike Back will increase its run from 6 to 10 parts for Series 2, with the first six episodes filmed on location across South Africa before the production moves to Hungary in the early summer.

Elaine Pyke, Sky’s Head of Drama, said: “…we look forward to Series 2 being even bigger and better.”

Andy Harries, Executive Producer, Left Bank Pictures comments: “Strike Back was conceived as a high octane action adventure with the scale and impact of a US series and to have HBO/Cinemax on board will turn this ambition into reality.”

> Buy the Series 1 DVD on Amazon.

The second series will feature “original storylines that run across globe-spanning settings as a former US Special Forces operative teams up with Section 20 to stop an international terrorist group”.

Joining Richard Armitage as John Porter, two new characters will be introduced, played by American actor Philip Winchester and Australian actor Sullivan Stapleton.