The six new episodes will see Series 1 regulars Maxine Peake, Rupert Penry-Jones and Neil Stuke all return to their roles, with Frances Barber, Phil Davis, Indira Varma and Shaun Evans joining the cast.

Discussing Maxine Peake’s character, Moffat commented: “Martha Costello has got silk and it means the stakes are high at every trial she does. She’s at the Old Bailey all the time, the cases matter more and her opponents are bigger beasts: from gangland murder to honour killings, heroin importations and an unlawful death in Afghanistan, every defendant she represents is up against it and all of them need her badly.”

He added: “The pressure is on. I was thrilled to get the chance to write more about this set of characters – the barristers and the clerks room. The politics gets meatier, more complex and more dangerous, there’s more sex and one great big personal story looks like it might change Shoe Lane forever.”

Are you looking forward to Series 2? Let us know below…

> Buy the Series 1 DVD on Amazon.

> Order the Series 2 DVD on Amazon.

Watch the Series 1 trailer…