The fantasy drama launched on BBC One last month and so far it has seen both the highest share and the highest volume of children to any new BBC drama this year.

Atlantis is the biggest new Saturday night drama series launch across all channels since 2006, beating even Merlin. The show’s first three episodes have averaged a consolidated audience of 6.7million.

> Order Series 1 on DVD on Amazon.

Charlotte Moore, Controller BBC One commented: “Atlantis delivers original British drama with the kind of scale and ambition that we’ve come to expect from the cinema. It feels very much at home on Saturday nights on BBC One, it’s been wonderful to watch [creator] Howard [Overman] and the team create a whole new world, brilliantly inspired by Greek mythology which is proving a hit with all the family and a second series is richly deserved.”

Executive producers Julian Murphy, Johnny Capps and Howard Overman added: “We are all thrilled at Urban Myth Films that Atlantis has been re-commissioned and look forward to continuing the legend next year.”

Ben Stephenson, Controller BBC Commissioning also commented: “Atlantis has quickly made its mark and established itself as the new weekly fantasy drama fix for all the family on BBC One. The show is packed with creative ambition which is a credit to the team involved and a second series will ensure the show builds and grows with the audience.”

Regular cast members Jack Donnelly (Jason), Mark Addy (Hercules), Robert Emms (Pythagoras), Jemima Rooper (Medusa), Aiysha Hart (Ariadne), Sarah Parish (Pasiphae) and Juliet Stevenson (The Oracle) will all return in Series 2.

Series 1 continues tonight at 8.15pm on BBC One with ‘White Lies’.

Watch the Series 1 trailer…

> Buy the complete Merlin Series 5 DVD boxset on Amazon.

What do you think of Atlantis so far? Let us know below…