BBC Two has ordered a second series of Mum, its new sitcom about a recently widowed woman.

Written by Stefan Golaszewski, the show has received much critical praise and finished its first series tonight (17th June).
Another six episodes have now been ordered, which will be filmed and broadcast next year.

Mum stars Lesley Manville as Cathy, with the first series following a year in her life as she attempts to move on from the death of her husband. Starting with the family gathering for the funeral in January and ending on New Year's Eve, viewers saw Cathy and her family go through the major and minor events of the year. The BBC says: "It's the story of a woman finding who she is again and maybe finding love second time around."

Comedy Commissioner Shane Allen says: "This well-loved and warm-hearted show has been blessed with that rare alchemy of great concept, beautiful writing and terrific cast. Series 2 gives us a more positive Cathy at the core of this world as she moves forward from the lost love of Series 1, all laced with deftly drawn characters and comedy sparkle."

Peter Mullan, who plays potential love interest Michael; Sam Swainsbury, aka Cathy's son Jason; Lisa McGrillis, who plays Jason's dopey girlfriend Kelly; Ross Boatman, who is Cathy's brother, Derek; Dorothy Atkinson, who portrays Derek's snobby partner Pauline; and Marlene Sidaway and Karl Johnson, who appear as Cathy's parents-in-law, are all expected to return for the new series.

The comedy is produced by Lyndsay Robinson, directed by Richard Laxton and executive produced by Kenton Allen at Big Talk Productions, the same creative team that worked with writer Stefan Golaszewski on Him & Her.

Kenton Allen says: "BBC Comedy's support of Big Talk and Stefan Golaszewski has been phenomenal ever since we sent them a script called Him & Her in 2009. Shane Allen's creative leadership on Mum had been impeccable from day one and a confident recommission for a second series by Shane and Charlotte Moore is another signal that they are a world class organization and one of the very best places to produce original comedy on the planet. And they told me on my birthday. Best present ever!"