The third series of BBC Two sitcom W1A is to begin filming in February 2017.

The Corporation has yet to officially confirm the return of the comedy in which its own management is mocked, although it has been known for some time that another series has been ordered. In January, when the future of the BBC's Charter was undecided, writer John Morton spoke about working on scripts for another series, saying of the writing at that time "It will be harder to pretend that I don't hope the BBC survives."

Series 2 of the sitcom was broadcast in April and May 2015, and the BBC was reportedly hoping to film another series in 2016. However, a long delay has occurred due to "cast availability issues".

The W1A cast list includes Hugh Bonneville, Jessica Hynes, Jason Watkins, Monica Dolan, Hugh Skinner, Nina Sosanya, Sarah Parish, David Westhead, Rufus Jones and Ophelia Lovibond, many of whom have been busy this year working on other TV series.

Sarah Parish - who plays stony-faced executive Anna Rampton in the sitcom - appeared on Radio 2 today to promote Trollied, the sitcom she co-stars in with fellow W1A actor Jason Watkins. When asked if W1A was returning, she confirmed the cast were set to reunite in February to film Series 3.

Explaining the gap between series, Parish said: "Hugh was going off to do another Paddington Bear film, and lots of other people were doing lots of other things, so it's trying to get us all together at the same time. So it just worked out that it took quite a long time to do that, but we are back!"

More details about the new series are expected to be revealed as it starts filming.