The BBC has ordered a fourth series of Inside No. 9, British Comedy Guide can reveal.

Created by Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton, the format launched in 2014 and immediately attracted much acclaim from audiences and the press. The programme, which is an anthology of unconnected darkly comic twisted tales which take place in rooms or buildings featuring the number 9, is set to resume its third series soon, continuing on from The Devil Of Christmas, the episode that was shown in December.

Today's news confirms that the BBC has committed to another series beyond this one. BCG understands that Shearsmith and Pemberton have already planned the episodes, working on scripts during the day-time before their theatre engagements. Pemberton is currently starring in Dead Funny and Shearsmith in The Dresser, both in the West End.

Filming on the new series is expected to start in February, when the stars' stage roles end. The BBC confirms that, like the previous series, Series 4 will have "a stellar line-up" of guest stars.

They say: "As with previous series, each film will be set in a different location, the style and tone changing each week, combining a different mix of horror, thriller, drama and comedy, always aiming to surprise, delight, unnerve and amuse in equal measure."

The Corporation adds: "With ambitious production values and screenplays that tell original stories in ways that most sitcom and drama series do not attempt, the fourth series will continue to celebrate the craft of the stand-alone comedy drama."

Speaking about the news, Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith say: "It's time for the neighbours at No. 7 and No. 11 to get worried again. We are delighted at the prospect of a fourth series and venturing into six more properties with a '9' on the door. We do hope you will be there to join us, kicking and screaming to be let out."

Shane Allen, who commissioned the new series, comments: "Reece and Steve set their own bar ever higher with each series, they are consistently brilliant. Their powers of invention and storytelling are sublime and when you factor in their dazzling performances and tremendous cameo choices this really is British television at its very best."

Chris Sussman, Head of Comedy at BBC Studios, added: "This is brilliant news, as I'm one of the biggest fans of Inside No. 9 around. There aren't many series that boast such craft and creativity in every episode, and I can't wait to see six more stories."

BBC Two's Patrick Holland adds: "The new series of Inside No. 9 sees two of the most creative and challenging comedy talents in the UK at the very top of their game. It is brilliant to have such authorship on BBC Two."

In a BCG interview published in December, Steve Pemberton revealed the premise of remaining episodes in Series 3.

He said: "We don't like to give too much away, but there's one set in a restaurant, which is inspired by myself and Reece overhearing some people arguing about who was going to pay the bill - so that's called The Bill. There's an episode set in a karaoke booth. There's an episode set an art gallery on a private view evening. There's an episode set around cryptic crosswords, which I'm a big fan of. I got to make my own cryptic crossword! That's set in a Cambridge don's study. And there's always one set in a very normal house... This time a man finds a shoe outside on the street and he wants to know who it belongs to. So that's the other five episodes... we do think it's a strong series."

Series 3 of Inside No. 9 will resume in February, whilst Series 4 is expected to be shown towards the end of 2017 or in early 2018.