Primeval to return in 2011

A whole host of new faces will be stepping beyond the anomalies when time-travel drama Primeval returns to our screens next year.

Ciarán McMenamin (Silent Witness, Jericho), Alexander Siddig (Clash of the Titans) and Ruth Kearney (Gracie) join series regulars Hannah Spearritt, Ben Miller, Andrew Lee-Potts and Ben Mansfield at an all-new ARC after the government loses faith in Lester's (Miller) ability to run the operation on his own.

Ciaran plays zoologist and new field leader Matt, Ruth plays Jess, who runs operation from the ARC Control Centre.

The ARC is now a public/private partnership, part-owned by the government, and partly by charismatic scientist Philip Burton (Alexander Siddig).

Primeval will return for two new series from 2011, following a deal between ITV, UKTV, and producers Impossible Pictures.

The launch of series four and series five of Primeval will be split between ITV1 and UKTV's new entertainment pay TV channel, Watch.

ITV1 will be the first to broadcast series four in early 2011, while series five will premiere on Watch later that year. ITV1 will then show series five.

Laura Mackie, Director of ITV Drama Commissioning, said: "We’re delighted to have agreed this new deal with Impossible to return Primeval to ITV1.

"The innovative nature of this partnership will allow the show to maintain its high production values and deliver the fantastic programme that our viewers know and love."