jenna coleman
Jenna Coleman and Tom Hughes are both confirmed to be returning to the second series of Victoria ITV

The longest-reigning monarch until current ruler Queen Elizabeth II overtook her in September 2015, it stands to reason that Queen Victoria continue her reign on the small screen. And now period drama fans must rejoice as ITV's hit television show Victoria has been recommissioned for a second series...

"Mammoth and Daisy Goodwin have brought the characters so vividly to life in this series, and we're thrilled with the reception for Victoria," ITV Director of Television Kevin Lygo said in a statement. "We're pleased to be able to confirm that Jenna Coleman and Tom Hughes will return to continue the story on ITV."

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First airing at the end of August, Victoria "has been a huge ratings success, with the series averaging 7.7 million viewers and 29.7% share of viewing, based on consolidated overnights," – making it the top rated ITV drama of the year so far. The programme follows the early life of Queen Victoria from her ascension to the throne at just 18-years-old, to the responsibilities she had to deal with while overseeing the United Kingdom. The show also depicts her courtship and eventual marriage to Prince Albert.

Once again written by Daisy Goodwin, the second series will reportedly focus more on Victoria's personal work/life balance. Talking about the renewal, Goodwin revealed: "Even though she reigned in the 19<sup>th Century, Victoria is a heroine for our times. In the next series she faces the very modern dilemma of how to juggle children with her husband and her job. As Victoria will discover, it's hard to be a wife, a mother and ruler of the most powerful nation on earth!"

"Following the audience response to Victoria we are delighted that the extraordinary Jenna Coleman will be returning to her throne for a second series," Mammoth Screen's Damien Timmer said. "The next few years of Victoria's reign are packed full of extraordinary real life events, with constitutional crises, scandals at court and personal challenges aplenty for the Queen and Prince Albert. God Save the Queen!"

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