The date has been announced for the new series of Inside No. 9. 

The acclaimed anthology series will return to BBC Two and BBC iPlayer on May 10 at 9.30pm

Creators and stars Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton will be joined by a host of top class actors. 

The cast for the six new stand alone episodes will include Sian Clifford (Fleabag, Quiz), Adrian Dunbar (Line of Duty), Paterson Joseph (Peep Show, Noughts + Crosses), Lindsay Duncan (A Discovery of Witches, Black Mirror), Kevin Bishop (Porridge), Nick Mohammed (Intelligence), Bhavna Limbachia (Coronation Street, Citizen Khan), Sarah Parish (W1A, Atlantis) and Gemma Whelan (The End of the F***ing World, Game of Thrones, Upstart Crow), with more names set to be confirmed in due course.

Sir Derek Jacobi becomes the first actor to return to Inside No. 9 after providing the voice of Dennis Fulcher in the critically acclaimed series 3 episode ‘The Devil of Christmas’.

Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton said when shooting wrapped in March: “We started filming in March last year but had to hit pause due to the pandemic. After a nine-month gestation it’s a relief to finally deliver our 6th series to the world. As proud parents we couldn’t possibly choose a favourite, but like any youngest sibling this series is cheeky, funny - and can get away with murder…”

Reece Shearsmith has just been nominated for a Bafta in the TV Awards for Best Male Comedy Performance and the series is up for Best Scripted Comedy.

The picture of the duo in masks comes from the first episode, Wuthering Heist. Pantalone has in an audacious plan to steal a consignment of diamonds worth a tasty twelve million. But he’s hired a complete bunch of double-crossing clowns to do it. Also starring Kevin Bishop, Paterson Joseph and Gemma Whelan.

Pictures: BBC/Sophie Mutevelian