Northern Irish BBC One crime drama Bloodlands has been renewed for a second series, with James Nesbitt remarking that he's "thrilled" to return as Tom Brannick.

The first series concluded on Sunday night after launching last month with an average of 8.2 million viewers, making it the broadcaster's biggest ever drama launch in Northern Ireland for the pilot episode.

"I'm always happy to be back in Northern Ireland and to reveal even more about Tom Brannick," said Nesbitt.

Focusing on Northern Irish police detective Tom Brannick and the hunt for a dormant killer known as “Goliath”, the four-part series was executive produced by Line of Duty’s Jed Mercurio.

The show will once again be filmed in Belfast and its surrounding areas, including Strangford Lough in County Down.

Speaking of the renewal, director of BBC Drama Piers Wenger said, he had been “overwhelmed” by the audience response to the series, adding that he was “thrilled” to be renewing it for another instalment.

Showrunner and scriptwriter Chris Brandon said he was "absolutely delighted that Tom Brannick's story will continue".

Richard Williams, the chief executive of Northern Ireland Screen, said:

"It gives us a great sense of pride to see millions of viewers across the UK tune into a drama not just made, but set in Northern Ireland."

The first series also starred Charlene McKenna as DS Niamh McGovern, Lorcan Cranitch as veteran police officer Jackie Twomey and Lisa Dwan as Tori Matthews, a doctor teaching at Queen's University.