91Èȱ¬

The Hustle crew will be back on 91Èȱ¬ One next year with an exciting new series, it was announced today.

The hit drama, from Kudos Film and Television in association with Red Planet Pictures, has continued to delight over five-and-a-half million viewers throughout the current series which finishes on Thursday (12 February 2009) at 9.00pm on 91Èȱ¬ One.

It has been recommissioned for a sixth series by Ben Stephenson, Controller, Drama Commissioning, 91Èȱ¬, and cements its place as one of the channel's most successful and popular dramas.

In the fifth series Adrian Lester returned as Mickey "Bricks" Stone, who was reunited with familiar faces Robert Vaughn, as veteran grifter Albert Stroller, and Robert Glenister, as fixer extraordinaire Ash "Three Socks" Morgan.

Mickey also took two new apprentices under his wing; brother and sister duo Emma and Sean Kennedy (Kelly Adams, Holby City and Matt Di Angelo, EastEnders).

The new series will continue to follow the fortunes of the grifting gang as they con their way around the capital, a city riddled with financial troubles but teeming with greedy and amoral fat cats who are just ripe for the picking.

Hustle creator, writer and executive producer, Tony Jordan, says: "We are really pleased with the way that series five has been received, it's always difficult to maintain a drama's following when you've been off air for a period of time. Having a fabulous actor like Adrian Lester back in the fold has really helped.

"I've already got some great ideas for series six, so I can't wait to get cracking on the scripts."

Karen Wilson, Executive Producer for Kudos, says: "Viewers really enjoy the vibrant and fun nature of Hustle and we plan to continue with that into the next series.

"The current series has featured a great mix of old and new, with the staple classics of Robert Vaughn and Robert Glenister, and it's been wonderful to have Adrian back.

"And the new additions of Matt and Kelly have added a new dimension as well as an extra bit of glamour!"

Polly Hill, 91Èȱ¬ Commissioning Editor of Independent Drama, says: "The success of the present series is testament to Tony Jordan's brilliant scripts, the remarkable team at Kudos and a wonderful cast.

"We look forward to seeing what 2010 will hold for Mickey and the gang."

Hustle is a Kudos Film and Television production in association with Red Planet Pictures for the 91Èȱ¬ and executive produced by Simon Crawford Collins and Karen Wilson for Kudos and Tony Jordan for Red Planet Pictures.

The new series of Hustle will film in and around London this year for transmission on 91Èȱ¬ One in 2010.

Notes to Editors

What the newspapers say...

"One of the slickest, cleverest British shows on the box" (TV Times)

"Just like the A-team, they go after people that need to be taught a lesson" – five stars (Heat)

"Absolutely flawless" (Daily Express)

"Making a 91Èȱ¬ budget look like HBO" (Independent)

PPR