New series for 'Peep Show', 'IT Crowd'

Channel 4 has commissioned new series of Friday night comedies Peep Show and The IT Crowd, despite lacklustre ratings for both.

Speculation had been rife that the network was planning to axe Peep Show after its most recent series averaged just 1.3 million viewers. Lead actors David Mitchell and Robert Webb, who were being considered for a sketch show project, have now signed on for the fourth series, although it is currently unknown when production will commence.

C4 has also given the go-ahead to a second, eight-episode series of office-based sitcom The IT Crowd, for transmission early in 2007. All of the main cast have signed on for series two, as well as series producer Ash Atalla.