The new ITV director of television, Peter Fincham, has made his first commissioning decision since starting his job - ordering another series of ITV1 drama The Fixer. Fincham has given the thumbs-up to a second run of the drama, which stars Party Animals actor Andrew Buchan, Tamzin Outhwaite (left), former Shameless actor Jody Latham and Peter Mullan.The Fixer premiered on ITV1 with an audience of 6.3 million viewers and overall the six-part series averaged just under 5 million, making it the network's highest rating new drama this year. Fincham promised the drama about a soldier who becomes a paid assassin targeting people who have escaped the law will be even "bigger and better" when it returns. "The Fixer was a gripping first series that had an unmistakable touch of class. I'm delighted that it's coming back - it'll be bigger and better than ever," he said.
Jane Featherstone, the joint managing director of Kudos, which makes The Fixer, and the show's executive producer, added: "We're thrilled to be bringing The Fixer back and look forward to more fun and action from our unique team of renegade crime fighters."
It is understood that the new series will contain more action, while keeping the tense, claustrophobic atmosphere of the first run. An ITV insider said the second series was also likely to include cameo roles by some star names.
Ex-BBC1 controller Fincham began his job at ITV last Monday, May 12, and is said to be keen to bolster ITV's drama department, which suffered a disappointing reaction to new shows such as The Palace and Rock Rivals earlier this year.
The Fixer was commissioned by Laura Mackie, the ITV director of drama. It was created by Spooks and Party Animals writer Ben Richards and is produced by Faith Penhale and joint executive produced by Simon Crawford Collins.
