BBC1 has commissioned a full series of Lapland, the comedy that was broadcast as a 90-minute special last Christmas.

Starring Sue Johnston, the six-part comedy is being made by the BBC’s comedy department and will be broadcast early next year.

Johnston plays Eileen Lewis, described by the BBC as “the recently widowed matriarch of the chaotic Lewis clan, a large, close-knit and dysfunctional Northern family”.

The series’ cast also includes Dean Andrews, Julie Graham, Elizabeth Berrington and William Ash.

It is being written by Michael Wynne.

Mark Freeland, controller of UK comedy production at the BBC, said: “After its rating success last Christmas, it’s exciting that Lapland is coming back as a series. It shows BBC1 backs fresh, new, comic writing.”