The Musketeers will return for a second series the BBC has announced.

With a consolidated audience of 9.3 million for episode one of The Musketeers, this makes it the BBC’s biggest new drama launch since Call The Midwife.

The Musketeers has proved a successful addition to BBC One’s line-up with the first three episodes averaging 6.3 million viewers in the overnight ratings.

Charlotte Moore, Controller, BBC One, says: “Drama in 2014 has got off to a great start on BBC One and The Musketeers has really brought something fresh and new to the channel. I can’t wait to see how things will develop in the next series.”

Kate Harwood, Head of Drama England at BBC Drama Production, says: “I am delighted that Jessica Pope, Adrian Hodges, Colin Wratten and their team are able to go back to 17th-century Paris, round up those superb Musketeers and fight some more good fights for the BBC One audience.”

Creator Adrian Hodges says: “I’m completely thrilled to be able to continue the journey we have begun on The Musketeers. Writing and helping produce the show has been one of the greatest challenges and joys of my professional life.”

Luke Pasqualino (D’Artagnan), Tom Burke (Athos), Santiago Cabrera (Aramis) and Howard Charles (Porthos) will all reprise their roles as the titular Musketeers. Peter Capaldi (Cardinal Richelieu) will not however due to Doctor Who.

With a further seven episodes of the Sunday night 9.00pm drama still to come, viewers can expect to see a stellar guest cast including JJ Field, Vincent Regan, Ashley Walters, Amy Nuttall, Tara Fitzgerald, Annabelle Wallis, Zoe Tapper, Vinnie Jones and Sean Pertwee.