The Missing is to get a second series – with a whole new cast, plot and location.

The thriller, starring James Nesbitt, about a British couple whose son goes missing while they are on holiday in France, came to an end this week after eight episodes, having garnered high praise from critics and drawn an audience of eight million.

The Missing followed a couple whose son went missing on holida
The Missing followed a couple whose son went missing on holiday (BBC)

The BBC have now confirmed they have commissioned a second series – which will feature completely different characters and situation, but keep the basic structure of a story told over two time frames.

In The Missing, James and Frances O’Connor played parents whose relationship had broken down after their son was abducted on their family holiday during the 2006 World Cup.

But after new evidence was uncovered, James’ character Tony Hughes worked with the retired French detective who had led the original investigation to try and find out what had happened, as the plot switched back and forth between the present and 2006.

Tcheky Karyo, Frances O'Connor and James Nesbitt starred in The Missing
Tcheky Karyo, Frances O’Connor and James Nesbitt starred in The Missing (BBC)

Viewers were given a taster of the second series in a trailer which ran at the end of the season finale on Tuesday evening (December 16).

The voice of Tcheky Karyo, who played retired French detective Julien Baptiste, was heard saying: “To lose somebody can destroy a person. But to find them again, when so much has passed … Well, sometimes … that can be worse.”

Produced by independent company New Pictures, writers Jack and Harry Williams will return to pen the second series, along with director Tom Shankland.

The Missing, which also aired on Starz cable channel in the US, has already been nominated for two Golden Globe awards for best mini-series or motion picture made for television, and best performance by an actress in a mini-series or motion picture made for television for Frances O’Connor.