Inspector Morse spinoff Lewis will remain on ITV1 for another series, it has been announced.
Morse author Colin Dexter, who acts as a consultant on the show, questioned its future back in January by claiming that Kevin Whately's character Detective Inspector Robbie Lewis cannot "go on much longer".
An ITV spokeswoman told BBC News: "We have a series of Lewis due on screen later this month and a further series goes into production in June. We remain committed to Lewis."
Laurence Fox also stars as Detective Sergeant James Hathaway on the Oxford detective drama, which began as a pilot in 2006. After a three-part run was broadcast the following year, the series has regularly returned with four parts in the spring.
Season six of Lewis premieres next Wednesday (May 16) at 8pm on ITV1. The show has previously been shown on Sundays, where ratings have been consistently high.
ITV screened Morse prequel pilot Endeavour in January, starring Shaun Evans in John Thaw's iconic role, before commissioning a full series.
