James R | On 13, May 2015

Ripper Street will return for another two seasons, Amazon has announced.

The London crime show, which was given the chop by the BBC, was resurrected by Amazon last year for a third season. The deal, which will see the episodes premiere on BBC One later this year in a shorter, edited-for-broadcast version, was a huge hit with fans.

Season 3 was released week by week on Amazon Prime Instant Video in the run-up to Christmas 2014 and soon become one of the most-watched series on the streaming service, attracting larger viewing audiences than some of its biggest US shows, including Constantine, The Walking Dead and Amazon exclusive hit show Vikings. It was also the most-watched first show of new customers joining the service, proving that Amazon’s strategy of targeting an existing customer base more than paid off.

“When it comes to great British drama it really doesn’t get better than Ripper Street, which has already been a huge hit with customers and critics alike,” says Jay Marine, Vice President Amazon Instant Video EU.

Indeed, the “Amazon cut” of Season 3’s episodes, containing exclusive scenes that will not be shown elsewhere, were given a 5-star rating by 98 per cent of Amazon Prime customers. We were equally impressed, with our reviews praising the darkness of the new episodes, which gave Inspector Edmund Reid (Matthew Macfadyen), Drake (Jerome Flynn) and MyAnna Buring’s Long Susan surprising new depths to explore.

“This is without a doubt the best it’s ever been,” we wrote of the opening double-bill. “And we’re not just talking about the hats.”

Tiger Aspect’s Head of Drama Will Gould comments: “We love making this show. The cast, the crew, the writers – it’s an absolute honour to get to work with these people. To get to work with them some more – this is a very good day. Thanks to all our partners who have got us this far – to Amazon, the BBC, BBC America and BBC Worldwide. Back to the bloody streets of Whitechapel we go.”

Ripper Street’s Detective Inspector Edmund Reid, Matthew Macfadyen, adds: “I’m delighted to be embarking on another dose of Ripper Street – blood and guts, pocket watches and Victorian head-gear, wonderfully dark, moving and mysterious story lines from Mr Richard Warlow.”

What can audiences expect from Season 4 and Season 5? Warlow, Ripper Street’s writer and creator, says that the show will continue to follow Whitechapel’s H Division “right through to the end of the Victorian age itself”.

“It’s a delight to have now been given that opportunity,” he adds.

Filming will begin immediately, with further details on release dates for both new seasons to be announced later this year.

You can watch Ripper Street Season 3 online in the UK on Amazon Prime Instant Video, as part of a £5.99 monthly subscription. Or, if you want unlimited free delivery in the UK, as part of a £79 annual Amazon Prime membership. Seasons 1 and 2 of Ripper Street are available too.

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