Thick of It 'to return this year'

Iannucci also co-wrote Alan Partridge and The Day Today

The Thick of It writer Armando Iannucci has confirmed he is working on a second series of the Bafta-winning TV show.

Iannucci said writing on the political satire was at a "very early" stage but should be completed later this year.

The writer also confirmed that former star Chris Langham, who was jailed for downloading indecent videos of children in 2007, would not return.

The first show was originally broadcast on BBC Four in 2005. A spin-off film, In the Loop, is due out on 17 April.

The television programme, shot in the style of a fly-on-the-wall documentary, centred around Langham's character.

As Hugh Abbott, the beleaguered minister of the fictional Department of Social Affairs and Citizenship, he battled the media, 10 Downing Street and his own incompetency.

Langham played government minister Hugh Abbott in the first series

The series also starred Peter Capaldi as Malcolm Tucker, the prime minister's frighteningly aggressive spin doctor.

Iannucci, who also directs the show, confirmed that the new episodes will return to the Department of Social Affairs, even though the film focuses on foreign affairs.

However, the cast has yet to be confirmed. "We know Chris won't be coming back but we'll sort out the personnel later on," Iannucci said.

A two-part special of the comedy, without Langham's character, was broadcast in 2007.