Jay Hunt, Controller of BBC One, confirmed at the Edinburgh Television Festival on 2ith August 2010 that two of the nation's most talked about dramas – Sherlock and Luther – have been recommissioned.

Luther will make a welcome return in two two-hour specials with Idris Elba reprising his role of Luther, the near-genius murder detective whose brilliant mind can't always save him from the dangerous violence of his passions.

Details for Series 2 of Luther ►

Idris Elba says: "I'm really excited to be coming home to play Luther again. He's got so many more stories to tell... assuming he manages to live long enough. I've cleared my diary and will be back later in the year."

Creator and writer Neil Cross says: "In series one, we saw DCI John Luther take quite a beating – both physically and emotionally. In these specials, he's not only still standing – he's back for more. Luther's world is as fast-moving and dangerous as ever... and the challenges he faces are even more intense."

Series One

DCI John Luther returns to work after a spell of leave following the traumatic arrest of serial killer Henry Madsen, in this dark psychological thriller featuring a near-genius murder detective whose brilliant mind can't always save him from the dangerous violence of his passions.

First Case

Luther's first case is to investigate the murder of the parents of child genius Alice Morgan. He quickly deduces that Alice is responsible for the deaths, but the seemingly perfect crime leaves no evidence with which to convict Alice.

Outside of work Luther is trying to win back his wife, Zoe, now he's got his life back on track. She has moved on, however, and has a new man in her life: Mark, who is the antithesis of Luther. Will Luther be able to save his fractured marriage to Zoe?

As the murder case proceeds, Luther realises he has become Alice's next project and that Zoe is in danger – because he dared to question Alice's brilliance. Luther and Alice seem to have a strange connection – both extraordinarily intelligent, they verbally spar with each other and seem to delight in the competition.

Luther's brilliant mind soon works out how Alice managed to kill her parents without leaving a trace, but without the evidence of the gun there is nothing he can do. On this occasion it seems Alice has won – but Luther refuses to give up. In the meantime, unbeknown to Luther, Alice has tracked down Henry Madsen to his hospital bedside where he lies in a coma. But what does she intend to do now that she has found him?

Drama with a twist

Luther is a crime drama with a twist: in each exciting and fast-moving story, the murderer's identity is known from the start – focusing the drama on the psychological duel between hunter and quarry, who sometimes have more in common than either would like to think.

Creator and writer Neil Cross is an acclaimed suspense novelist and was lead writer for the last two series of Spooks.

Idris Elba is DCI John Luther, Ruth Wilson is Alice Morgan, Indira Varma is Zoe Luther, Paul McGann is Mark North, Warren Brown is Justin Ripley, Steven Mackintosh is DCI Ian Reed, Saskia Reeves is DSU Rose Teller and Anton Saunders is Henry Madsen.

Photograph of Idris Elba who plays John Luther

BBC police series Luther starring Idris Elba

Police drama about a troubled detective who is trying to get his life back on track

Starring Idris Elba, Ruth Wilson, Indira Varma, Paul McGann, Warren Brown, Steven Mackintosh, Saskia Reeves & Anton Saunders