New cast members!

From Digital-spy:

Ciarán McMenamin, Alexander Siddig and Ruth Kearney are among the new faces joining the cast of Primeval, ITV has announced.

Last year, the Saturday night show was recommissioned for a seven-episode fourth run and a six-episode fifth under a new co-production deal between ITV and UKTV.

Hannah Spearritt (Abby Maitland), Andrew-Lee Potts (Connor Temple), Ben Miller (James Lester) and Ben Mansfield (Captain Becker) will be reprising their roles but the story sees the ARC recruiting new members to take the place of their alter egos after they became trapped in the past at the end of season three.

The premieres of seasons four and five of Primeval will be split between ITV1 and UKTV’s new entertainment pay TV channel Watch. ITV1 will be the first to broadcast season four in early 2011, while Watch will premiere the fifth run later that year, before ITV1 goes on to broadcast the season.

ITV's Laura Mackie said of the recommission: "We're delighted to have agreed this new deal with Impossible to return Primeval to ITV1. The innovative nature of this partnership will allow the show to maintain its high production values and deliver the fantastic programme that our viewers know and love."

Paul Moreton, Channel Head of Watch, added: "We are really excited to be part of this truly innovative deal that guarantees the continuation of this fantastically entertaining series.

"I know Primeval is going to be a massive hit with Watch viewers and the perfect complement to other popular sci-fi dramas such as Doctor Who and Torchwood."

Thanks Who for informing me of this news! I've been away for a few days.

Anyway, I've been researching these new peoples. Ciarán McMenamin has appeared in many programmes on the BBC and ITV, including Jonathan Creek, Demons, Pulling Moves and Silent Witness. He will be playing Matt, the new field leader.

Alexander Siddig has been in many films and programmes too, including Star Trek, Merlin, 24 and Waking the Dead. Alexander will be playing Phillip, who is a Scientist.

Ruth Kearney is less well known, but she has appeared in some programmes too. Ruth will be playing Jess, who will run operations from the ARC control centre.