Space, BBC America order second season of Orphan Black

Bell Media’s Space has ordered a 10-episode second season of Temple Street Productions’ Orphan Black drama.

BBC America is also renewing the series for a second season, as part of its Supernatural Saturday block in 2014.

The clone thriller’s debut set a record for Space, drawing an average of 513,000 viewers. Orphan Black also nets a weekly average of 364,000 viewers, according to a release from Space.

Orphan Black is a huge success – reflective of our focus on exceptional programming that delivers on the promise of our specialty brands. This joint-Canadian production demonstrates our commitment to produce original, world-class content in Canada while simultaneously showcasing our amazing homegrown talent,” said Bell Media VP specialty channels Catherine MacLeod in a statement.

“Tatiana Maslany has delivered one of the year’s standout performances. We’re excited to commission a second season from the talented team of Graeme, John and Temple Street Productions, and we can’t wait to see who Tatiana shows up as in season two,” said BBC Worldwide America general manager of channels Perry Simon in his own statement.

Tatiana Maslany stars – to date, as six characters – in the conspiracy drama about a woman who discovers that she is a clone, and who sets out to unravel the mystery of her identity.

Orphan Black also stars Jordan Gavaris, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Kevin Hanchard, Michael Mando and Skyler Wexler.

The series is produced by Temple Street Productions in association with Space and BBC America. Orphan Black is exec produced by Temple Street’s Ivan Schneeberg and David Fortier and co-creators Graeme Manson, who is also writer, and John Fawcett, who also directs.

Production on season two is slated to begin later this year, to air in spring 2014.