US zombie drama The Walking Dead, which last week returned to FX in the UK, has been picked up for a third series.

US broadcaster AMC has announced the new order after the first two episodes of season two broke all records for basic cable drama, debuting with 7.3m viewers.

When it returned to UK digital channel FX last Friday it delivered the best overnight ratings to date for the drama, with 293k (1.6% share) tuning in.

The Walking Dead stars British actor Andrew Lincoln as a sheriff’s deputy who leads a band of survivors in the immediate wake of a zombie apocalypse.

It is based on a comic book series written by Robert Kirkman.

“Today we are pleased to announce that the ‘dead’ shall live as we proudly renew ‘The Walking Dead’ for a third season on AMC and, globally, with our terrific partners at Fox International Channels,” said Charlie Collier, AMC’s president. “

“We are so proud as it continues to set viewership records around the world.” 

Between the first and second seasons, showrunner Frank Darabont was replaced by Glen Mazzara.

Darabont remains executive producer alongside Kirkman, Gale Anne Hurd, David Alpert and co-exec producer Greg Nicotero.

The show secured a 2010 Golden Globe nomination for Best Television Series - Drama and won the 2011 Emmy Award for Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup.

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