Primeval series 4 & 5 starts filming

Production has begun on the fourth and fifth series of Primeval in Ireland, with filming scheduled to conclude in early-November. Primeval was spared the axe last year, thanks to a deal where ITV will co-finance the show with UKTV, enabling the production of a seven-episode fourth series and a six-episode fifth series to air in 2011.

Hannah Spearritt (Abby), Andrew-Lee Potts (Connor), Ben Miller (Lester) and Ben Mansfield (Becker) are known to be returning, although it's believed Jason Flemyng (Danny) has turned down the chance to reprise his role. I would assume he'll still film some scenes to explain his character's absence or loss, but we'll have to see. Likewise, Laila Rouass (Sarah) hasn't been confirmed as returning either. The new series will apparently continue the story several months after series 3's cliffhanger finale, where Connor and Abby found themselves trapped in the past.

Irish actors Ciarán McMenamin (Jericho, Silent Witness) and Ruth Kearney have also joined the series, playing characters called Matt and Jess.

What do you make of this news? Are you excited Primeval's coming back next year? I know it's a divisive TV show (some enjoy its unpretentious fun aimed at young kids, others hate the reliance on special-effects and often stupid storylines), but isn't this a promising sign for expensive British sci-fi during a recession? I assume the reason they're filming in Ireland is to take advantage of tax breaks, too.