Stephen King's Under the Dome renewed for a second season

CBS has announced that it's renewed the hit drama Under the Dome for a second season of 13 episodes, which will get underway next year with a season opener penned by Stephen King, whose bestselling novel is the basis for the series.

"We're excited to tell more stories about the mystery of the dome and the secrets in Chester's Mill, and are thrilled to have the master storyteller himself, Stephen King, tell the first one of next season," said CBS Entertainment President Nina Tassler as part of today's announcement.

Developed for the small screen by Brian K. Vaughn (Y: The Last Man) and produced by Steven Spielberg's Amblin Television, Under the Dome revolves around the residents of a small town which finds itself inexplicably cut off from the rest of the world by a huge, transparent dome.

The first season of Under the Dome is currently airing on CBS in the States and will be broadcast on Channel 5 here in the UK this autumn.