“The Spanish Princess” fans might not expect the series to return. After all, it’s predecessors “The White Queen” and “The White Princess” were one-season series. However, Starz has decided that this story needs more time.

Starz refers to it as “an expansion” rather than Season 2, but what really matters is the show is coming back. The limited series will return next year with eight more episodes that will wrap up the story. Charlotte Hope and Ruairi O’Connor will return as Catherine of Aragon and Henry VIII while Emma Frost and Matthew Graham remain executive producers.

“The Spanish Princess” is the latest Philippa Gregory adaptation on Starz. Both “The White Queen” (2013) and “The White Princess” (2017) were also adaptations of Gregory’s historical fiction books. The current series is adapting two novels, “The Constant Princess” and “The King’s Curse.”

The series follows Catherine of Aragon as she leaves Spain to be the wife of Prince Arthur of England. When he dies, she sets her sights on the next heir, Prince Harry, who will one day be known as King Henry VIII. Catherine’s marriage is supposed to unite their countries, but everything is at risk when she has trouble producing a male heir to the throne of England.

“The Spanish Princess” has been averaging 471,000 viewers each week with 0.06 in the all-important 18-49 demographic. With ratings rising throughout the first season, it isn’t surprising that Starz wanted to bring the show back.

The show’s star is happy to be returning. “So so so happy to be going back to Catherine soon. It was the best summer ever and I can’t believe it get to do it all over again,” Hope wrote on Instagram after the announcement was made earlier this month.

“The Spanish Princess” Season 1 finale airs tonight at 8 p.m. EDT on Starz and is now available on the Starz app. The final season will return in 2020.

The Spanish Princess
"The Spanish Princess" will return for eight more episodes. Starz
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