Following the success of the revival of Auf Wiedersehen, Pet last year, the BBC has announced that the cast is to be reunited in a new series.

The lads will be seen enjoying their latest adventures where the last series left off - on the Caribbean island of Cuba.

The team was last seen driving off into the Arizona sunset having successfully relocated the Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge from the River Tees to the Arizona desert.

With that success behind them, there will be no stopping Oz, Dennis, Neville, Barry, Moxey, Bomber and Wyman as they are faced with a set of more sun-drenched dilemmas.

Auf Wiedersehen, Pet was revived after a 20-year absence and the BBC was astounded when more than 12 million viewers regularly tuned in.

The show won the National Television Award for most popular drama and best TV comedy drama at the Comedy Awards.

Speaking yesterday about the decision to film a new series, BBC Controller of Drama Commissioning Jane Tranter said: "The revival of Auf Wiedersehen, Pet last year brought both critical acclaim and was a popular choice with viewers."

The original 1980s series was a springboard to success for many of its cast, which included Jimmy Nail, Tim Healy, Kevin Whately and Timothy Spall. They will reprise their roles, working on rebuilding the British Embassy in Havana.

In a bizarre twist, one of the team will be singled out to become a British secret agent and becomes Our Man in Havana, following in the footsteps of Alec Guinness who played a similar role in the 1959 film based on the novel by Graham Greene.

Other surprises in the series include Oz, played by Jimmy Nail, developing an interest in ballet, Barry (Timothy Spall) running up a huge phone bill because he is unable to get through a day without speaking to his therapist in England, and the rest of the gang swapping their bottles of beer for cocktails.

There is also a hint of romance for Oz and Dennis (Tim Healey), who returns to his role as the gaffer.

It's not just the gang's fans in the North-East who will be glad the show is returning, because there have been rumours that the show has picked up some famous fans in Hollywood.

Franc Roddam, executive producer and creator of the show, said: "I'm told that both Tom Cruise and Russell Crowe are big fans and would love to be in the new series and I'd never say never!"