Two seasons of the ambitious Swedish drama had initially been ordered by SVT and Viaplay from creators/writers Ulf Kvensler, Johan Rosenlind and their writing partner Malin Nevander.

Carefully crafted to attract the widest possible audience, the story of the Löwander family saga and their restaurant business in post-war Sweden has succeeded in crossing over from the core adult audience to the younger generation. Since the show’s premiere on SVT on October 2, nearly 2 million Swedes have followed each of the first 7 of 10 episodes on SVT and SVT Play, the public broadcaster’s streaming service, with shares ranging from 42.7% (ep. 7) to 47.2% (ep. 1 & 4). For SVT’s press officer Jan Erik Westman, those consolidated figures are ‘remarkable and record-setting’.

SVT Head of Drama Anna Croneman said: “The younger audience as well loves the show, so it’s really fun be able to offer another season and to tell more about our ‘family’ during incredibly exciting and changing times in Sweden.”

While season 1 focuses on the years 1945-1950 and season 2 on 1955-1962, the third season will cover 1968 to 1971. According to SVT’s statement, besides the Löwander family and staff members of Stockholm’s prestigious Durgårdskällaren restaurant, new characters will be introduced by Kvensler, Roselind and their new writing partner Pernilla Oljelund (Wallander, Miss Friman’s War).

Season 1 will be shown on Viaplay in the fall 2018. At the same time SVT will start playing season 2 on SVT1 and SVT Play. The third season is scheduled to premiere on SVT in 2019 and a year after on Viaplay.

Season 1 is currently playing on YLE Fem and NRK.

Meanwhile Banijay Rights who handle world sales has just announced that Vår tid är nu (known internationally as The Restaurant) has been acquired by Viasat World for its new content brand Epic Drama set to kick off on December 14.