The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel's sequel will begin filming in January, Digital Spy said.

Penelope Wilton - who played Jean in the hit 2011 film - revealed that Judi Dench, Bill Nighy and Maggie Smith will all return for the new film.

She told Radio Times: "We had a wonderful time shooting this film the first time and I am thrilled we will be going back in January to do another one. As far as I know everybody will be returning."

Writer Ol Parker has returned to pen the sequel and it is thought that the same production team will work on the project.

Parker has previously admitted that none of the cast or crew expected Fox to give the green light to a sequel.

He said: "None of us thought so. But yes, the cast all really want to which is nice, and now it's not a surprise that Fox want to because obviously it did business."

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel proved to be a major box office success, taking $130 million worldwide.