The CW has given early pickups to five series for next season, including The Vampire Diaries. The show will return in fall 2010. From the network:

The series receiving early renewals include this season’s breakout hit The Vampire Diaries, The CW’s most-watched show (4.6 million viewers) and the network’s number one show among adults 18-34 (2.5/8). The Vampire Diaries premiere generated the largest audience in network history for a series debut (5.7 million total viewers). The Vampire Diaries has improved The CW’s performance Thursday at 8:00 p.m. by 114% among women 18-34 this season.

It was also announced last week via THR that former soap star Stephen Martines has landed a recurring role on The Vampire Diaries. He will play a bad-ass vampire named Frederick who is locked in the tomb where Katherine (Nina Dobrev) was once thought to be and is up to no good when released. New episodes of The Vampire Diaries return on March 25.

Source: The CW & Fear Net