House of Cards returns for fourth season on Friday

If you have any appetite left for political drama after last weekend, House of Cards returns to Netflix for its fourth season on Friday morning.

All 13 episodes will be available from 8:01am Irish time.

When we last saw him, US president Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) was dealing with turbulence in his marriage to Claire (Robin Wright) and an increasingly restless electorate.

Season four opens with Underwood preparing for the upcoming presidential race. Not ideal timing while handling an imploding marriage.

Spacey says he can’t wait for audiences to get a look at the new season.

“I feel so blessed that audiences around the world have proven such loyal and passionate viewers.”

Stalwarts of the show Doug Stamper, Heather Dunbar and Cathy Durant will all be returning and Ellen Burstyn will be joining as Claire's mother Elizabeth Hale.

"She has the same intensity but also (the same) femininity that Robin has," says casting director Laray Mayfield.

"You want to know where Claire gets her strength and her style and everything she is from," says costume designer Johanna Argan, who designed Burstyn's wardrobe.

“And it’s not only for the best reasons: There’s an iciness about Claire, and you get to understand that iciness and that strength because of the mother-daughter relationship.”