McDonald and Dodds season 2 release date: Cast, plot and episodes

We’re currently still waiting on the third and final episode of McDonald and Dodds season two, but it’s expected to air later this year.

The drama continues to explore the working relationship between DCI Lauren McDonald (Gouveia), who series writer Robert Murphy describes as "plunging into genteel Bath like a bull in a China shop" when she arrives from the mean streets of South London, and her sidekick DS Dodds (Watkins), a quiet and underestimated man with a brilliant brain.

The likes of Doctor Who’s Natalie Gumede, Cold Feet’s John Thomson, Rob Brydon, Sherlock's Rupert Graves, Saira Choudhry, and Patsy Kensit lead the McDonald & Dodds guest cast for season two, which consists of three standalone feature-length episodes.

Here's everything you need to know about McDonald & Dodds season two.

When is McDonald & Dodds season 2's release date?

McDonald & Dodds returned for a second season on Sunday 28th February at 8pm on ITV, with an episode titled "The Man Who Wasn't There".

Episode two, "We Need to Talk About Doreen", aired on Sunday 7th March at 8pm on ITV.

When will McDonald & Dodds be back for episode 3?

While there are three episodes in season two of McDonald & Dodds, we'll have a little while to wait until the third episode.

ITV has yet to confirm an air date, but it's expected to air later this year. We'll keep this page updated with any news.

What is McDonald & Dodds about?

As ITV puts it: "Set in picturesque Bath, the series pairs feisty DCI McDonald, who has recently transferred from London’s Met Police, with the unassuming DS Dodds, who has been happy in the background for most of his working life. To McDonald’s surprise they form an unexpectedly effective crime solving partnership."

McDonald & Dodds season 2 cast

Tala Gouveia (Cold Feet) and Jason Watkins (The Crown) will be reprising their roles as DCI Lauren McDonald and DS Dodds, respectively.

As for the rest of the regular cast, we'll be seeing more of James Murray as smarmy Chief Superintendent Houseman, and Jack Riddiford as DC Darren Craig; they'll also be joined by DC Milena Pachiorkowski, who is played by Lily Sacofsky (as seen in Bancroft, Summer of Rockets, and Sanditon).

Each feature-length episode features a new set of guest stars, and so far the line-up for season two does not disappoint.

The first episode will star Rupert Graves (Sherlock), Martin Kemp (The Krays), Patsy Kensit (Absolute Beginners) and Cathy Tyson (Mona Lisa) as Gordon, Mick, Barbara and Jackie, "a group of friends who achieved notoriety in the 1980s"; they're the chief suspects after a hot air balloon trip ends in murder.

Rob Brydon (Gavin & Stacey) plays Roy from the Air Incident Investigation Agency, who helps McDonald & Dodds with their investigation.

"What a cast!" Jason Watkins wrote on Twitter. "So delighted and lucky to be working with such an - and I CAN say this - #iconic cast. This episode is already shaping up to be special."

Guest stars for episode two were announced in early November and include Doctor Who’s Natalie Gumede, My Mad Fat Diary’s Sharon Rooney and Cold Feet’s John Thomson.

Rooney plays the title role in episode two, 'We Need To Talk About Doreen,' starring as a young woman who’s travelled to Bath with a group for the weekend to celebrate her friend Angela’s (Joy McAvoy) birthday. However, the night ends in disaster, with one party guest murdered.

Other guest stars in the episode include Maya Coates and Kat Ronney, while Tomos Gwynfryn plays a rugby club's new signing, Dominique Aubert, who invites Doreen and her friends to a party.

Episode three's guest stars include Saira Choudhry, Rosie Day and Nitin Ganatra.

Day (Living the Dream) will play social media influencer Rose Boleyn, who elects to have plastic surgery. Ganatra plays anaesthetist Dr Dan McCartney, and Choudhry stars as clinic receptionist Alliyah.

Season one featured guest stars including Robert Lindsay, Susannah Fielding, Ellie Kendrick, Freddie Fox and Joanna Scanlan.

The new episodes are written by series creator and executive producer Robert Murphy, and Gangs of London's Kam Odedra. The directors are Alex Pillai, Rebecca Rycroft and Ian Aryeh.

• For the latest news and expert tips on getting the best deals this year, take a look at our Black Friday 2021 and Cyber Monday 2021 guides.

Will there be a season 3 of McDonald & Dodds?

Yes, ITV has confirmed that McDonald & Dodds will be returning for a third season.

Filming will take place summer 2021; there’s no word yet on which famous faces will join the McDonald and Dodds cast as guest-stars.

McDonald & Dodds was originally commissioned as two feature-length episodes: The Fall of the House of Crockett (episode one) and A Wilderness of Mirrors (episode two), but after proving popular with viewers, ITV asked for even more episodes.

DCI McDonald firmly stated in the previous series that she would only stay in Bath for two years tops. However, the show's renewal suggests that won't be the case.

Screenwriter Robert Murphy previously noted that, after series one: "If there are any [episodes] after that, we'll have to finish within two years – because that's when McDonald is going, don't you think? She's a woman of her word."

DS Dodds is also rapidly nearing retirement, with his boss Houseman (James Murray) keen to organise a goodbye party as soon as possible.

But the show's co-stars had a solution to this two-year time limit.

"I think she's going to fall in love with Bath and I think she'll stay around for at least seven years," Gouveia joked, while Watkins added: "Dodds will find his own birth certificate and realise he's actually only 42. I mean, I think there's so much potential in the format, in the relationships."

More recently in February 2021, Watkins said that he would "love" to do third season - and perhaps we might finally learn Dodds' name.

"We never get to know the real first name of Dodds. I have an idea what it is but I can’t share that. I really hope the audience enjoy these two films. We would love to do more.”

The first series of McDonald & Dodds is available to stream on BritBox. If you’re looking for something to watch tonight, check out our TV Guide.