Following a memorable pilot episode in 2020, Here We Go (previously titled Pandemonium) returns for a second season, reuniting viewers with the chaotic Jessop family.

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In the lockdown comedy pilot, we met the Jessops just before the pandemic hit, followed by a flash-forward to the end of the year, when mum Rachel (Katherine Parkinson) was desperately trying to plan a last-ditch Christmas holiday, her efforts all filmed by her youngest son.

Since then, the sitcom has amassed a loyal legion of fans, who will undoubtedly be overjoyed to learn that the series is back for a second round.

The synopsis for the first episode of the new run reads: "Life is changing for the Jessops. Sue is downsizing and having a big clear-out, Amy is back from Norway and pining for the fjords, and Rachel has started her new university course.

"When Paul’s old boat turns up in Sue’s garage, he decides to take the family out on the water. Who knows, it might cheer Amy up a bit?

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"Meanwhile, Rachel is keen to convince her new classmates that, despite being literally twice their age, she’s one of them. She’s planning to do this via the traditional art of the student drinking game."

Read on for everything you need to know about the cast and characters in Here We Go.

Here We Go season 2 cast: Full list of actors and characters in BBC sitcom

The new season of Here We Go features the main cast of returning faces, plus some new characters. Find the full Here We Go line-up below and scroll on to find out more about the actors and where you've seen them before.

  • Jim Howick as Paul Jessop
  • Katherine Parkinson as Rachel Jessop
  • Alison Steadman as Sue Jessop
  • Tom Basden as Robin
  • Tori Allen-Martin as Cherry
  • Freya Parks as Amy Jessop
  • Mica Ricketts as Maya
  • Jude Collie as Sam Jessop
  • Ed Kear as Dean
  • Harry Enfield as Edgar
  • Sophie Wu as Zoe
  • Paul Longley as Fozzie
  • Andrew Brooke as Greg

Katherine Parkinson plays Rachel

Katherine Parkinson plays Rachel in Here We Go, looking angry as another character looks at her
Katherine Parkinson plays Rachel in Here We Go. BBC Studios/Jonathan Browning

Who is Rachel? The Jessop family's optimistic matriarch, who's married to Paul. In the pilot episode, we saw her propping up the family's finances (and her husband's self-esteem) during the pandemic.

Where have I seen Katherine Parkinson before? She's best known for playing Jen Barber on the sitcom The IT Crowd. She's also starred in Spreadsheet, Hitmen, The Boat That Rocked, Humans (as Laura), The Kennedys, Sherlock (as Kitty) and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.

Jim Howick plays Paul

Jim Howick in Here We Go wearing a cheqeured hoodie looking into a mirror
Jim Howick in Here We Go. BBC Studios/Jonathan Browning

Who is Paul? The father of the Jessop family unit and married to Rachel. Paul, who struggles with self-esteem issues, is an ex-Olympic archer, but in the pilot episode his archery school was shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Where have I seen Jim Howick before? The actor is known for starring in Ghosts (as Pat), and for playing an alcoholic teacher (Mr Hendricks) in the Netflix comedy series Sex Education. He's also starred in Hollington Drive, Wannabe, Broadchurch, Horrible Histories and Peep Show.

Alison Steadman plays Sue

Alison Steadman in Here We Go wearing a pink puffer jacket
Alison Steadman plays Sue in Here We Go. BBC

Who is Sue? Paul's mum - she had a "cavalier" attitude to the pandemic as she constantly broke lockdown rules in the pilot episode.

Steadman explained: "She's warm, she loves her family, but she's also quite selfish in some ways. She thinks about herself, but underneath it all, she's very loving."

Where have I seen Alison Steadman before? Steadman might perhaps be best known to contemporary audiences for playing Pam on Gavin & Stacey, and as Mrs Bennett in the BBC series Pride and Prejudice. She's also starred in Life, The King's Man, Fat Friends, Care, Hold the Sunset and The Worst Week of My Life.

Freya Parks plays Amy Jessop

Amy Jessop in Here We Go wearing a dress gown and leaning on a doorframe
Freya Parks in Here We Go. BBC Studios/Jonathan Browning

Who is Amy? The Jessops' eldest daughter, who loves to tease the sensitive Paul.

Where have I seen Freya Parks before? She's played Helen Burns in Cary Fukunaga's Jane Eyre, and starred in Amazon's Bliss! and Tom Hooper's Les Misérables. Parks also played Etty Darwin in the film Creation.

Tom Basden plays Robin

Tom Basden plays Robin in Here We Go wearing a grey jacket with his hands in his pockets
Tom Basden plays Robin in Here We Go. BBC

Who is Robin? Rachel's brother, who often outstays his welcome. When we're introduced to him in the 2020 pilot episode, he's happily prepping for his 2020 summer wedding - which, of course, is cancelled due to COVID.

Where have I seen Tom Basden before? Basden, who wrote the script for Pandemonium and also co-created Plebs, has starred in After Life (as Matt), Plebs, Quacks, Women on the Verge and David Brent: Life on the Road.

Jude Collie plays Ben Jessop

Jude Collie in Here We Go holding a camera while it's recording
Jude Collie in Here We Go. BBC Studios/Jonathan Browning

Who is Ben? The Jessops' youngest son, who films the family antics.

Where have I seen Jude Collins before? The newcomer has previously starred in Autopsy: The Last Hours of....

Tori Allen-Martin plays Cherry

Tori Allen-Martin as Cherry Lee-Dixon in Here We Go wearing a pink top and denim jacket
Tori Allen-Martin as Cherry Lee-Dixon in Here We Go. BBC Studios,Jonathan Browning

Who is Cherry? Robin's high-maintenance partner.

Where have I seen Tori Allen-Martin before? The actress has appeared in Unforgotten (as Sandra in season 3), Pure (as Libby) and London Kills.

Here We Go season 2 premieres on Friday 2nd February at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Looking for something else to watch? Check out our guide to the best series on Netflix and best movies on Netflix, or visit our TV Guide and Drama hub.

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