Ellis season 2: Release date and latest news

5's Ellis is returning for season 2 this week and that means that fans have four brand new episodes to look forward to.

Unlike the first season's run of three feature-length episodes, we're now getting two two-part instalments, which will be released across a couple of weeks. That means this week will be seeing one case unfold and next, we're set to go on a whole other investigation.

The new season sees the return of Sharon D Clarke and Andrew Gower, who are reprising their lead roles as DCI Ellis and DS Harper respectively.

As well as taking on a variety of new cases throughout towns in the north of England, the pair are set to face a new "uncertain" dynamic this time around with the progression of Ellis's relationship with her daughter, Grace.

Chatting to Radio Times about it, Gower said: "A threat to that happening and the relationship ending is kind of the uncertainty about Grace – where’s that going to leave Ellis? And I think that’s a real clever subtle threat that [series creator] Siân [Ejiwunmi-Le Berre] and the team have put in there. It’s quite a selfish thing for Harper to do but ultimately, without Ellis, his career now doesn’t exist."

The detective drama quickly proved to be a hit for 5 upon its season 1 release, not least because of a standout performance from Clarke, who brought the smart and witty detective to life. But when will new season 2 episodes of Ellis air and who will star? Read on for everything you need to know about the second season.

Ellis season 2 release date

The first episode of the new season will air on 5 at 9pm on Tuesday 10 March, while the second instalment will follow just one day after on Wednesday 11 March.

The remaining two episodes will then follow the following week on Tuesday 17 and Wednesday 18 March.

On the announcement of Ellis being renewed for season 2, Paul Testar, commissioning editor for scripted at 5, said: “Following the huge success of the first series of Ellis, we are thrilled for it to return with the brilliant Sharon D Clarke and Andrew Gower reprising their roles. We can’t wait to bring the detective duo back to the 5 audience next year”.

Acorn Media Enterprises (Acorn TV) also commented: “Ellis was an instant fan-favourite for the Acorn TV audience and met with rave reviews from top critics for its elevated and smart storytelling brought to life by the incomparable Sharon D Clarke and Andrew Gower. We could not be more excited to dive in on a second season of unpredictable, edge-of-your-seat cases with this dynamic pair.”

What will happen in Ellis season 2?

Each episode of Ellis sees a new guest cast and new case unfold for Ellis (Clarke) and Harper (Gower) to get to the bottom of.

According to 5, Ellis will "once again follow the DCI, a tenacious cop who, along with her right-hand man DS Harper, is parachuted into failing investigations across the north of England".

The synopsis for the new season 2 episodes reads: "Fresh from her victories in series 1, DCI Ellis is once again parachuted into failing cases across the north of England. With Harper at her side, she faces a new wave of fractured communities and suspicious deaths that test not only her forensic brilliance but her resilience.

"The series takes them from a rural village, where the suspicious death of a beloved community leader exposes long-nursed resentments, to the industrial shadow of a stone works, where the death of a young woman reveals a hidden network of coercion and exploitation. Every case peels back layers of silence, ambition, and betrayal."

It's clear, then, that the pair would continue to venture to different towns across the UK to help local police forces with their own perplexing cases, and we'll undoubtedly continue to see how their own working partnership blossoms the more they know each other.

Speaking to Radio Times about why keeping that format of UK regional travel in is so important, Gower said: "That was a big appeal for us signing onto the project so to stay true to what makes Ellis unique, that sort of stuff is what makes the show unique.

"I think season 1 is always establishing the show anyway so to build from that, to make it more cinematic, make the stories darker but keep the lightness and brevity to it that makes the show unique … obviously with Sharon D Clarke at the helm, it’s always going to be unique in its sense."

Who star in Ellis season 2?

Sharon D Clarke and Andrew Gower are reprising their leading roles as DCI Ellis and DS Harper.

The only other recurring character in the series is Ellis's boss ACC Alison Leighton (Allison Harding), who also returns for season 2.

As for other cast members, the full list of confirmed season 2 cast is as follows.

• Sharon D Clarke as DCI Ellis
• Andrew Gower as DS Chet Harper
• Charlotte McCurry as DC Kate Trent

Episodes 1 and 2 cast

• Allison Harding as ACC Alison Leighton
• John Hollingworth as DS Malcolm Oliver
• Sasha Desouza-Willock as PC Suravi Kareem
• Joel Morris as Joseph Ward
• James Doran as Peter Barron
• Kirsty Bushell as Natasha Scope
• Hannah Chinn as Avery Barron
• Niamh Blackshaw as Jade Bell
• Cariad Lloyd as Pippa Ellerson
• Keir Charles as Chris Ellerson
• Sonny Walker as Kelvin Jones
• Elliot Douglas as Archie Ellerson
• Kyle Ndukuba as Bola Ladipo
• Faolan Morgan as Landlord

Episodes 3 and 4 cast

• Mark Addy as Elliot Quinn
• Dorothea Myer-Bennett as Lucy Quinn
• Matilda Freeman as Mackenzie Quinn
• Lisa Ambalavanar as Abi Marshall
• Stephen Tompkinson as DCI Chalmers
• Sonny Ashbourne Serkis as Joshua Quinn
• Judy Flynn as Wendy Pyke
• Jack Bandeira as Tim Selby
• Natalia Kostrzewa as Ludmilla Nowak
• Sophie Stanton as Tina Marshall
• Florian Rafuna as Christian Kalonas
• Julia Krynke as Celina Pusch
• Karyna Khymchuk as Katja Vogel
• Caroline O’Neill as Rosie Watts
• Allison Harding as ACC Alison Leighton

Ellis season 2 trailer

You can watch the trailer for Ellis season 2 below.

Ellis season 2 begins on Tuesday 10 March and Wednesday 11 March at 9pm on 5.

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