Ellis season 2 exclusive first-look clip sees beloved detective in hilarious scene with Harper

One of the main draws of the first season of Ellis was not just the exploration of English towns, gritty crimes on show and Sharon D Clarke's stellar leading role, but it was also seeing how the relationship between her and Harper (Andrew Gower) developed over the episodes.

From strangers to colleagues who admire each other's way of working, their unlikely bond only continues to grow in this upcoming season of Ellis, it seems.

Radio Times has an exclusive first look at season 2 for you – and film buffs be warned, as Harper doesn't seem to know about one of the all-time classic movies.

In the clip (which you can watch above), Ellis and Harper are on their way to a crime scene in Ellis's car once again. Harper remarks about one of the points of contention in the case – that someone stuck around to wash some sheets, an act that he admits is bold.

"It's a Godfather move," Ellis says but it's quickly evident that Harper is none the wiser to the cinematic reference. While Ellis gently digs into Harper for never having seen The Godfather, Harper does say that it's on his to-watch list.

Ellis maps out the central premise of the film, saying that it's all about "how to kill a man in public and get away with it", before Harper jokingly asks if they're now looking for a "middle-aged film buff", to which Ellis says with a smile: "You are looking for a slap, DS."

If there's one thing we can count on in this series, it's our fair share of dark crimes but also a touch of humour thrown in for good measure by our two detective leads.

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The synopsis for the new 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."

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

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