Meet the cast of The Last Kingdom series two

Alfred is the King of the West Saxons, with huge ambitions: he wants to unite the kingdoms of England. With a pious approach he is committed to the spread of Christianity and has a strained and mistrusting with the pagan Uhtred, who in turn has his suspicions about Alfred and his cause. In series one, we saw him try to conquer the lands of the north and take on the Danes.

You might recognise David Dawson from Ripper Street, where he played Fred Best. He's also been in Banished, Peaky Blinders, The Hollow Crown and Luther. Hi stage roles earned him a Best Newcomer nomination at the 2008 Olivier Awards.

Eva Birthistle as Hild

Hild was a nun who was captured by the Danes, raped and prostituted. She was rescued by Uhtred and became his companion and lover.

Irish actress Eva Birthistle has been in Five Daughters, Waking the Dead, The Psychopath Next Door, Nightwatching, The Last Enemy and Ashes to Ashes.

Simon Kunz as Odda the Elder

Odda the Elder is a brutal and politically astute ealdorman who even kills his own son for treason. He fights alongside Alfred and shares the King's suspicions about Uhtred.

If Simon Kunz looks familiar, that's probably because you've seen him in everything from Four Weddings & A Funeral to Golden Eye to The Parent Trap – to say nothing of his roles in Captain America: The First Avenger, Alan Patridge: Alpha Papa, and Walking with the Enemy.

Mark Rowley as Finan

Every hero needs a sidekick, and Finan is a fierce Irish warrior sworn to Uhtred. He'll be appearing for the first time in series two.

Mark Rowley played Stephen Banks in Home Fires, and also starred as Piers in Young Dracula and Jamie McAllister in River City.