Patience season 2 premieres tonight on Channel 4, giving a much-loved Yorkshire city some time in the spotlight.

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The series follows autistic criminologist Patience Evans (played by Ella Maisy Purvis) as she assists a local police force with their work investigating various grisly murders. Or at least, that's what the premise used to be.

In season 2, Patience is rather rudely discouraged from attending any more crime scenes by new top detective Frankie Monroe (Jessica Hynes), who abruptly replaces her mentor Bea Metcalf (Laura Fraser).

It's as yet unclear what the new normal will look like for Patience, but we do know that the season 2 premiere will take her to a grand cathedral in the north of England – where a gruesome incident has occurred.

Without any further teasing, here's all the details on where Channel 4 drama Patience was filmed.

Where is Channel 4's Patience filmed?

Patience (Ella Maisy Purvis) in York with Bea (Laura Fraser) Will (Ali Ariaie) and Jake (Nathan Welsh) standing together with a castle on a hill in the background
Patience (Ella Maisy Purvis) with Bea (Laura Fraser), Will (Ali Ariaie) and Jake (Nathan Welsh). Channel4/EagleEyeDrama/RobertViglasky

Patience was filmed across two primary locations: York, England and Antwerp, Belgium.

Speaking to The Yorkshire Post, screenwriter Matt Baker explained that the lead character's fascination with puzzle solving is reflected in the show's unique setting.

"There's something about York itself, which is a little bit like a maze; it's got all these old pathways, snickets, cut throughs and small passageways," he explained. "It has an iconic quality which is probably underrepresented on screen."

In the image above, from Patience season 1, you can also see York Castle (also known as Clifford's Tower) – an iconic structure that dates back to the time of William the Conquerer.

In addition, the early episodes showed off other sights that residents and visitors to York will be familiar with, including the Shambles – an antique high street often compared to Harry Potter's Diagon Alley.

A behind-the-scenes photo of Patience season 2 being filmed outside York Minster. Ella Maisy Purvis is sat on the cathedral steps, while a TV camera hangs down from a metal branch before her
Ella Maisy Purvis on the set of Patience season 2 in York Channel 4 / Amy Brammall

Patience star Ella Maisy Purvis said: "York was just magical. Walking through The Shambles at around 3 or 4 o'clock felt like you were in some sort of Victorian film.

"I couldn't get over how much the whole place felt like a movie set, yet this was just where people actually lived. I have to admit, I'm quite prone to falling down and I’m a little clumsy – so trying to tackle those cobbles in a pair of loafers was a nightmare!"

The second season didn't skimp out on the city's most famous sights either, with the first episode being shot in and around York Minster itself – an epic cathedral, with a history dating back more than a thousand years.

Discussing her experience filming on the sight, Purvis said: "We were so lucky... It was so surreal to have it to ourselves. It's a magnificent building, and the story that envelops the Minster really added to that sense of awe."

In a nod to the show that inspired it – Astrid et Raphaëlle (also known as Astrid: Murder in Paris) – the cast and crew of Patience also descended on Antwerp, Belgium to film scenes across both seasons.

Patience co-star Nathan Welsh recalled: "Shooting in Belgium was great. The people were amazing and I felt very lucky to see so many places I probably would never have had the experience of visiting.

"My favourite place was Brussels. It was really vibrant and a little bit gritty. I live in Brixton in London and I found it quite similar in a lot of ways, culturally."

Season 2 recruit Jessica Hynes added: "I really like Belgian people – they seem to be both very serious and silly at the same time, which is how I like to be."

Patience season 2 premieres on Channel 4 at 9pm on Wednesday 7th January 2026.

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Authors

A headshot of RadioTimes.com drama writer David Craig. He is outside, smiling, wearing glasses and has a beard
David CraigSenior Drama Writer

David Craig is the Senior Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering the latest and greatest scripted drama and comedy across television and streaming. Previously, he worked at Starburst Magazine, presented The Winter King Podcast for ITVX and studied Journalism at the University of Sheffield.

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