The Gone season 2: UK release date, cast and latest news

Across the six episodes, the investigation certainly intensified, but the season 1 finale delivered quite the cliffhanger – only cementing the need for more. Well, it's a good thing that season 2 is coming our way, with a UK release date having now been confirmed.

But when can we expect the second season to air? Read on for everything you need to know about The Gone season 2 – but be warned, there are major spoilers ahead.

Will there be a The Gone season 2?

Yes!

The Gone was given the green light early last year by broadcasters RTÉ and TVNZ for a second season. Filming kicked off in February last year in Auckland, New Zealand and continued in Dublin and other parts of Ireland.

New Zealander Michael Bennett and Ireland’s Anna McPartlin, are on board the second season, joined by Peter Burger and Hannah Quinn, who are directing the second season episodes.

The Gone season 2 release date

The Gone season 2 will premiere on Thursday 31st July on BBC Two at 9pm.

The series will also be released as a box set, ready to binge watch to your heart's content on BBC iPlayer.

At the time of BBC's acquisition of season 1, Sue Deeks, head of BBC Programme Acquisition, said: “Set amongst the beautiful New Zealand landscape, The Gone is an atmospheric and suspenseful mystery thriller, guaranteed to keep viewers guessing until the very end.”

The Gone season 2 cast

One of the main draws of The Gone season 1 was, undoubtedly, its leads – so fans of the crime drama will be pleased to know that Richard Flood will return as detective Theo Richter alongside Acushla-Tara Kupe as Kiwi cop Diana Huia.

In previously revealed images of the filming of season 2, Games of Thrones star Michelle Fairley was spotted with Flood, so there's plenty more to dig into in regards to her character judge Hannah Martin.

As for who may not be making an appearance in season 2, the end of season 1 obviously left on the cliffhanger that hints that Aileen Ryan (Carolyn Bracken) may have been murdered. So, it remains to be seen whether we can anticipate Aileen's continuation on in the series.

Another person who won't be seen in season 2 will be Ronan (Simon Mead) who was murdered by Mayor Ken Armstrong (Matt Whelan). Despite trying to turn a gun on himself to evade going to prison, Sinead managed to intervene and stop the fatal shot. That means we could be seeing Ken again – but will most likely be from behind bars.

The cast we'd expect to see in The Gone season 2 are as follows.

• Richard Flood as Theo Richter
• Acushla-Tara Kupe as DS Diana Huia
• Rachel Morgan as Sinead Martin
• Michelle Fairley as Hannah Martin
• Vanessa Rare as Wiki Huia
• Wayne Hapi as Buster Huia
• Manu Bennett as Tamati Davidson

What will The Gone season 2 be about?

Things definitely ended on quite the shocking note at the end of season 1, with the fate of Irish investigative journalist Aileen Ryan (Carolyn Bracken) looking rather bleak indeed.

At the end of the season 1 finale, Aileen visited the mountain shack and came across some bones but was interrupted by a mysterious figure – one she seemed to recognise. Things get even darker when Theo called her from the airport to board their flight back to Ireland now that the case is solved – but we then see that her blood-stained mobile phone is left ringing.

The official synopsis reads: "At the end of season 1, viewers were left on a cliffhanger as Irish journalist Aileen Ryan had gone missing. Series two picks up at the same point, continuing the drama.

"Having solved the case of a missing Irish couple, Dublin detective Theo Richter is about to leave Mount Affinity in New Zealand when he discovers that Aileen is missing. Once again, he pairs up with Kiwi detective Diana Huia (Acushla-Tara Kupe), who leads a desperate search for Aileen."

It continues: "When it appears she went missing while chasing a lead on the town's historical Mountain Murders, the detectives enter a game of cat and mouse with 'The Goatman', who is back and more dangerous than ever.

"Game of Thrones actress Michelle Fairley reprises her role as Judge Hannah Martin in season two of The Gone. Her character is still in the small rural town of Mount Affinity trying to heal her traumatised daughter Sinéad, who is unravelling after her experience of being abducted."

Is Aileen dead? Or has she been seriously hurt? Either way, we're sure Aileen stumbled across something larger afoot in New Zealand. Whether it's connected to the Fallon family remains to be seen, but seeing as Aileen has spent years investigating the Irish drug family, it's certainly likely that it could be someone Aileen's come across in her own research.

Lest we forget that the local people also thought that Sinead and Ronan's disappearance had the same hallmarks as a 17-year-old mountain murder, so it's very likely that season 2 could delve further into that larger case and its implications on the community.

Is there a trailer for The Gone season 2?

There is! You can get a taste of the drama to come below.

The Gone is available to watch on iPlayer, with season 2 landing on BBC Two on Thursday 31st July at 9pm.

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