Karen Pirie season 2 release date speculation: Plot and latest news

The show is based on a long-running and hugely popular series of novels by McDermid, meaning there's still plenty of source material for the team to work from when devising new episodes.

But with a number of months having passed since the first season arrived, can we expect to see more from the young detective? Read on for everything you need to know about Karen Pirie season 2.

Will there be a Karen Pirie season 2?

There will! It was announced on Tuesday 21st February that Karen Pirie had been renewed for a second season, to be based on the second book in Val McDermid's series A Darker Domain.

The new season will once again be written by Emer Kenny and made up of three two-hour episodes. This time, Kenny will be writing the series alongside Gillian Roger Park (Sneakerhead).

Lauren Lyle will be back to star, and she said of the new season: "I'm thrilled that we will continue the life of our fearless young detective Karen Pirie, and of course, her bumbag. I've known for a while how well the show has gone down behind the scenes so it's been a joy to see audiences want more.

"It's a creative honour to work alongside Emer Kenny with the backbone of Val McDermid's story. Season 1 was incredibly exciting building an original character we hadn't seen before. I look forward to getting the gang back together and finally being able to answer the question: 'Please say there will be a season 2?' with an 'Oh yes.'"

Meanwhile, Kenny said: "The first series of Karen Pirie was a true labour of love, so it was thrilling to receive such an amazing response from audiences. That reaction has meant we’ve been asked back to make more, and we will happily oblige - the second book is partially set in Tuscany, and we all fancy the trip!

"Thank you to everyone who watched our show, and to ITV for ordering a second round. We’ll endeavour to bring you something refreshing and riveting (with lovely Italian views)."

McDermid added: "I know the millions of viewers all over the world who loved the first Karen Pirie series will be as thrilled at this news as I am. I can't wait to see how the team bring the next book, A Darker Domain, to life!"

Kenny previously told RadioTimes.com in an exclusive interview she was "really keen to see what people respond to" in the first season in order to find out "what they like about" it and then "kind of roll with that after it comes out".

When will Karen Pirie season 2 air on ITV?

We don't know exactly when Karen Pirie season 2 will arrive on ITV, but we do know the new season will start filming in Scotland in early 2024.

This unfortunately means we are likely still quite a way off from seeing the new episodes. The earliest we are likely to see the new season is towards the end of 2024, meaning it would be arriving at least two years after the first season, which debuted in September 2022.

We'll keep this page updated as and when we get any further information.

What would Karen Pirie season 2 be about?

Karen Pirie season 2 will adapt the second novel in Val McDermid's book series, which is titled A Darker Domain.

The only confirmed details we have about the TV adaptation specifically is the following: "In this second season, Karen reopens the investigation into the unsolved kidnap of a wealthy young heiress and her baby son back in 1985."

However, we do know more about the book it will be based on. The book's blurb says: "25 years ago, a woman and her baby son were kidnapped and held to ransom.

"Catriona Grant ended up dead and little Adam's fate has remained a mystery ever since. When a new clue is discovered in a deserted Tuscan villa – along with grisly evidence of a recent murder – cold case expert DI Karen Pirie is assigned to follow the trail.

"She's already working a case from the same year. During the Miners' Strike of 1984, pit worker Mick Prentice vanished. Where did he really go? And is there a link to the Grant mystery? The truth is stranger – and far darker – than fiction."

Screenwriter Kenny previously suggested the series might not follow the order of the novels, telling RadioTimes.com that while she had been "looking at A Darker Domain", she had also actually "been looking at a couple" of McDermid's other books, too.

She continued: "You really want to make sure what you're doing feels like you should be making it now, that you're not just making it because it's the next book in the series. You're working out why this should be on TV in 2023 or 2024, whenever it will come out – so yeah we’ve been looking at them and talking about what will work."

It's clear that, after looking into it, Kenny decided A Darker Domain was the best way to take the series after all.

Karen Pirie cast: who could be back for season 2?

So far, the only casting we know for certain for the second season is that Lauren Lyle will be back. Previously, Lyle has said she would have "signed off season 2 straight away" if she could have, adding: "We didn’t want to leave the set!"

She said: "I think there’s a lot more to be done, the books are phenomenal. The next one is partially set in Tuscany, so why would we not want to do that?! But yes, she’s my favourite character I’ve ever played and the one I’ve felt most trusted with. I’ve had a lot of creative control, which is just so cool. I definitely feel we could go again if we are permitted."

Beyond Lyle's return, we'd also expect Chris Jenks to be back as DC Jason Murray, while Zach Wyatt has said he'd also like to return, as his character Phil "certainly has a lot more to offer". We also expect that the show's writer Kenny will pop up again as Karen's friend River.

It's also not out of the realms of possibility that Rakhee Thakrar could be back as Bel, although that does seem less likely.

Here's a full list of the cast we'd expect could return for Karen Pirie season 2:

• Lauren Lyle as DS Karen Pirie
• Chris Jenks as DC Jason Murray
• Zach Wyatt as DS Phil Parhatka
• Emer Kenny as River Wilde
• Steve John Shepherd as DI Simon Lees

Is there a trailer for Karen Pirie season 2?

There isn't a trailer available for Karen Pirie season 2, but we'll make sure to keep this page updated if any new footage is released. For now, you can rewatch the trailer for season 1 right here.

Karen Pirie season 1 is available to watch in full on ITVX now. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on.

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