Sanditon season 2: Release date, plot and latest news on Jane Austen drama
Sanditon season 2 will come to ITV in July 2022 – with many new mysterious men arriving in the wake of Theo James' exit.
Inspired by Jane Austen’s final, unfinished novel, Sanditon is finally returning to ITV for its second season, following its run on BritBox.
The sumptuous period drama left fans calling for more with the first season’s heart-wrenching finale, with fans were gutted when Sanditon was cancelled by ITV after just one series.
However, after 18 months of solid campaigning from fans, period drama Sanditon was thankfully revived for two more seasons.
A trailer for Sanditon season 2 was previously released, poking fun at how close the show came to a premature end.
"Charlotte, are you not excited to be returning?" Rose Williams' lead character is asked.
Anne Reid's Lady Denham later says to the young Miss Heywood: "I'd rather thought we'd seen the last of you."
The trailer also hints at the new romantic adventures awaiting Charlotte Heywood (Rose Williams) as she returns to the seaside town of Sanditon alongside her tearaway younger sister, Alison (Rosie Graham).
Alison quickly attracts the attention of not one, but two new men in the form of newcomers Captain Declan Fraser (Frank Blake) and Captain William Carter (Maxim Ays) in the upcoming series.
Here’s everything you need to know about Sanditon season 2.
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Sanditon season 2 release date
Sanditon season 2 will begin airing on ITV on 22nd July 2022 at 9pm.
Sanditon season 2 previously premiered on BritBox UK on Monday 21st March 2022, just one day after its US debut on PBS Masterpiece.
Will Sanditon season 2 be on ITV?
Sanditon season 2 begins airing on ITV at 9pm on Friday 22nd July 2022.
The series will air episodes weekly on the terrestrial channel and will also be available on ITV Hub.
The first season is currently available to watch on ITV Hub.
Sanditon season 2 trailer
A trailer for Sanditon season 2 has been released by BritBox, giving fans a glimpse of Charlotte's new love interest following her heartbreak in the previous season.
Sanditon season 2 cast: Who is returning and who is new?
The following cast members star in Sanditon season 2.
- Rose Williams as Charlotte Heywood
- Kate Ashfield as Mary Parker
- Crystal Clarke as Georgiana Lambe
- Turlough Convery as Arthur Parker
- Jack Fox as Sir Edward Denham
- Kris Marshall as Tom Parker
- Anne Reid as Lady Denham
- Lily Sacofsky as Clara Brereton
- Charlotte Spencer as Esther, Lady Babington (née Denham)
- Maxim Ays as Captain William Carter
- Frank Blake as Captain Declan Fraser
- Rosie Graham as Alison Heywood
- Ben Lloyd-Hughes as Alexander Colbourne
- Alexander Vlahos as Charles Lockhart
- Tom Weston-Jones as Colonel Francis Lennox
Rose Williams (who plays Charlotte Heywood) is returning, which is good because she's the lead actress. She tweeted: "Couldn’t be more thrilled. The continued support for our show has been so appreciated and.....effective! Can’t wait to step into Charlotte’s shoes again."
Kris Marshall is also back as Tom Parker, and Crystal Clarke will be back as Georgiana Lambe. Also returning are Turlough Convery (Arthur Parker), Lily Sacofsky (Clara Brereton), and Anne Reid (Lady Denham). We await news on Leo Suter and several other stars from season one.
The show has unfortunately lost its previous lead actor, as Theo James (Sidney Parker) has confirmed he is not taking part in future seasons.
Instead, there'll be a host of new characters set to keep up entertained in the new series.
Among the newcomers are military leader Colonel Francis Lennox (Tom Weston-Jones) and his subordinates Captain Declan Fraser (Frank Blake) and Captain William Carter (Maxim Ays).
The latter two set their sights on Charlotte’s younger sister, Allison (Rose Graham), who comes to Sanditon to pursue her own romantic dream.
Meanwhile, Charlotte also gets a new potential love interest when she takes on the challenge of being governess to Augusta Markham (Eloise Webb) and Leo Colbourne (Flora Mitchell) – and becomes acquainted with their guardian Alexander Colbourne (Ben Lloyd-Hughes).
Another newcomer is Charles Lockhart (Alexander Vlahos), an enigmatic artist who is intrigued by Georgiana Lambe (Crystal Clarke).
Why isn't Theo James returning to Sanditon?
News of Sanditon's renewal was quickly followed by another very important update: Theo James is bowing out. The actor starred as Sidney Parker in season 1, but he has not signed up to the second (or third) season of the show.
"Although I relished playing Sidney, for me, I've always maintained that his journey concluded as I wanted it to," he said in a statement. "The broken fairy-tale like ending between Charlotte and Sidney is different, unique and so interesting to me and I wish the cast and crew every success with future series."
Since Sanditon season 1 went off-air, Theo James has appeared in The Witcher (as Young Vesemir) and starred in the movie Archive, alongside Toby Jones, Lia Williams and Stacy Martin. He is currently filming the part of Henry in The Time Traveler's Wife TV series, which presumably will keep him busy for quite some time; it's possible there was a filming clash with Sanditon.
In February 2020, Belinda Campbell told Vulture in that Sidney and Charlotte would "absolutely" get together in season two if the show was recommissioned.
On the season 1 ending – which saw Sidney reject Charlotte, feeling it was his family duty to marry for money – she said: "I take no satisfaction after the fact that a lot of people want that happily ever after. And we would love the opportunity to give it to them. Of course Sidney is going to find a way around it! He’s our hero!" However, she also suggested that the season one finale was a satisfying place to leave the story, because "whilst it might not be a Jane Austen ending, it is the reality of how many love stories would’ve ended. So there is a complete story arc there."
Sanditon season 2 plot
Here's the official announcement: "The drama will continue to follow the high-spirited and independent heroine, Charlotte Heywood (Rose Williams) as she returns to the picturesque coastal resort of Sanditon. Charlotte’s journey is one thread of an intricate tapestry of compelling stories full of intrigue, excitement, and romance. Against the backdrop of beautiful vistas, familiar faces return and new inhabitants are introduced – all of whom will be having adventures as joyous and surprising as the seaside town itself."
We are also assured by the programme-makers: "While Sidney Parker will not return, rest assured that an abundance of romance & adventure lies ahead for the Sanditon heroine. We can’t wait for you to see what we have in store."
Andrew Davies, who originally created and led the series, will return to write several episodes and executive produce the drama. And Justin Young, who wrote four episodes of the first season, will step up to develop new seasons and take the role of lead writer and executive producer. Janice Okoh joins the show as a writer.
How many seasons of Sanditon will there be?
So far, seasons 2 and 3 have been confirmed! It remains to be seen whether this is a series which will run and run, or whether it season 3 will bring the story to a conclusion.
While you're waiting for Sanditon season 2, take a look at the rest of our Drama coverage, or check out what else is on with our TV guide.
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