While the second season consists primarily of new faces, Jamie Dornan is back as Elliot Stanley, while Danielle Macdonald has also returned as his girlfriend Helen Chambers.
There's also a brand new location for season 2, with Elliot and Helen heading to Ireland, where the former dodgy accountant digs into his past to secure his safety in the future.
Dornan recently explained how screenwriters Jack and Harry Williams convinced him to return for season 2, revealing that the location change was key.
He said: "My thinking was, 'Where are we going? Like, if we're doing this, where are we going?'" Dornan explained.
"Because it was a bit of an upheaval to go to Australia, and the idea of going again so soon after… I mean, these guys [co-stars Macdonald and Conor MacNeill] don't have kids, I have three kids.
"And I took them all with me, they went to school there, it was a big thing family-wise to do that. And the idea of doing that again so soon wasn't hugely appealing.
"But luckily, Jack and Harry [Williams, creators] had plans to make it something closer to home, and I probably approved those plans pretty quickly."
But what else do we know about The Tourist season 2 and when will fans be able to watch it on TV and BBC iPlayer? Read on for everything we know so far.
The Tourist season 2 release date
Jamie Dornan as Elliot Stanley in The Tourist season 2. BBC
The second season of The Tourist debuted exactly two years after the first arrived on our screens, with the first episode airing at 9pm on 1st January 2024 on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
The full season is now available on BBC iPlayer as a box set, while episodes will continue to air on BBC One in the following release schedule:
Episode 1 - Monday 1st January 2024, 9pm
Episode 2 - Tuesday 2nd January 2024, 9pm
Episode 3 - Sunday 7th January 2024, 9pm
Episode 4 - Sunday 14th January 2024, 9pm
Episode 5 - Sunday 21st January 2024, 9pm
Episode 6 - Sunday 28th January 2024, 9pm
What will happen in The Tourist season 2?
Danielle Macdonald as Helen Chambers in The Tourist 2. BBC
Season 2 will take on a very different narrative than season 1, following Elliot and Constable Helen Chambers as they travel to Ireland together one year after their adventure in the Outback.
The new season was filmed in Ireland, and will see amnesiac Elliot trying to rediscover his roots. They will soon, however, find themselves dragged into the dangerous whirlwind of his past life, with Elliot fighting his own demons and Helen finding herself left to pick up the pieces of a larger mystery. The new season will force them both to confront foes, old and new.
The official synopsis for season 2 says: "Elliot (Jamie Dornan) and Helen (Danielle Macdonald) travel to Ireland to find answers about Elliot’s identity, but instead they are forced to face the dangerous consequences of his past actions."
Who stars in The Tourist season 2?
Ruairi (Conor MacNeill) and Helen (Danielle Macdonald) in The Tourist. BBC/Two Brothers/Steffan Hill
So far, we only know three stars from The Tourist season 1 who are confirmed to return - Jamie Dornan as Elliot, Danielle Macdonald as Constable Helen Chambers and Greg Larsen as Helen's former fiancée Ethan.
Meanwhile, we know that new stars for season 2 include Conor MacNeill (The Sixth Commandment), Olwen Fouéré (The Northman), Mark Mckenna (One of Us is Lying) and Francis Magee (Kin).
Jamie Dornan as Elliot Stanley
Danielle Macdonald as Helen Chambers
Conor MacNeill as Detective Ruairi Slater
Olwen Fouéré as Niamh Cassidy
Mark Mckenna as Fergal McDonnell
Francis Magee as Frank McDonnell
Greg Larsen as Ethan Krum
The Tourist season 2 trailer
You can watch the full trailer for The Tourist season 2 right here now.
The Tourist season 2 is available to stream in full on BBC iPlayer now. Looking for something else to watch? Check out our TV Guide and Streaming Guide or visit our Drama hub for more news, interviews and features.
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James Hibbs is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering programmes across both streaming platforms and linear channels. He previously worked in PR, first for a B2B agency and subsequently for international TV production company Fremantle. He possesses a BA in English and Theatre Studies and an NCTJ Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.
George White is a Sub-Editor for Radio Times. He was previously a reporter for the Derby Telegraph and was the editor of LeftLion magazine. As well as receiving an MA in Magazine Journalism, he completed a BA in Politics and International Relations.
