ITV drama The Tower proved hugely popular when it first aired in 2021 and with the show being based on a series of novels by Kate London, it was only natural that the series would be renewed.

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Well, as well as The Tower 2: Death Message set to land on our screens in the coming days, we also now know that the series has been commissioned for a third series.

As for now, fans have another gripping four-part series to look forward to as we once again focus on DS Sarah Collins (Gemma Whelan) and PC Lizzie Adama (Tahirah Sharif), who are navigating life after the dramatic events of season 1.

They take on parallel new cases, coming face-to-face once again - but will they be able to get to the bottom of their investigations in spite of their own personal differences?

But when can we expect the new series to land on ITV? Read on for everything you need to know about The Tower season 2.

The Tower 2: Death Message release date

Stuart McQuarrie as Jim Fedden and Gemma Whelan as DS Sarah Collins in The Tower 2: Death Message.
Stuart McQuarrie as Jim Fedden and Gemma Whelan as DS Sarah Collins in The Tower 2: Death Message. ITV

The Tower 2: Death Message will air on ITV1 and ITVX over the August Bank Holiday weekend, premiering on Monday 28th August at 9pm on ITV1.

The four-part series will then air on consecutive nights, so if you're looking to find out what happens with these gripping cases, you'll have to stay tuned.

It's unsurprising that the show is set to return for not just one but two series as Tahirah Sharif, who plays PC Lizzie Adama, previously told RadioTimes.com and other press that she saw scope for more in the series.

She said: "[The book series] kind of follows Lizzie and Sarah, these two characters, through their personal lives and their careers and potentially meeting again in different kinds of situations. So I think purely based upon the fact that there are two other novels already written, I think it's definitely got scope to carry on."

Meanwhile Emmett J Scanlan, who plays DI Kieran Shaw, previously also told Metro.co.uk: "A lot of the stuff that I learned about Kieran isn't really in the first season. The third book that I read of Kate London's gave me a lot of insight into his character and how or why he is who he is, and why he makes the decisions that he makes."

The Tower 2: Death Message cast - Who is returning and who is new?

Tamzin Outhwaite as Cathy Teel in The Tower 2: Death Message.
Tamzin Outhwaite as Cathy Teel in The Tower 2: Death Message. ITV

Gemma Whelan, Tahirah Sharif, Emmett J Scanlan and Jimmy Akingbola are all set to return as their characters from the first season, and they will also be joined by some new cast members.

Tamzin Outhwaite, Niamh Cusack and Ella Smith have all joined the show as brand-new characters, while Stuart McQuarrie will play DCI Jim Fedden, Sarah’s new boss.

Here's a full list of the cast for The Tower II: Death Message:

  • Gemma Whelan - DS Sarah Collins
  • Tahirah Sharif - PC Lizzie Adama
  • Jimmy Akingbola - DC Steve Bradshaw
  • Emmett J Scanlan - DI Kieran Shaw
  • Ella Smith - DC Elaine Lucas
  • Tamzin Outhwaite - Cathy Teel
  • Niamh Cusack - Claire Mills
  • Charley Palmer Rothwell - Matthew Brannon
  • Michael Karim - PC Arif Johar
  • Stuart McQuarrie - DCI Jim Fedden
  • Faith Delaney - Skye Brannon
  • Brian McCardie - Ray Walker
  • Bobby Lockwood - DC Lee Coutts
  • Rosalie Craig - Katherine Herringham
  • Rebecca Calder - Abigail Levy
  • Tristan Sturrock - Adrian Stephenson
  • Camilla Beeput - Julie Woodson
  • Jack Shalloo - PC Colin Ryle
  • Laurie Delaney - Mary Shaw
  • Mark Monero - James Adama
  • Buckso Dhillon-Woolley - Nabila Adama
  • Kirsty Hoiles - Pathologist

What will The Tower 2: Death Message be about?

Emmett J Scanlan as DI Kieran Shaw in The Tower 2: Death Message.
Emmett J Scanlan as DI Kieran Shaw in The Tower 2: Death Message. ITV

Although the second season of the ITV series is based on the novel Death Message, the plots do differ, and instead of focusing on Tania Mills's disappearance the morning after the Great Storm in 1987, the series frames the disappearance on the day of Princess Diana’s funeral, 6 September 1997.

For this reason, Sarah (Whelan) has quite a personal connection to the missing girl, as she would've been a similar age as the missing teen at the time. In her new job in Homicide Command, Sarah is handed the cold case which is an impossible challenge but Sarah quickly uncovers new leads and clues previous investigations had overlooked.

Meanwhile, Lizzie returns to Fallow Station after the events of season 1, and her first call out with Arif Johar (Michael Karim) is to a domestic violence complaint against Mark Brannon (Charley Palmer Rothwell), who is accused of beating up his girlfriend, Georgina Teel (Rosa Coduri) and terrorising their young daughter Skye.

As per the synopsis: "Lizzie persuades Georgina to tell the truth about what Brannon has done to her, enabling Lizzie and Arif to arrest him. However, once the case gets to court, Lizzie finds herself cross-examined on the stand, leaving the whole case on a knife-edge."

As each of their investigations get underway, Lizzie and Sarah find themselves crossing paths again - but will they be able to put their differences aside for the sake of solving their cases? As the synopsis reads: "The antagonistic relationship between the experienced Sarah Collins and the novice cop Lizzie Adama is at the heart of The Tower 2, as they are forced to work together for the first time and begin to get a sense of each other’s unique strengths."

Is there a trailer for The Tower 2: Death Message?

There is! The trailer gives us a taste of the drama to come in these tragic and parallel cases that Lizzie and Sarah are faced with in this new season.

Watch the trailer below:

The Tower 2: Death Message premieres on ITV1 and ITVX at 9pm on Monday 28th August, with episodes airing consecutively across four nights. Season 1 is available to stream on ITVX now.

While you're waiting, take a look at our other Drama coverage, or find out what else is on with our TV Guide.

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Authors

Abby RobinsonDrama Editor

Abby Robinson is the Drama Editor for Radio Times, covering TV drama and comedy titles. She previously worked at Digital Spy as a TV writer, and as a content writer at Mumsnet. She possesses a postgraduate diploma and a degree in English Studies.

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