Filming has begun in Northern Ireland on the return of the BBC’s hit World War Two drama. World On Fire tells the story of the war through the eyes of ordinary people whose lives have been thrown into chaos.
Set in October 1940, lone pilots are sent to destroy German bombers prowling the skies above Manchester as the Northern Blitz begins. The true reality of war has arrived in Britain.
Series two will take viewers from the streets of Britain into occupied France, Nazi Germany, and to the sands of the North African desert, where British troops struggle alongside Indian Sappers and Australian Diggers to adapt to a very different kind of combat. The six new episodes are written by series creator Peter Bowker, Rachel Bennette and Matt Jones.
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Returning cast includes Lesley Manville as Robina, Jonah Hauer-King as Harry, Julia Brown as Lois, and Zofia Wichlacz as Kasia, with Blake Harrison as Stan, Eugénie Derouand as Henriette, Eryk Biedunkiewicz as Jan, and Cel Spellman as Joe. Joining the cast for series two are Mark Bonnar ( Guilt , Line Of Duty ), Ahad Raza Mir ( Resident Evil , Hum Tum ) and Gregg Sulkin ( Runaways , Pretty Smart ).
World On Fire is made by Mammoth Screen for the BBC and Masterpiece with support from Northern Ireland Screen. The first series aired on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in autumn 2019, where it averaged 6.7 million viewers (30-day consolidated data).
World On Fire creator and writer Peter Bowker said: “The second season of World On Fire has been a long wait due to a certain pandemic and this makes the beginning of filming especially exciting. It has been a real joy to pick up the story with our inspirational cast, both our established regulars and new and exciting talent who have embraced the show’s scale and ambition.
“How the conflict played out in North Africa is a fascinating and little-explored history and we are aiming to redress that balance with stories of struggle and friendship. Our diverse cast will continue to reflect the global nature of the conflict.”
Ben Irving, Acting Director of BBC Drama added: “With a range of intriguing, untold stories that put ordinary people at the centre of history, and a first-rate ensemble of both new and returning characters, it’s a real pleasure to see filming on World On Fire series two now underway.”
The second series will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in 2023.
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