The excitement is building for Vigil season 2 as we finally have a release date: Sunday, December 10 at 9 pm on BBC One. Plus we at last have a trailer!
The highly-anticipated sequel will see DCI Amy Silva (Suranne Jones) and DS Kirsten Longacre (Rose Leslie) look into a dark conspiracy in the world of the British Air Force in a brand new investigation.
Following a string of suspicious fatalities the pair must enter the secret world of drone warfare to catch a killer — and we can hardly wait!
“I’m delighted that Suranne and Rose are returning to reprise their roles as DCI Amy Silva and DI Kirsten Longacre," said the show's creator Tom Edge in a BBC statement. "I'm grateful to the BBC for the opportunity to take them on a thrilling new adventure. World Productions have built a fantastic reputation for twisting, turning thrillers and this one corkscrews with the best of them.”
A big hit when it premiered in 2021, the first series of Vigil saw DCI Silva board a nuclear submarine to investigate a death, before uncovering a mysterious international conspiracy that threatened the lives of everyone on board.
With more than 10 million viewers tuning in to watch the first episode in the week following its release, it was the UK's most successful original drama since Bodyguard launched in 2018.
Now creator Tom Edge has penned a second series, with Suranne Jones and Rose Leslie both returning, plus some exciting new stars. Here's everything we know so far...
Vigil season 2 release date
Vigil season 2 will start on BBC One on Sunday 10 December on BBC One at 9 pm. Episode 2 will then air on Monday 11 December at 9 pm. And then the third on Tuesday evening.
Here's the complete release schedule:
6am Sunday 10 December – episodes one, two and three available on BBC iPlayer
9pm Sunday 10 December – episode one TX on BBC One
9pm Monday 11 December – episode two TX on BBC One
9pm Tuesday 12 December – episode three TX on BBC One
6am Sunday 17 December – episodes four, five and six available on BBC iPlayer
9pm Sunday 17 December – episode four TX on BBC One
9pm Monday 18 December – episode five TX on BBC One
9pm Tuesday 19 December – episode six TX on BBC One
The series was filmed in Scotland and Morocco in the Spring of 2023. We don't have a US release date yet.
Vigil season 2 plot
An official synopsis from the BBC reads as follows...
"Following multiple deaths at a Scottish weapons test, Silva and Longacre are tasked with finding out the cause. Entering the closed ranks of the air force in Scotland and the Middle East, the pair face the deadly warfare of tomorrow as they fight for their own uncertain future."
Creator Tom Edge had previously dropped a few hints that he would look for a different setting for the drama.
“We have probably told as many of the stories as we would wish to tell on a submarine,” he told Radio Times. “But some of the characters that we have developed as we’ve made it, they feel like characters that we’d love to burrow into. So if there’s a will to do it from everyone else then certainly I would be up for it.”
Vigil season 2 cast
Suranne Jones will be back as DCI Amy Silva, and Rose Leslie will return as her fellow detective and love interest, DS Kirsten Longacre.
Viewers really warmed to the pair during the first season and we'd certainly like to see how their relationship develops.
“I’m thrilled to be joining the Vigil team again and continuing our story," said Suranne Jones in an official statement. "We have brilliant new scripts and some amazing additions to the cast. Buckle up. It’s quite a ride!"
Rose Leslie added: “I’m delighted to team up with Suranne again and continue Amy and Kirsten’s adventures through a second series of Vigil. Tom Edge has created another gripping case for us to grapple with in a whole new setting.”
Gary Lewis (His Dark Materials, Granite Harbour) will also returns as DSU Robertson, few other cast members from the first series look set to come back - which isn't really that surprising!
However big stars such as Romola Garai (Becoming Elizabeth, The Hour) and Dougray Scott (Crime, Enigma) will also be joining the show.
Romola Garai says: “It’s a huge privilege to be welcomed in as a part of Vigil series two and to be playing such a layered, complex character. I can only hope to do justice to the shows continued fascinating, challenging and thrilling storytelling.”
Dougray Scott adds: “I’m delighted to be joining the cast of Vigil series two - the first was so highly regarded and widely watched, and I’m really looking forward to collaborating with Tom Edge and Andy De Emmony. Suranne Jones and Rose Leslie are great talents and I’m excited to be working with them.”
They'll be joined by fellow new arrivals, Amir El-Masry (SAS Rogue Heroes, Limbo), David Elliot (The Liberator, Bulletproof), Chris Jenks (Sex Education, Karen Pirie), Tommy Sim’aan (The Midwich Cuckoos, Doctors), Oscar Salem (House of the Dragon, Des), Jonathan Ajayi (Noughts + Crosses) and Hiba Medina in her first major TV role. All of whom will be playing key roles across the six new episodes.
Suranne Jones on Vigil season 2
How does it feel to be returning to the world of Vigil?
"I was honestly quite excited about how they were going to do the second series, because the first one was so specific and such a ride! Tom Edge and the writers have done a brilliant job at putting a new world together and it feels fresh, exciting and fully grounded in the world that we know from the first series – albeit with a brand new story and a brand new mystery for Amy to unravel!"
Did you feel any pressure returning, given the success of the first series?
"There’s a big expectation because the show attracted so many viewers, won an International Emmy and was also nominated for a BAFTA, so these are quite big shoes to fill! It wasn’t a worry of mine particularly as you do the job the best you can and enjoy it."
The romance between Amy and Kirsten was a central part of the first series, where do we find them this time round?
"One of the things I love about Vigil is that it’s a story of two very strong-willed women who’ve come into a relationship, but don’t want to give up their calling and independence. Then on top of that you’ve got the drones, deals, politics and warfare."
The first series was famous for its twists and turns, are we going to be seeing more of that this year?
"Yes, absolutely! I think the magic of Vigil is that Amy is the audience in a way. In series one on the submarine, she kept pointing a finger at different people but every time she had a lead, that person had something but it wasn’t the main crime so it led her to something else. We’ve managed to do that again in this series. I also think it’s brave to tackle the issues and ask some of the questions that you see in the series. It’s entertainment, but it’s also quite thoughtful about what’s going on in the world."
Will there be as much action this time around?
"One of the things I love about Vigil is the stunts and there are some brilliant fight scenes this time. I had four great stunt women for this series and all of them allowed me to do as much as I could so I ended up with lots of bruises, but they were so worth it!"
Was Rose Leslie pregnant while filming Vigil season 2?
Yes she was and says the writers tweaked the storyline when they heard...
"I told them my very happy news via zoom," says Rose, who plays DI Kirsten Longacre. "Their first response was to see how they could incorporate it into the script! They were fantastic and continued to be incredibly supportive throughout – particularly shooting me in the first seven weeks of filming!"
Suranne Jones added.. "Even when Rose had to go and have her real baby, the sound department did this wonderful thing where they recorded her dialogue so when I had the phone calls with her, they’d play Rose on the phone so it felt like she was there for the whole shoot!"
Is there a trailer?
Yes. See top of article!
