“A masterclass in detective dramas”: Inside the “bigger” second series of BBC’s Lynley with “surprise” cast

When it comes to TV reboots, we all know that they can either be a big hit or a big miss, but one that falls firmly in the former camp is Lynley. When the BBC brought the beloved Tommy Lynley back to our screens earlier this year, we were given a true masterclass in detective dramas – and, fortunately for fans, it’s not over yet. A bigger and better second series is officially on the way with the help of some surprise new cast members.

It’s back to business for Leo Suter, who will return as the titular detective alongside his trusty sidekick Barbara Havers and they’re tackling some pretty weighty cases, including a mysterious death at an elite horse racing estate and a suicide on an Essex military base. The expanded cast will also see the arrival of some fresh faces, including Bad Sisters’ Deirdre Mullins (Bad Sisters, Trespasses) and The Last Knight’s Sara Stewart, who are set to cause quite a stir.

While we patiently wait for Lynley’s return to our screens, here’s everything you need to know about the new episodes, including the plot, new cast and how to watch them.

What is Lynley about?

A reboot of the long-running noughties predecessor, The Inspector Lynley Mysteries, Lynley is based on the best-selling novels by Elizabeth George and stars Leo Suter as Tommy Lynley, the brilliant police detective who’s something of an outsider in the force (thanks to his aristocratic background). He’s paired with Barbara Havers, a sergeant with a maverick attitude and a working-class background. While the pair seemingly have absolutely nothing in common, there’s one thing they agree on: that justice must be served.

In series 1, we also met DCI Brian Nies (Daniel Mays), the astute, suspicious Senior Detective at Three Counties Major Incident Team, whose aversion to Lynley was partly born of his own insecurities about class and partly because he was acutely aware that he was no longer the smartest person in the room. No spoilers if you haven’t yet seen it, but there was also a hint of love in the air, thanks to Helen Clyde (Niamh Walsh), an estate agent and Lynley’s former Oxford classmate.

What will happen in Lynley series 2?

In the upcoming second series, Detective Inspector Tommy Lynley and Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers will return to investigate more complex and compelling crimes. Among them are a suspicious death at an elite horse racing estate, violent protests at a Cambridge university, and a mysterious suicide on an Essex military base. As the cases unfold, Lynley must also confront lingering ties to his estranged aristocratic family and the allure of a formidable new Chief Superintendent in the Three Counties precinct, played by Deirdre Mullins.

The official synopsis continues: “Meanwhile, Havers pursues a newfound independence and ambition that test her professional and personal boundaries like never before. Together, Lynley and Havers continue to build on their hard-earned mutual respect, relying on each other to solve cases that strike dangerously close to home.”

Who’s in the cast of Lynley series 2?

As we mentioned, Leo Suter (The Face of Horror, Vikings: Valhalla) will return as DI Tommy Lynley, alongside Sofia Barclay (Ted Lasso) as DS Barbara Havers. Other returning cast members include:

• Daniel Mays (The Thursday Murder Club) as Chief Inspector Brian Nies
• Michael Workeye (The Moment) as DS Tony Bekele

They will be joined by the following new cast members:

• Deirdre Mullins (Bad Sisters, Trespasses) as Chief Superintendent Isabelle Ardery, the new head of the Three Counties CID
• Sara Stewart (Transformers, The Last Knight) as Countess of Asherton and Lynley’s mother
• Assad Zaman (Interview with the Vampire) as Zain Chaudhry, a charity worker and Havers’ new neighbour

Is Lynley any good?

Yes – as reboots go, it’s up there with the best of them. The cases are gritty enough to keep you hooked, but there’s a cosiness to the series, too, and a familiarity that every good reboot should have. Fans have called it “increasingly absorbing”, “surprisingly tender” and “quietly gripping”. If you’re looking for something easy to watch, you can’t go wrong with Lynley.

How can I watch Lynley series 2?

A release date hasn’t yet been announced for Lynley series 2, but we do know that it will premiere on BritBox in the US and Canada and on BBC iPlayer and BBC One in the UK. As soon as we have a confirmed date, we’ll share it here. In the meantime, you can catch up on Lynley series 1 on BBC iPlayer.

What other detective dramas can I watch now?

For a whodunnit that will surprise you, we’d recommend Dublin Murders. The eight-part series, which first aired on the BBC in 2019, introduces us to lead Detectives Rob Reilly (Killian Scott) and Cassie Maddox (Sarah Greene), who have two murder investigations on their hands that are seemingly unrelated. We soon discover, however, that they have more in common that first anticipated. Dublin Murders is available to watch now on Netflix. For a hidden gem, we’d recommend Dalgliesh. The drama takes us back to 1970s England where DCI Adam Dalgliesh (played by Bertie Carvel) solves murders in the most empathetic fashion you’ll likely have ever seen on screen detective. Dalgliesh is available to watch now on Channel 5 and Acorn TV via Prime Video. For more great detective dramas you can watch now, check out our pick of the best here.