We’ve all had disastrous train journeys, being stranded at a tiny regional station waiting for a replacement bus that never comes, or squashed into an overfilled carriage without a seat. But the BBC’s unmissable thriller, Nightsleeper, makes those scenarios seem like a breeze as it tells the story of a hijacked train, hurtling towards death and destruction.
Series 1 sees two strangers – a copper, played by Peaky Blinders’ Joe Cole, and a security agent (Alexandra Roach) – team up to avert the crisis, which unfolds into a claustrophobic locked-room whodunnit with all aboard the train. After the huge success of series 1, filming for the much-awaited series 2 will commence later this year – and there’s a surprise twist.
With a new cast and an entire new setting for the upcoming series of Nightsleeper, here’s everything you need to know about the second series, ahead of its release.
What is Nightsleeper about?
The first series brought us aboard a sleeper train travelling from Glasgow to London – but there was nothing sleepy whatsoever about the journey. When the train is ‘hackjacked’, two strangers, Joe Roag (Joe Cole), a cop who is a passenger on the train, and Abby Aysgarth (Alexandra Roach), the acting technical director at the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), lead the rescue mission.
As for the ‘hacker’, it’s the self-styled driver who appears to be one step of their every move. Only a handful of passengers and train staff remain – but are they all as innocent as they seem? And will they avert the disaster before it’s too late?
Joe Cole told the BBC: ‘I tried to bring the fun, cheeky bit of myself to this role, because a lot of the action heroes are just big hardmen with gruff voices. I tried to be free with it and play a real person, warts and all. I don’t have kids, although I’ve got younger brothers that I’m very close to. Hopefully, the audience will try and put themselves in the shoes of the characters in the show and try to see who they would be within that group of people,’ he added.
What to read next
What changes are in store for Nightsleeper series 2?
A new location
The big news is, we’re moving from land to sea. Series 2 of Nightsleeper will take place on a ship travelling across the Irish Sea from Belfast to Liverpool, and the official press release promises a story and surprise behind every cabin door. As well as the new setting, the cast are moving from Glasgow to film in Belfast later this year.
‘It’s so exciting to set sail on season two! The passengers and crew on tonight’s Belfast to Liverpool passenger ferry are about to experience six hours of non-stop thrills and spills, secrets and lies, triumphs and tragedies,’ the show’s writer, Nick Leather, told the BBC. ‘None of them are quite as they seem. Nothing in their lives will ever be the same again. Not all of them will make it to the other side. The new Nightsleeper is going to be more nightsleepery than ever…’
A whole new cast
As per Deadline’s reporting, the show’s stars Joe Cole and Alexandra Roach will not be returning to the cast. Instead, a whole new team will be bringing the new storyline to life. Information on specific actors is still under wraps, but we’ll be sure to update you when we find out more.
Who’s in the cast of Nightsleeper?
The cast of Nightsleeper series 1 includes:
- Joe Cole (Peaky Blinders) as Joe Roag
- Alexandra Roach (Death Valley) as Abby Aysgarth
- Alex Ferns (Romans) as Arran Moy
- Lois Chimimba (The One) as Erin Connolly
- Scott Reid (White House Farm) as Billy McCloud
- Pamela Nomvete (Lockdown) as Nicola Miller
- Parth Thakerar (Brassic) as Saj Sidhu
- David Threlfall (Shameless) as Paul Peveril
- Katie Leung (Bridgerton) as Rachel Li
- Remy Beasley (Love Is Thicker Than Water) as Meg Hooton
- Sharon Small (The Inspector Lynley Mysteries) as Liz Draycott
- Sharon Rooney (My Mad Fat Diary) as Yas Brown
Is there a trailer for Nightsleeper?
Yes – you can watch the full trailer for Nightsleeper here.
Is Nightsleeper any good?
Yes, if you’re a fan of a heart-in-mouth thriller, you’re going to love Nightsleeper. The six episodes are pacy and the cliffhangers make it impossible not to binge in one go. Joe Cole’s character is refreshing to watch – an everyday, relatable man rather than a Hollywood-style hero – making the shocking chase more relatable.
How can I watch Nightsleeper?
You can watch Nightsleeper series 1 now on BBC iPlayer.
What other thrillers can I watch now?
If you’re in the mood for another race-against-the-clock thriller, we’d suggest Hidden Assets, an explosive detective drama that takes us on a gripping cat-and-mouse chase around Europe involving international terrorist attacks and conspiracies. Hidden Assets is available to watch now on BBC iPlayer. For another travel-related thriller, we’d point you towards In Flight, with Katherine Kelly starring as a flight attendant, Jo, who’s blackmailed into becoming into an international drug smuggler. In Flight is available to watch now on Channel 4.
