The cast and crew of Hope Street are promising more gripping storylines and some intriguing new characters as the second series of the popular police drama returns to our screens next week.
The series, which returns to the fictional town of Port Devine on the Northern Ireland coast, will return to BBC Daytime and BBC One NI after proving a hit with fans across the UK and beyond when it first aired last year.
Filming resumed in Donaghadee earlier this year, with each episode featuring its own self-contained crime story.
Read more: Everything you need to know about BBC NI's police drama Hope Street as return date confirmed
Series one and two were commissioned as part of the partnership between the BBC and Northern Ireland Screen and a co-commission between BBC Daytime, BBC Northern Ireland and BritBox International.
The series is executively produced by Paul Marquess, Donna Wiffen and produced by Leon McGeown-Fee from Long Story TV.
Donna said: "I know the viewers all enjoyed season one and we've got some new characters coming into this second series alongside some great storylines with lots of emotional pull."
Leon added: "In January 2021, I got the scripts for Hope Street season one and I was thrilled because I was finally reading a script that was set in Northern Ireland, populated by a Northern Irish cast and crew and not informed by the last 30 years but by the people who live here.
"I feel that in series two, the scripts are better than the first. Series one was great but this one is a step up."
The second series will reveal the fate of Inspector Finn O’Hare, played by Enniskillen actor Ciaran McMenamin, after the first series’ dramatic cliff-hanger.
Also back are Broadway star Rachel Tucker as his wife Siobhan O'Hare and North Belfast's very own Kerri Quinn as Sergeant Marlene Pettigrew.
Finn’s been off work for six months – since he was injured in a car crash – so Marlene is Acting Inspector.
Ciaran said: "In series two, Finn is going through a lot of stuff himself. He's trying to put together a lot of his own past and that gets in the way of his relationship and it affects his family.
"He's the kind of person who is always there for everybody else and that other people rely on and at times, as we will discover in series two, the only person he doesn't put first is Finn O’Hare.
Meanwhile Kerri says viewers can expect to see a different side to her character: "There's always been a bit of mystery to Marlene so this time we get to see the softer and possibly romantic side.
"We delve into her personal life a bit more and you see a more tender Marlene. We touched briefly on her sexuality but we just needed to give it that time and tenderness and that's what we've been focusing on in the earlier episodes of season two."
Elsewhere Niall Wright is back in the role of PC Callum McCarthy.
"Hopefully Callum will be given a bit more responsibility this year and investigations to lead. He's been here for over a year and a half and has been puppy walked by Marlene enough so he thinks he can up his game and step up to the plate a little bit more," Niall said.
Portadown actor Aaron McCusker who plays Clint Devine-Dunwoody returns alongside his on-screen wife and bubbly pub landlady Nicole, played by Niamh McGrady.
"Clint and Nicole are an interesting match. He's her little bit of rough but he absolutely adores her. Ultimately Clint makes Nicole feel like a princess every day. That's what she needs and why it works," Niamh said.
Aaron added: "Series one ended with Clint revealing to Nicole that he could actually have children. She wants kids and he has a child already, a little daughter, who we meet in series two."
A new face in this series is an old friend of Finn's - DC Al Quinn played by Stephen Hagan - and his onscreen daughter Taylor Quinn, portrayed by Sade Malone.
When we first meet Al in episode one, he's working undercover to crack a new case but according to producer Leon, the series will also delve into his darker side "in a really exciting way".
"I think the viewers will feel excitement and jeopardy in a way that they didn't last year," she added.
"My character is a bit of a blow in. He's new to Hope Street and wants to join in with the fun and games of the police station," Stephen said.
"Finn was a bit of a mentor to Al when they were younger in Belfast so they're very close."
Ciaran added: "In many ways Al is Callum maybe ten years down the line. This guy Finn had under his wing and saw a bit of his younger self in him and now this guy is working undercover and a bit of a legend in his own right. To have Al come back into the police station gives Finn a real lift."
Newcomer Sade also explained her role: "Taylor enters the series with a bang - quite literally - as she's on her motorbike, takes off her helmet to find her dad as the new DC in Port Devine.
"She has grown up with a cop father so I think she doesn't quite understand the consequences of what will happen. In a way I think she's quite naive and thinks she's more grown up than she is."
As series two progresses, a big love triangle develops and at the heart of that is Siobhan, as Rachel explains: "Siobhan has had to restart her life again. She's had (cancer) surgery and felt dormant as there's been no love there in the past year.
"Al was there to give it all to her so a love triangle develops where Siobhan is absolutely there for Finn and whenever he's ready. That's not happening so Al is there to give Siobhan what she needs - that womanly attention, time and affection - and she falls for it."
Brid Brennan also reprises the role of Concepta O’Hare, Des McAleer returns as former RUC officer and current taxi man, Barry Pettigrew while the cast features a range of young Northern Irish actors including Louis McCartney (Shay O’Hare) and Ellie Lavery (Niamh O’Hare).
Also joining the cast to play an exciting array of new characters are actors Ian Kenny (The Owners), Sophie Robinson (Rebellion), Marty Maguire (Vikings), Daniel Carlin (Blackrock), Niall Cusack (The Lost City of Z), Michael Byers (Mr Selfridge), Brigid Lohrey (If I Don't Lose, I'll Lose), Conor Grimes (Mrs Wilson), Cathy White (Nurses), Erin Galway Kendrick (Little Women) and Chris McCurry (Belfast) and Enya Doran.
Hope Street returns on Monday November 7 at 7pm on BBC One Northern Ireland and BBC iPlayer. Series one is still available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.
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