Nightsleeper adds Merlin icon and more to season 2 cast as hit BBC thriller resumes filming

The BBC has announced the cast of Nightsleeper season 2, with Colin Morgan among the new additions, while also announcing that filming has kicked off.

The second season of the BBC thriller, which was renewed earlier this year, will look very different to the first season – with the action moving from the rails to open water, and following a Belfast-to-Liverpool passenger ferry as it becomes the target of a potentially deadly hack-attack.

“With the crew desperately trying to hide the extent of the threat from the passengers, the ferry’s second engineer Johnny must work with the National Cyber Security Centre’s new technical director, Bo, to try and fight back," the synopsis continues. "But as the tide turns, secrets surface and fear floods the decks; it isn’t long before those on land are all at sea too…”

Morgan (Merlin) will portray Stephen ‘Bo’ Bowen, and he’ll be joined by Madeleine Mantock (The Long Song) and Christian Cooke (Rematch) in the lead cast as Beth and Johnny.

Other new additions to the cast in season 2 include Rupert Penry-Jones (Spooks), who joins the cast as Richard, Ian McElhinney (Game of Thrones) as Charlie, Sally Lindsay (The Madame Blanc Mysteries) as Lisa, Alexander Arnold (Fuze) as Feeny, Lydia Page (The Confessions of Frannie Langton) as Lola, Christine Bottomley (Sherwood) as Tanya and Julie Dray (Crashing) as Ray.

Also joining are Pooky Quesnel (Tip Toe) as Sam, Jonathan Harden (Time) as Simon, Mickey Mason (Silo) as Damian, Kevin Harvey (This City is Ours) as Tony, Cúán Hosty-Blaney (House of Guinness) as Liam, Eileen O’Higgins (Brooklyn) as Jo, Samuel Edward-Cook (Peaky Blinders) as Connor, Emily Flain (How to Get to Heaven from Belfast) as Eabha, Tareq Al-Jeddal (Ridley) as Albie and Sam Hoare (The Capture) as Rusper.

Fans can expect some familiar faces from the first season, too, with Parth Thakerar (Brassic, Gangs of London), Jonjo O’Neill (Bad Sisters, Andor) and Micah Balfour (EastEnders, Midsomer Murders) set to return as Saj, Hud and Leon.

Behind the camera, the series is penned by Nick Leather and produced by Element Pictures for BBC iPlayer and BBC One.

Leather said in a statement: “It’s so much fun to be embarking on a second Nightsleeper journey on a route I know so well with the Belfast-to-Liverpool ferry as our new box-of-tricks. We’ve assembled such a wonderful cast, I’m so excited about our story and I can’t wait to welcome the audience onboard for a non-stop night to remember…”

Although the first season received mixed reviews from critics, it amassed a strong viewership, becoming the BBC's biggest launch drama of 2024 with 8.5 million tuning into episode 1.

Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, added: “We're thrilled to have Colin, Madeleine and Christian lead this new series of Nightsleeper. Nick has delivered another brilliantly gripping story, and with danger lurking beneath the surface at every turn, viewers are in for a truly nail-biting journey.”

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