David Farnor | On 05, Sep 2019

James Purefoy, Paul Rhys and Sheila Hancock are joining A Discovery of Witches for Season 2, and we’ve got our first look at the show’s return.

The second season of the hit Sky drama, adapted from Shadow of Night, Deborah Harkness’s second novel in the bestselling All Souls trilogy, will transport us to Elizabethan England. Set in a world where witches, vampires and daemons secretly live and work alongside humans, hidden in plain sight, we catch up with Matthew (Matthew Goode, Downton Abbey) and Diana (Teresa Palmer, Hacksaw Ridge) on the streets of London, where they are hiding in time from the Congregation. Here in Elizabethan London, they must find a powerful witch teacher to help Diana control her magic and search for the elusive Book of Life.

Joining Goode and Palmer for Season 2 are a host of impressive names, including Steven Cree (Outlander), Sheila Hancock (Doctor Who), James Purefoy (The Following) and Paul Rhys (Vincent and Theo).

Cree stars as Gallowglass De Clermont, a vampire and soldier of fortune who is particularly fond of his uncle, Matthew. James Purefoy plays the role of Philippe De Clermont, founder of the Congregation, commander of the Knights of Lazarus, mate of Ysabeau, and stepfather to Matthew. Paul Rhys is Andrew Hubbard, the vampire ruler of all creatures in London in 1590 and Sheila Hancock will appear as elder witch Goody Alsop.

Other cast members for Season 2 include Barbara Marten (Casualty) as Queen Elizabeth, Jacob Ifan (Cuffs) as Benjamin Fuchs, Holly Aird (Waking the Dead) as Francoise, Michael Lindall (Deep State) as Sir Walter Raleigh, Adam Sklar (Faceless) as Henry Percy, Joshua Pickering as Jack Blackfriars, Elaine Cassidy (Harper’s Island) as Louise De Clermont, Victoria Yeates (Call the Midwife) as Elizabeth Jackson / Water Witch, Adrian Rawlins (Chernobyl) as William Cecil, Lois Chimimba (Doctor Who) as Catherine Streeter/ Fire Witch, Amy McAllister (Philomena) as Marjorie Cooper/Earth Witch, Milo Twomey (Mother, Father, Son) as Pierre and the recently announced Tom Hughes (Victoria) playing Kit Marlowe.

The ten-part season, produced by the award-winning Bad Wolf, will also see the return of Owen Teale (Game of Thrones), Alex Kingston (Doctor Who), Lindsay Duncan (The Honourable Woman), Valarie Pettiford (Half & Half), Edward Bluemel (The Commuter), Aiysha Hart (Line of Duty), Trevor Eve (Waking the Dead), Malin Buska (The Girl King), Gregg Chillin (Being Human), Trystan Gravelle (Mr Selfridge), Tanya Moodie (Sherlock), Aisling Loftus (War and Peace) and Daniel Ezra (All American).

Indeed, alongside the Elizabethan action, back in the present day, we will also catch up with Diana’s beloved aunts, Sarah and Em, must take shelter with notorious witch hunter Ysabeau De Clermont at her ancestral home, Sept-Tours. Meanwhile, in Oxford, Marcus and Miriam take on Matthew’s mantle to protect daemons Nathaniel and Sophie, whose pregnancy is advancing. And Gerbert, Knox, Satu and Domenico are determined to hunt down every clue they can to Diana’s and Matthew’s disappearance, and the secrets their allies are keeping from them.

Cameron Roach, Sky Studios Director of Drama, says: “After the success of season one, we are really excited for the next instalment of A Discovery of Witches, as we continue to follow the love story of Diana and Matthew and their adventures in Elizabethan London. We have a great cast lined up and a unique historical setting, which we hope will further enchant fans.”

Jane Tranter, Executive Producer, Bad Wolf, adds: “To have such high calibre talent joining an already exceptional ensemble is a testament to Deborah Harkness’ brilliant novels, Pete McTighe and Susie Conklin’s scripts and to the immensely talented cast and crew working to bring all to life. The bar was set high with season one but season two is already shaping up to take fans into a new realm as we follow Diana and Matthew into Elizabethan England. With cast like this they will not be disappointed.”

Production on Season 2 is currently underway in Cardiff.

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