BBC mystery drama Ludwig is returning for a second series, with David Mitchell back as John “Ludwig” Taylor and a cast list that brings back several familiar faces.
What the new series is about
The reclusive puzzle-setter was pulled into policing in the first season after his identical twin brother James, a detective chief inspector, vanished without explanation.
In series two, John is working officially as a Crime Scene Consultant for the Cambridge Police Authority, where he teams up with DCI Russell Carter, played by Dipo Ola, on crimes described by the BBC as seemingly “impossible”.
No longer pretending to be James, he is “more Ludwig than ever”, brilliant at puzzles but hopeless at almost everything else. The BBC says his brother’s fate still hangs over the story.
Returning cast and new additions
Alongside Mitchell and Ola, the returning cast includes Anna Maxwell Martin as Lucy Betts-Taylor, Dorothy Atkinson as DCS Carol Shaw, Ralph Ineson as Chief Constable Ziegler, Karl Pilkington as DI Matt Neville and Dylan Hughes as Henry Betts-Taylor.
New names joining the series include Mark Bonnar as newspaper editor Gareth Fisher and Sian Clifford as local MP Joanne Kemper.
Mitchell said of the new series: “At the start of this series, he’s discovered all this evidence and potential clues to the terrible thing that’s been going on that made his brother disappear.
“But it’s boxes and boxes.
“He’s quite happily pottering his way through them, trying to work out which of the conspiracy theories are absolute nonsense and which of them might have a kernel of truth.
“It’s like a big jumbo crossword that you can luxuriate over for a whole Sunday afternoon but, in this case, a Sunday afternoon might turn into months.”
The BBC has already commissioned a third series before the second one has aired. Mitchell said: “I am delighted that Ludwig will be returning to solve more of Mark Brotherhood’s brilliant mysteries.
“I can’t wait to get started and have renewed the subscription on my denouement-learning app.”
Jon Petrie, BBC Director of Comedy Commissioning, said: “Ludwig is exactly the kind of smart, distinctive, audience-pleasing show we love at BBC Comedy.
“Sharp writing, a compelling story, big laughs and, naturally, a generous helping of puzzles.
“The team at Big Talk have crafted something truly distinctive and much-loved, and we’re excited to see what mysteries Ludwig tackles next.”
Full cast list for series 2
- David Mitchell as John ‘Ludwig’ Taylor
- Anna Maxwell Martin as Lucy Betts-Taylor
- Dipo Ola as DCI Russell Carter
- Ralph Ineson as Chief Constable Ziegler
- Dorothy Atkinson as DCS Carol Shaw
- Ben Ashenden as DC Ethan Cole
- Rumi Sutton as DCI Caitlin Sullivan
- Michael Wildman as DCC Clint Radley
- Dylan Hughes as Henry Betts-Taylor
- Karl Pilkington as DI Matt Neville
- Mark Bonnar as Gareth Fisher
- Sian Clifford as Joanne Kemper
- Rebecca Front as Patricia Lowery
- Doon Mackichan as Portia Lowery
- Gillian Royale as Lilibeth Lowery
- Josh Bolt as Adam Newsum
- Bairavi Manoharan as Hannah Foster
- Daniel Lawrence Taylor as Aiden Mooney
- Gary Beadle as Phillip Mooney
- Rory Douglas-Speed as Tristan Price
- Michelle Greenidge as Jackie Mooney
- Tsion Habte as Sienna Mooney
- Lloyd Bowen as Owen Doyle
- Stephen Merchant as Danny Sloane
When it airs
Ludwig series two begins at 9pm on BBC One on Thursday, July 20. The remaining five episodes will air weekly in the same slot.
The first three episodes will also be available on BBC iPlayer after the premiere airs, with the final three episodes following in September.
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