Ludwig series 2 guest cast: All the famous faces that pop up in each episode revealed
There's stars from Extras, Smack the Pony, and EastEnders joining the line-up
Ludwig series 2 is the detective drama we’ve all been pining for, and it’s finally arriving on our screens this August – with an inspired guest star in the cast of each episode.
David Mitchell returns as the socially awkward John ‘Ludwig’ Taylor, alongside Anna Maxwell Martin as Lucy, Dipo Ola as DI Russell Carter, and Ralph Ineson as Chief Constable Ziegler.
The main cast of Ludwig is brimming with talent, and this year welcomes a new selection of guest stars too. And some of them are inspired casting.
So who plays who in the cast of each episode of Ludwig series 2? Here’s a breakdown.
Sian Clifford plays Joanne Kemper
London-born actress Sian Clifford, 44, joins the cast of Ludwig as local MP Joanne Kemper. And not just in episode 1, either. She is a regular in series 2.
Fleabag fans will know her best as long-suffering older sister Claire in the BBC comedy-drama series, a role she played between 2016 and 2019.
Period fans will know her for her portrayal of Martha Crawley in the 2018 series Vanity Fair. Other notable roles include Diana Ingram in Quiz, Ruby Allen in Liar, Tina Noakes in Two Weeks to Live, and Sylvie in Life After Life. She’s also had major roles in The Suspect, His Dark Materials, Unstable, Everyone Else Burns, and The Miniature Wife.
In 2025, she portrayed Amanda in the brilliant film The Ballad of Wallis Island, and this year stars opposite Anne Hathaway in Mother Mary.
Mark Bonnar portrays Gareth Fisher
Edinburgh-born Mark Bonnar, 57, joins the cast of Ludwig series 2 as newspaper editor Gareth Fisher. Like Sian Clifford, he’ll appear across the series and not just in episode 1.
Shetland viewers will know Mark best for playing Perez’s best friend Duncan Hunter in the BBC crime drama, Shetland. He portrayed the character for nine years, from 2013 to 2022.
Crime drama fans may also recognise him as Max in BBC Two’s Guilt and as Stephen Burns in Dept Q. Other notable roles include Detective Chief Constable Mike Dryden in series 2 of Line of Duty, Detective Finney in Psychoville, and nurse Bruno Jenkins in Casualty.
Mark has also enjoyed guest roles in Law & Order UK, Grantchester and Silent Witness. He played Colin Osbourne in ITV’s Unforgotten and showed off his comedy credentials in Channel 4’s Catastrophe.
Of course, he’s now rather infamous for his emotionally explosive outbursts on Celebrity Traitors 2025.
Ludwig episode 1 guest cast: Doon Mackichan as Portia Lowery
London-born Doon Mackichan, 63, guest stars as suspect Portia Lowery in the cast of Ludwig series 2 episode 1. She’s probably best known for being a comedic actresses. She catapulted to fame after appearing in the sketch show Smack the Pony alongside Sally Phillips. The series ran for 18 years and won several Emmys.
She frequently collaborates with Chris Morris, Armando Iannucci and Steve Coogan, having played multiple characters in the comedy series The Day Today (1994) and Brass Eye (2001). She also played the role of Cathy Whyte in the BBC One sitcom Two Doors Down on and off between 2013 and 2025.
Other notable roles include Jane Plough in Toast of London, Flavia in Plebs, and Archangel Michael in Good Omens.
Rebecca Front portrays Patricia Lowery
London-born Rebecca Front, 62, also plays a suspect in Ludwig series 2 episode 1. She is the sister of Doon Mackichan’s Portia Lowery. But which one of them killed their own mother?
Like Doon, Rebecca is best known for her comedic roles in dozens of sketch shows and series including Alan Partridge, Big Train, Nighty Night, The Day Today, Fist of Fun, and The Catherine Tate Show.
Between 2009 and 2012, Rebecca played Nicola Murray in satirical comedy The Thick of It. She won the 2010 BAFTA TV Award for Best Female Comedy Performance for the role.
She can play it straight, too. Rebecca portrayed Chief Superintendent Jean Innocent in Lewis from 2006 to 2014, Vera in Humans, and Lady Arabella Gresham in Doctor Thorne.
More recently, she played Judy in Love, Lies and Records, Lady Whitworth in Poldark, Tess in The Other One, Karen Kelly in Avenue 5, and DAC Sue Akers in The Hack. This year, she played Martin’s extremely [bleeped] off wife Fiona in The Fortune.
Michael Wildman stars as DCC Clint Radley
London-born Michael Wildman, 56, joins the cast as DCC Clint Radley, who we first encounter in MP Joanne Kemper’s house. The actor has been on our screens for three decades, but is best known for his soap roles.
Between Marc Mackenzie in the London-based Family Affairs. He went on to portray he rougish Al Chapman in Emmerdale between 2019 and 2022.
Other notable roles include Toby X in Paul Whitehouse’s Happiness, DI Martin Brook in Rellik, and Pullman in Deep State. More recently, portrayed Greggsy in Baby Reindeer, and Gustave Fernand in Maigret.
Gary Beadle stars as Phillip Mooney in the guest cast of Ludwig series 2
London-born actor Gary Beadle, 61, portrays Phillip Mooney in the cast of episode 2 of Ludwig series 2. Gary has been on our screens for more than 45 years, starting as an child actor at the age of 15.
He is most famous for playing Paul Trueman in EastEnders between was critical of his exit storyline, accusing the BBC One soap of racial stereotyping for turning his character into a drug dealer. He said: “I hate the storyline, I’m really not happy about it. It’s so unimaginative, full of stereotypes – black people and drugs, blah, blah, blah.”
Gary’s other notable roles include Gonk in Murphy’s Law, Simon in Making Out, Oliver in Absolutely Fabulous, Gary Barwick in Operation Good Guys, Archdeacon Gabriel Atubo in Grantchester, and Docker in The Interceptor. More recently, he’s played Clam Andor in Andor, Frank in Best Interests, Elyas Machera in The Wheel of Time, Kevin in Babies, and Victor Amobi in A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder.
Michelle Greenidge plays Jackie Mooney
Bradford-born Michelle Greenidge, 57, guest stars as Jackie Mooney, the mother of the bride. The actress has been on our screens since 2014 when she played Auntie Jeanie in one episode of the comedy All About the McKenzies. She went on to portray Counselor Gretel in the series Venus vs. Mars.
Over the course of the next 10 years, she popped up in episodes of TV series such as Intruders, Doctors, Timewasters, Casualty, I May Destroy You, Small Axe, and Adult Material. Between 2019 and 2022, she starred as Valerie in the brilliant Ricky Gervais comedy drama After Life.
In 2021, Michelle portrayed Rosa Babatunde in the 80s set drama It’s a Sin. It followed the lives of a group of gay men and their friends during the HIV/AIDS crisis in the UK.
More recently, she’s played DS Judith Papastathopoulos in Code 404, Lola in Mandy, Maggie Jenkins in Queenie, Carla Sunday in Doctor Who, and The Tacita in Kaos. She also popped up as Rhoda Verran in the ITV thriller Playing Nice.
Also in the cast of Ludwig series 2 episode 2
Scottish actor Rory Douglas-Speed, 34, stars as groom Tristan Price. Hollyoaks fans will know him as Joel Dexter, a role he played between
Londoner Daniel Lawrence Taylor, 43, plays best man Aiden Mooney. He’s known for playing Nick in Timewasters, Bruce in Uncle, Tom in Cockroaches, and Jason in How Not to Live Your Life.
Tsion Habte stars as bride Sienna Mooney. She’s played Makeda Kidane in ITV thriller Liar, Jess in Wedding Season, and Nicola in Too Much.
Guest cast of Ludwig episode 3
London-born Tony Jayawardena, 47, plays security guard Colin. A jobbing actor of more than 20 years, he is best known for portraying Rashid Hyatt in Ackley Bridge between 2018 and 2022. Other notable roles include Keith in Avoidance, Sir Sonny Ramphal in The Crown, Mr Michaels in The Duchess, and Sandy in The Windsors.
Joseph Ollman portrays Zack Woodson. He’s best known for starring as Vasant in Knightfall, Jesse Zeklos in Vampire Academy, and Iullus in Domina. He also played unsavoury character Mike Rice in The Guest, and Leo in The Lady.
Episode 4: Stephen Merchant guests in cast
Bristol-born Stephen Merchant, 51, guest stars as cocky snooker champ Danny Sloane who is at odds with John Ludwig. He appears in episode 4 of Ludwig series 2. He’s best known for his collaborations with Ricky Gervais in The Office, Life’s Too Short, The Ricky Gervais Show, and Extras.
He also created and starred in The Outlaws. Other notable roles include T.E.R.R.Y. in Dream Corp LLC, Stuart Pritchard in Hello Ladies, Dave Gibbs in The Big Bang Theory, and Higgins in Modern Family.
Stephen proved he can do a chilling straight role, too, when he portrayed real life killer Stephen Port in Four Lives. In 2025, the comedian portrayed Julian Chamberlain in The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon.
