Nightsleeper series 2: BBC One confirms thriller will return with Rupert Penry-Jones and Sally Lindsay after divisive first series
This time it's set on a ship not a train...
Nightsleeper will return for a series 2, and this time the action takes place on water. This follows the tense first series which followed an out of control sleeper train in 2024.
After two years of radio silence from the Beeb, they have now revealed the suspense thriller will be back with another set of episodes in 2027. That’s quite the wait.
This week, the broadcaster teased that Nightsleeper will “set sail for a second series on the BBC”. Here’s what we know so far, including plot, cast, start date, and location.
Is there a Nightsleeper series 2?
Following the success of the first series, the BBC has now commissioned a series 2 of Nightsleeper. The first series aired of the real-time thriller aired in 2024.
It followed the fictional Heart of Britain sleeper train travelling from Glasgow to London. Joe, an off-duty police officer travelling on the train, discovered that someone was attempting to gain control and drive the train remotely.
Desperate to save the lives of those on board, he liaised with Abby, acting technical director of the National Cyber Security Centre. With the entire UK rail network soon under attack, the pair realised everybody’s lives were at risk. The two strangers were forced to work together to save the lives of its passengers.
The series became the BBC’s biggest new drama launch of the year, with episode one reaching 8.5 million viewers. The ensemble cast was huge, and included Joe Cole, Alexandra Roach, Alex Ferns, David Threlfall, Sharon Small, Sharon Rooney, Ruth Madeley, and James Cosmos.
What is the plot of Nightsleeper series 2?
This time, the action moves from the rails to the open water. We’re told a “new high-stakes thriller unfolds aboard a ship travelling across the Irish Sea”. Specifically, the Belfast to Liverpool passenger ferry. And, behind every cabin door is another story, another surprise…
BAFTA and RTS award-winning Nick Leather wrote the upcoming series 2. He said: “It’s so exciting to set sail on season two! The passengers and crew on tonight’s Belfast to Liverpool passenger ferry are about to experience six hours of non-stop thrills and spills, secrets and lies, triumphs and tragedies.
“None of them are quite as they seem. Nothing in their lives will ever be the same again. Not all of them will make it to the other side. The new Nightsleeper is going to be more nightsleepery than ever…”
How many episodes is it?
Nightsleeper series 2 will be six episodes of one hour long, just like the first season.
Talking about Nightsleeper series 2, Executive Producer Kate Harwood said: “Nick has once again created a brilliantly tense thriller packed with new characters, twists, emotion and edge-of-your-seat drama. We can’t wait to bring this new drama from the high seas.”
Where is it filmed?
Filming is currently taking place in Belfast, as of September 2026.
Richard Williams, CEO of Northern Ireland Screen, told us: “We’re proud to support Element Pictures and the BBC as Nightsleeper returns with an exciting new story rooted in the Irish Sea. It’s wonderful to see Northern Ireland’s world-class crew, locations and creative talent playing a part in bringing this ambitious series to audiences around the world.”
When’s the start date?
With filming taking place as of now, it would be unrealistic to expect the series to land this year.
Our bet is on early 2027.
Who’s in the cast?
The Beeb has now released some exciting details about the cast. The series, which takes the form of an anthology series, has a (mostly) different cast to accompany the new adventure.
Colin Morgan, Madeleine Mantock and Christian Cooke will lead Nightsleeper series 2 cast. Rupert Penry-Jones, Ian McElhinney and Sally Lindsay also board the hit real-time thriller as it returns for a second series.
The Adventures of Merlin actor Colin Morgan plays Stephen ‘Bo’ Bowen, opposite Charmed star Madeleine Mantock as Beth. Where the Heart Is’ Christian Cooke takes the role of Johnny.
Spooks’ Rupert Penry-Jones joins the cast as Richard, Game of Thrones’ Ian McElhinney plays Charlie, and The Madame Blanc Mysteries’ Sally Lindsay is Lisa.
Also joining the ensemble cast are:
- Fuze’s Alexander Arnold as Feeny.
- Blue Jean’s Lydia Page as Lola.
- Sherwood’s Christine Bottomley as Tanya.
- Avenue 5’s Julie Dray as Ray.
- Tip Toe’s Pooky Quesnel as Sam.
- Blue Lights’ Jonathan Harden as Simon.
- Silo’s Mickey Mason as Damian.
- Time’s Kevin Harvey as Tony.
- Say Nothing’s Cúán Hosty-Blaney as Liam.
- Brooklyn’s Eileen O’Higgins as Jo.
- Peaky Blinders’ Samuel Edward-Cook as Connor.
- How to Get to Heaven from Belfast star Emily Flain as Eabha.
- Ridley’s Tareq Al-Jeddal as Albie.
- The Capture Sam Hoare as Rusper.
Brassic’s Parth Thakerar. Bad Sisters’ Jonjo O’Neill, and EastEnders’ Micah Balfour will reprise their roles as Saj, Hud and Leon from the first series.
All hands on deck! 📸 Colin Morgan, Madeleine Mantock and Christian Cooke lead the cast of Nightsleeper series 2
Set on board a Belfast-to-Liverpool passenger ferry, meet more of the cast ahead of the second series ⤵️https://t.co/dqez47oK7v pic.twitter.com/PxvqT1OpLw
— BBC Press Office (@bbcpress) September 14, 2026
Reviews for Nightsleeper series 1
Here at TVGuide.co.uk, we said the “new BBC One series nailed all the elements of a masterful thriller”. And we weren’t wrong, as millions enjoyed the series.
The Guardian did NOT agree, however. In a rather snobby review, they called it “fantastically dreadful”, adding: “The script is woeful and the action hero so expressionless it will drive you to distraction. This allegedly high-octane train thriller is almost laughably abysmal.”
Radio Times called it a “ham-fisted thriller like Red Eye, but dafter”.
