Northern Ireland-set crime drama Bloodlands is returning to BBC One for its second season, and it’s fair to say after the explosive end to season 1 this is set to be a very different outing for the show.
With viewers having learned all about Brannick’s past and how the disappearance of his wife occurred, this season will see the detective enter a web of intrigue when he investigates the case of a murdered crooked accountant from his past.
The major new addition to the cast for this season is Victoria Smurfit as Olivia, the accountant’s widow, while James Nesbitt, Charlene McKenna and Lorcan Cranitch are all back for more.
But who else is in the cast for Bloodlands season 2 and who do they play? Here’s everything you need to know.
Bloodlands Season 2 characters
James Nesbitt plays DCI Tom Brannick
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Who is Tom Brannick? Tom is a Detective Inspector with the Police Service of Northern Ireland who, we found out in season 1, has a shady past and plenty of secrets to hide.
Where have I seen James Nesbitt before? Nesbitt is best known for starring in Cold Feet, Murphy’s Law, Steven Moffat’s Jekyll, The Missing and Stan Lee’s Lucky Man. He also appeared in The Hobbit trilogy as Bofur, and recently starred in Channel 4 series Suspect, as well as having a small uncredited cameo in Line of Duty.
Charlene McKenna plays DS Niamh McGovern
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Who is Niamh McGovern? Niamh is a no-nonsense Detective Sergeant who works alongside Tom and reveals very little about her personal life.
Where have I seen Charlene McKenna before? McKenna rose to fame in Ireland after starring in six-part drama Pure Mule, before appearing in Irish dramas Raw, Single-Handed and Whistleblower. She played Captain Swing in Peaky Blinders, Josie in Being Human and has appeared in Merlin, Misfits, Ripper Street and BBC drama Vienna Blood.
Lorcan Cranitch plays DCS Jackie Twomey
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Who is Jackie Twomey? Jackie is Tom’s boss within the PSNI who previously worked with him on Goliath’s case and has spent 40 years in the force.
Where have I seen Lorcan Cranitch before? Cranitch is best known for appearing in BBC drama Parnell and the Englishwoman, ITV’s Cracker, Shackleton, Hornblower, Waking the Dead, Spooks and The Bill. This year he also appeared in Magpie Murders.
Lola Petticrew plays Izzy Brannick
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Who is Izzy Brannick? Izzy is Tom’s daughter who is studying medicine at Queen’s University.
Where have I seen Lola Petticrew before? Petticrew has appeared in BBC One drama Come Home, comedy-drama My Left Nut, film Dating Amber and 2021 series Anne Boleyn.
Chris Walley plays DC Billy ‘Birdy’ Bird
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Who is Billy ‘Birdy’ Bird? Billy is a member of Tom and Niamh’s team of investigators.
Where have I seen Chris Walley before? Walley is best known for starring in BBC Three comedy The Young Offenders and for playing Private Bullen in Sam Mendes’ 1917.
Victoria Smurfit plays Olivia Foyle
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Who is Olivia Foyle? Olivia is the enigmatic widow of a crooked accountant who was murdered and is the subject of Brannick’s latest case.
Where have I seen Victoria Smurfit before? Smurfit has recently appeared in The Man Who Fell to Earth, Marcella and Once Upon a Time, while she is also known for appearing in films such as The Beach and About a Boy.
Bloodlands Season 1 characters
Lisa Dwan plays Tori Matthews
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Who is Tori Matthews? Tori is a friendly doctor who returns to Belfast after living abroad to look after her ill mother and teaches Tom’s daughter Izzy at Queen’s University. Her medical knowledge comes in handy when Tom asks for her help on the case.
Where have I seen Lisa Dwan before? Dwan made her TV debut in Disney’s 1997 movie Oliver Twist and has since appeared in Irish soap Fair City, FX drama Trust and crime drama Top Boy as well as 2014 film Bhopal: A Prayer for Rain.
Ian McElhinney plays Adam Cory
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Who is Adam Cory? Adam Cory is the brother of one of Goliath’s victims, who Tom and Niamh visit for more information about the murders.
Where have I seen Ian McElhinney before? McElhinney is best known for playing Granda Joe in Derry Girls, Barristan Selmy in Game of Thrones and Morgan Monroe in The Fall. He has also appeared in Doctor Who, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and Ripper Street.
Flora Montgomery plays Superintendent McAllister
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Who is Superintendent McAllister? McAllister is the superintendent on Pat Keenan’s case who tells Tom Brannick to pursue any leads to Goliath he can find – but she’s quickly replaced by Jackie Twomey when he decides he wants to get involved.
Where have I seen Flora Montgomery before? Montgomery has appeared in shows such as Endeavour, Midsomer Murders, Murphy’s Law and more recently, A Very English Scandal and Life.
Michael Smiley plays Dinger
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Who is Dinger? Dinger is a crime scene investigator who is examining the bodies found on the island in Belfast Lough. He’s worked with Tom Brannick before and has his own suspicions around the Goliath case.
Where have I seen Michael Smiley before? Smiley is a comedian and actor who rose to fame as Tyres in Channel 4’s Spaced and went on to appear in Luther, Black Mirror, Doctor Who and films such as Shaun of the Dead, The Lobster, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and The Nun.
Cara Kelly plays Siobhan Harkin
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Who is Siobhan Harkin? Siobhan Harkin is the widow of Joe Harkin, an IRA quartermaster believed to have been killed in 1998 by Goliath.
Where have I seen Cara Kelly before? Kelly has appeared in Taggart, Waterloo Road, Shetland, Trust Me and more recently, Elizabeth Is Missing.
Peter Balance plays Pat Keenan
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Who is Pat Keenan? Pat Keenan is a senior member of the IRA with links to organised crime who is believed to be missing when his car is found in the Strangford Lough.
Where have I seen Peter Balance before? Balance has appeared in The Bill, Game of Thrones, 6Degrees and My Mother and Other Strangers.
Kathy Kiera Clarke plays Claire Keenan
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Who is Clare Keenan? Claire is the wife of Pat Keenan, a senior member of the IRA who has gone missing and whose car police found submerged in the Strangford Lough.
Where have I seen Kathy Kiera Clarke before? Clarke is best known for playing Aunt Sarah in Derry Girls but has also appeared in Cherrybomb, The Ice Cream Girls, Bitter Harvest and The Pale Horse.
Asan N’Jie plays Larry
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Who is Larry? Larry is Izzy’s boyfriend.
Where have I seen Asan N’Jie before? N’Jie is best known for starring in Mount Pleasant and Emmerdale as well as for roles in Agatha Raisin, Ready Player One and Vera.
Susan Lynch plays Heather Pentland
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Who is Heather Pentland? Heather is a detective brought onto the Goliath case in the show’s later episodes.
Where have I seen Susan Lynch before? Lynch is best known for starring in films such as Beautiful Creatures, From Hell, Ready Player One and Downton Abbey as well as series like Happy Valley, Killing Eve and Sex Education.
Bloodlands returns to BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Sunday 18th September 2022 – season 1 is available to stream on BBC iPlayer. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide to see what’s on tonight.
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