Jimmy McGovern’s powerful series returns.

By Abby Robinson

Published: Sunday, 29 October 2023 at 12:00 PM


BBC drama Time returns for season 2, with a new story and a predominantly new cast.

In the three new episodes, the action unfolds in a women’s prison, where the “threat of violence” is “ever-present”.

But in spite of that, the women “discover that an unexpected sense of community, and a shared understanding, still might be possible”.

Read on to find out who stars in Time season 2 and where you’ve seen them before.

Time season 2 cast

Jodie Whittaker plays Orla

A distressed Orla in prison, standing at a desk, talking to PO Martin
Jodie Whittaker as Orla in Time season 2.
BBC Studios/Sally Mais

Who is Orla? A single mother-of-three who is imprisoned for “fiddling the leccy”. Orla is overworked and under-appreciated, and she has a strained relationship with her mother. “In Orla’s situation, the crime doesn’t necessarily merit the sentence,” said Whittaker. “The cost of living crisis has absolutely contributed to Orla’s situation.”

Where have I seen Jodie Whittaker before? Most people will know Whittaker from Doctor Who, ITV crime drama Broadchurch, sci-fi film Attack the Block, St Trinian’s, Black Mirror’s The Entire History of You episode and season 1 of BBC medical drama Trust Me.

Tamara Lawrance as Abi

Abi sat at a desk in her prison cell, with her head resting on her hands in a prayer position
Tamara Lawrance as Abi in Time season 2.
BBC/Sally Mais

Who is Abi? She’s serving a life sentence. “She has served three and a half years in a different prison and she’s in quite an anxious space because the nature of her crime was revealed in the previous prison and the inmates turned against her for that,” said Lawrance.

“So she’s trying to keep herself to herself, but also looks out for other inmates as well because she knows what it feels like to be ostracised.”

Where have I seen Tamara Lawrance before? You might have watched her in The Silent Twins alongside Letitia Wright and BBC drama The Long Song.

Bella Ramsey as Kelsey

Kelsey sat on a sofa with her knees up, writing in a notepad
Bella Ramsey as Kelsey in Time season 2.
BBC Studios/Sally Mais

Who is Kelsey? She’s a 19-year-old heroin addict who has been in and out of prison. She’s also pregnant. Kelsey is described by Ramsey as being “full of life”, adding: “She’s a bit of a joker and very young, immature. But, on the other hand, she’s seen far too much.”

Where have I seen Bella Ramsey before? Most people will know her as Ellie from The Last of Us, Lyanna Mormont from Game of Thrones and Mildred Hubble in The Worst Witch. You might also have watched her in Catherine Called Birdy with Billie Piper, fantasy series His Dark Materials and historical drama Becoming Elizabeth.

Siobhan Finneran as Marie-Louise

Siobhan Finneran as Marie-Louise O'Dell in Time season 2.
Siobhan Finneran as Marie-Louise O’Dell in Time season 2.

Who is Marie-Louise? A prison chaplain, who also appeared in season 1. Of her role, Finneran said:”I just felt very honoured to be asked to come back to do another series of it because I had such a great time.

“It sounds wrong doesn’t it, always sounds wrong with this subject matter to say I had a great time and very much enjoyed the first series. But when I started reading these scripts… What you can say. I think they’re genius, they’re brilliant, and they’re raw. They just get hold of you and then don’t want to let you go.”

Where have I seen Siobhan Finneran before? Most viewers will know her as Catherine Cawood’s sister Claire in Happy Valley. Her CV also includes ITV comedy Benidorm, Jimmy Savile drama The Reckoning, Downton Abbey, BBC drama Clocking Off, Netflix’s The Stranger, comedies Alma’s Not Normal and The Other One, and soaps Emmerdale and Coronation Street.

Additional cast includes:

Inmates

  • Faye McKeever (Trollied) as Tanya
  • Julie Graham (Shetland) as Lou
  • Kayla Meikle (Litvinenko) as Donna
  • Sophie Willan (Alma’s Not Normal) as Maeve
  • Alicia Forde (Waterloo Road) as Sarah
  • Maimuna Memon (Sherwood) as Tahani

Prison staff

  • Lisa Millett (Warren) as Prison Officer Martin
  • Louise Lee as Prison Officer Carter
  • Michelle Butterly (Casualty) as Nurse Garvey

Family

  • Karen Henthorn (Coronation Street) as Elizabeth – Orla’s mum
  • Nicholas Nunn (Shetland) as Adam – Kelsey’s boyfriend
  • James Corrigan (This England) as Rob – Abi’s ex-husband
  • Matilda Firth as Nancy, Brody Griffiths as Callum and Isaac Lancel-Watkinson as Kyle – Orla’s children