After the Flood’s Sophie Rundle says Jill Halfpenny’s character is “not quite right” – teasing “devastating” moment

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Season 2 of After the Flood brings back familiar actors like Sophie Rundle and also features several new cast members, including Jill Halfpenny.

Actress Halfpenny portrays Detective Sergeant Sam Bradley, a character who recently moved to the town of Waterside from Newcastle. Her character background reveals she made the move after becoming an empty-nester, with both of her children now away at university.

Bradley seems like a perfect candidate for the team, as he’s a very skilled and experienced detective specializing in murder cases.

She’ll definitely need that strength, considering the challenges Jo and her team face in the second season.

I just got the scoop on the new thriller, and let me tell you, things are already heating up in the town of Waterside. With wildfires raging and the constant worry of floods, the last thing anyone needed was a body turning up in a really strange situation. The official word is it’s… bizarre, which definitely has my attention!

As Jo gets closer to finding the killer, she quickly runs into trouble with some very powerful people in town. What started as a case soon becomes incredibly personal for her, and she finds herself completely wrapped up in the investigation.

DS Bradley initially seems like a good character, but Rundle has suggested there’s a hidden side to her. He implies a shocking reveal will happen towards the end of the thriller.

Rundle hinted at a dramatic finale to the series, describing it as a ‘big old bang,’ but admitted she was too anxious to discuss it as she hadn’t filmed the scene yet.

I’m hoping for a truly shocking moment – one of those scenes that leaves everyone stunned and saying, ‘Wow, I didn’t see that coming!’

In Season 2, Jo and Pat, who are now separated because she found out he’d been accepting bribes for years, are secretly working against Mackie, all while still managing to raise their daughter together effectively.

In season one, Jo was shocked to discover that Nicholas Gleaves’s character, who had become like a father to her after her dad died, was actually a corrupt police officer and a murderer. This revelation was especially devastating because it also came out that Jo’s own father had broken the rules when he was a police officer.

If you need a refresher, we’ve broken it all down in our handy ending explained.

Rundle said Jo and Pat were trying to reassure everyone, telling them ‘Everything’s okay, there’s nothing to worry about.’ However, those listening were left questioning their motives. It seemed like they were acting normal to gather evidence against someone and stall for time.

“He’s not foolish,” she went on. “He understands what’s happening, and it’s clear he’s putting on a brave face. This really bothers Jo, though, because she can’t stand to see injustice or discomfort and feels compelled to act. It would be simpler for her if she could just ignore it, but she’s not able to.”

Every time he’s around her daughter, she feels awful. Things are escalating, and I don’t think Jo can handle it much longer – or that Mackie will keep believing everything is okay.

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Lorraine Ashbourne is back as Molly, Jo’s mother, who is now a local councillor. Philip Glenister returns as Jack, a property developer who suffered major financial losses last season and has always been in love with Molly.

Jacqueline Boatswain returns as Sarah, a Member of Parliament and Mackie’s wife, who previously had a relationship with Jack.

I’m really excited to see Ian Puleston-Davies, who I’ve loved in shows like Coronation Street and DI Ray, joining the cast! And Alun Armstrong, fantastic in Breeders and Sherwood, too – what a great addition! Plus, Matthew McNulty, who I really enjoyed in The Jetty and The Rising, is on board as well. The cast is shaping up to be incredible!

After the Flood season 1 is available to stream now on ITVX.

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Authors

Abby RobinsonDrama Editor

Abby Robinson is the Drama Editor at TopMob, where she writes about TV dramas and comedies. Before joining TopMob, she worked as a TV writer for Digital Spy and as a content writer for Mumsnet. She has a degree and a postgraduate diploma in English Studies.

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2026-01-19 16:32