Karen Pirie Season 2: Meet the Star-Studded Cast Taking on New Mysteries!

After a gap of three years since its initial premiere, Karen Pirie returns to tackle a new mystery, once again donning her detective’s hat, this time portrayed by Lauren Lyle.

She is reunited with her team, which includes Chris Jenks’ Mint, Zach Wyatt’s Phil, and a new member named Isla (portrayed by Saskia Ashdown). Additionally, this time, her friend River, who is both a professor of forensic anthropology and archaeology, will be joining the team. Emer Kenny, the show’s writer, takes on the role of River in this episode.

As I eagerly await each new episode, I’m thrilled to see a fresh wave of talented actors joining the cast, among them James Cosmo and Frances Tomelty. Yet, I can’t help but wonder who else graces our screens this season and where their faces might be familiar from previous roles.

Read on for everything you need to know about the cast of Karen Pirie season 2.

Karen Pirie cast: Who stars in season 2?

Check out the principal characters and actors set to appear in Karen Pirie season 2, airing soon on ITV. Keep reading for further details!

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Get the scoop on the cast and their characters from the upcoming Karen Pirie season 2 on ITV. Read ahead for more information!

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Discover who’s who in the cast of Karen Pirie season 2, coming soon to your screens on ITV. Carry on reading to find out more!

Lauren Lyle as DI Karen Pirie
Chris Jenks as DC Jason Murray
Zach Wyatt as DS Phil Parhatka
Steve John Shepherd as DCS Simon Lees
Emer Kenny as River Wilde
Rakhee Thakrar as Bel Richmond
Saskia Ashdown as DC Isla Stark
James Cosmo/Jamie Michie as Brodie Grant
Frances Tomelty/Madeleine Worrall as Mary Grant
John Michie/Jack Stewart as Fergus Sinclair
Julia Brown as Cat Grant
Mark Rowley as Mick Prentice
Kat Ronney as Bonnie
Conor Berry as Andy
Stuart Campbell as Kevin
Thoren Ferguson as DI Anderson
Helen Katamba as DC Laurel Blair
James Fleet as TBC
Tom Mannion as TBC
Tommaso Basili as Gabriel Porteous

Season 1 cast and characters include:

Jhon Lumsden/Alec Newman as Ziggy
Jack Hesketh/Michael Sheffer as Weird
Buom Tihngang/Ariyon Bakare as Alex
Gilly Gilchrist as DI Barney MacLennan
Kevin Mains/Stuart Bowman as DI Jimmy Lawson/Chief Supt Lawson
Gemma McElhinney as PC Janice Hogg

Lauren Lyle plays DI Karen Pirie

In Season 2, Karen serves as the Detective Inspector leading the investigation concerning the kidnapping of Catriona Grant. She has recently been promoted to this position.

Have you encountered Lauren Lyle in any other shows or movies besides Outlander? Some places where she’s been featured include Vigil, Broken, Holby City, The Outrun, Toxic Town, and The Bombing of Pan Am 103.

Chris Jenks plays DC Jason Murray

Who is DC Jason Murray? Jason, also known as “The Mint”, is a DC on Karen’s team.

Have you encountered Chris Jenks anywhere else, perhaps from his role as Steve Morley in Sex Education, or maybe from his appearances in shows like Vigil and Beyond Paradise?

Zach Wyatt plays DS Phil Parhatka

The person you’re asking about, DS Phil Parhatka, is an industrious and focused detective, who maintains a clandestine romantic bond with Karen.

Have I encountered Zach Wyatt somewhere before, perhaps in the shows “Urban Myths,” “The Witcher: Blood Origin,” or “Timestalker”?

Steve John Shepherd plays DCS Simon Lees

Lees, who happens to be Karen’s superior, holds the rank of DCS in Fife. Although he admires Karen, he finds it difficult to fully trust her due to her tendency to act independently on a regular basis.

Have I encountered Steve John Shepherd previously in a movie or TV show? Here are some titles he’s been involved with: Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, Layer Cake, Lunch Monkeys, EastEnders, Silent Witness, Hetty Feather, London Kills and Agatha Raisin.

Emer Kenny plays River Wilde

River is Karen’s trusted confidante and close friend. In addition to this, she holds the position of a professor specializing in forensic anthropology and archaeology. She is currently collaborating with Karen on the Cat Grant case.

Have you encountered Emer Kenny elsewhere in television shows or films? She’s known for her work on the series as well, but she’s also appeared significantly in The Curse, Pramface, Father Brown, and EastEnders where she portrayed Zsa Zsa Carter.

Rakhee Thakrar plays Bel Richmond

Who is Bel Richmond? She is a former podcast host, currently working as a documentarian, whom Karen initially encountered during her investigations regarding the Rosie Duff case in Season 1.

Have you recognized Rakhee Thakrar from any previous roles? She has been featured in EastEnders as Shabnam Kazemi, Sex Education as Emily Sands, The Girl Before, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Finders Keepers, I, Jack Wright, Man Like Mobeen, and the film Wonka. So, you might have seen her in one of these productions.

Saskia Ashdown plays DC Isla Stark

Who is Isla Stark? She is an individual brought onto Karen’s team by DC (Detective Constable) Lees, hailing from the E-crime unit. Lees instructs her to covertly monitor Karen on his behalf.

Have I encountered Saskia Ashdown in any of her acting roles, perhaps in shows like Trust Me, Annika, Six Four, Only Child or The Rig?

James Cosmo/Jamie Michie plays Brodie Grant

Who is Brodie Grant? He is a wealthy businessman, specifically an oil magnate, and he is also known as the father of Cat Grant.

Have I encountered James Cosmo in any television shows or movies before? Here are some of the series and films he has been featured in: Sons of Anarchy, Silent Witness, Death in Paradise, Game of Thrones, Shetland, The Durrells, Chernobyl, His Dark Materials, The Bay, Jack Ryan, Six Four, Nightsleeper, Fear, Trainspotting, Wonder Woman and Outlaw/King.

Have I encountered Jamie Michie before, perhaps in one of his roles from Game of Thrones, Skins, Shetland, Black Mirror, Trust Me, Back to Life, Wedding Season, Somewhere Boy, The Full Monty, Baby Reindeer or Small Town, Big Story?

Frances Tomelty/Madeleine Worrall plays Mary Grant

Who is Mary Grant? Lady Mary Grant is Brodie’s ex-wife and the mother of Cat.

In my movie-watching journey, I’ve recognized Frances Tomelty from a variety of captivating series such as Cracker, Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married, Bone Kickers, Merlin, Casualty, Unforgotten, Peaky Blinders, Apple Tree Yard, Catastrophe, Gangs of London, All Creatures Great and Small, Call the Midwife, Silent Witness, The Nevers, and The Woman in the Wall.

Have I encountered Madeleine Worrall in any previous productions? She has appeared in shows like Judge John Deed, Endeavour, Call the Midwife, We Were the Lucky Ones and Disclaimer, as well as films such as Paddington, Mr Holmes, The Huntsman: Winter’s War, and The Legend of Tarzan.

John Michie/Jack Stewart plays Fergus Sinclair

Who is Fergus Sinclair? Fergus is the father of Cat’s son Adam, who also worked for Brodie.

Have I encountered John Michie somewhere else besides these shows: Albion Market, Brookside, London Bridge, EastEnders, Taggart, Coronation Street, Casualty, Our Girl, Strike Back, Holby City, London Kills, Death in Paradise, and Ridley?

Have I encountered Jack Stewart in any previous productions? (Or perhaps, have I seen Jack Stewart act in any movies or TV shows before?)

Julia Brown plays Cat Grant

What is Cat Grant known as? She is Catriona Grant, the heir of Brodie’s vast oil empire. In 1984, a harrowing incident occurred where both she and her little boy, Adam, were abducted at gunpoint.

Have you come across Julia Brown in any previous roles, perhaps in shows like World on Fire, The Last Kingdom, Foundation, Shetland, or Payback?

Mark Rowley plays Mick Prentice

Who is Mick Prentice? Mick is a man who Cat had a secret relationship with before her kidnap.

Have you encountered Mark Rowley somewhere else, perhaps in shows like The Last Kingdom, Luther, The Spanish Princess, The Witcher: Blood Origin, One Day, or SAS Rogue Heroes?

Kat Ronney plays Bonnie

Who is Bonnie? Bonnie is Cat’s best friend, who witnessed her kidnap.

Have you recognized Kat Ronney from any previous shows or series? She has been featured in productions like McDonald & Dodds, The Royal Mob, Casualty, and even Dinosaur.

Conor Berry plays Andy

Who is Andy? Andy is a friend of Mick’s.

Have I encountered Conor Berry anywhere else, or is it just those projects – “Schemers” and “Dept. Q”?

Season 1 characters

Jhon Lumsden/Alec Newman play Ziggy

Who is Ziggy? He’s one of three students who, during a night of drunkenness, claimed to have discovered Rosie Duff’s body. Years later, when the investigation into her death is reopened, he finds himself once again at the center of it. The character is portrayed by John Lumsden as a student and Alec Newman as an adult.

Have you encountered John Lumsden somewhere else, perhaps in previous roles such as ‘Doctors’ or ‘The King’s Man’ where he had a minor part without credit?

Have you encountered Alec Newman in any of his past notable roles such as The Last Kingdom, Shetland, Waterloo Road, Unforgotten or Silent Witness?

Jack Hesketh/Michael Sheffer play Weird

In my perspective as a movie reviewer, “Who is Weird?” delves into the life of one of three men who, during their college days, had an inebriated night out and claimed to have discovered Rosie Duff’s body. Fast forward nearly 26 years later, this character finds himself once more at the heart of the investigation, as the case is reopened. Jack Hasketh brings Weird to life as a student, while Michael Sheffer portrays him in his mature years. The movie offers an intriguing exploration of guilt, redemption, and the complexities of human nature.

Where have I seen Jack Hasketh before? Hesketh previously appeared in Serbian series Besa.

Have you ever encountered Michael Sheffer in any television shows or movies? Some of his notable roles are from The Salisbury Poisonings, Chernobyl, The ABC Murders, Bodyguard, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, and Anna Karenina.

Buom Tihngang/Ariyon Bakare play Alex

Who is Alex? He’s one of three individuals, all former students, who, during their youthful days, had an intoxicated night out and declared they discovered Rosie Duff’s corpse. Similar to his peers, he finds himself once more at the heart of the investigation into her demise when the case is reopened after approximately 26 years. In the drama, Alex is portrayed by Buom Tihngang as a young man and Ariyon Bakare as an older adult.

Have you encountered Buom Tihngang in any previous roles? He starred as Ryan’s friend Tibo in Doctor Who season 12, and has also appeared in Death in Paradise, Endeavour, and Cheaters.

Have I encountered Ariyon Bakare somewhere else? He is known for his role as Carlo Boreal in His Dark Materials, and more recently appeared in Crossfire, Good Omens, Carnival Row, and Thirteen. Additionally, he has been featured in Doctor Who, Casualty, Lewis, and numerous other series. So, it’s quite possible I have seen him before in one of these productions.

Gilly Gilchrist plays DI Barney MacLennan

Barney was a detective inspector involved in the case of Rosie Duff’s death that occurred in 1996.

Have I encountered Gilly Gilchrist in any other shows or movies? He is known for playing Geordie Chisholm in Outlander, and has also appeared in Emmerdale, Versailles, Fortitude, Casualty, Taggart, as well as having a minor role in Ridley Scott’s Gladiator.

Kevin Mains/Stuart Bowman play DI Jimmy Lawson/Chief Supt Lawson

As a movie buff, I can tell you that Lawson is a retired Detective Inspector who was deeply involved with the investigation surrounding Rosie Duff’s tragic death back in 1996. Fast forward to 2022, he now holds the prestigious position of Chief Superintendent, under whom Karen works as she takes on the task of revisiting and reopening his old case.

Have you come across Kevin Mains in any of his roles on shows like Shetland, River City, or Father Brown?

Have you recognized Stuart Bowman from any previous shows or movies? He’s been on Alex Rider, The Control Room, and Grantchester more recently, but I remember him from Deadwater Fell, The Serpent, Bodyguard, and Taggart as well.

Gemma McElhinney plays PC Janice Hogg

Who is Janice Hogg? She is the police constable that the intoxicated young men flag down, claiming to have discovered Rosie Duff’s body.

Have you recognized Gemma McElhinney from any previous roles? She’s been in movies like “Outlaw King” and “Wild Rose,” as well as TV shows such as “Mrs. Wilson” and “Two Doors Down.

Karen Pirie season 2 will air from Sunday 20th July 2025 on ITV1 and ITVX.

2025-07-18 17:08