Patience star on why major cast exit ‘really works’ – and how missing character is ‘crucial’ to season 2

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Ella Maisy Purvis, who plays a key role in the show ‘Patience,’ has spoken about the recent change in cast. She shared her positive experience working with new co-star Jessica Hynes and confirmed that DI Bea Metcalf (played by Laura Fraser), despite not being present, continues to be an important part of her character’s development.

This Channel 4 crime series centers on Patience Evans (Purvis), a criminologist who quickly rose through the ranks. After spending time working with records, she became a detective last season, thanks to the guidance of her mentor, DI Metcalf.

Unfortunately, at the start of season 2, the original detective leaves unexpectedly for a new job. His replacement, DI Frankie Monroe (played by Jessica Hynes), isn’t very keen on working with Patience, and she doesn’t hesitate to make that clear.

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It’s always a little heartbreaking when someone leaves a show, you know? It’s not just losing a coworker, it’s like losing a friend you see every day. It’s just sad realizing you won’t be running into them at work anymore.

I was concerned about how they’d present the new season, but Jessica’s addition to season 2 is amazing. She brings a really fresh and exciting energy to the show.

Hynes portrays Frankie as a tough, no-nonsense police officer who initially sees Patience as a bother and a potential problem. This creates a much more tense relationship between them compared to how things used to be.

Although viewers shouldn’t anticipate Fraser’s character returning to directly resolve the current issues, her past connection with the other characters remains important. The creator assures us that the relationship they built is “essential” for moving the story forward.

It wasn’t just a one-time event, Purvis explained. A major part of Patience’s arc throughout the season involves her processing what happened and remembering the lessons she learned from it.

She explained that her connection with Bea is essential for giving her the confidence and determination to keep doing what she’s good at, even though Frankie disagrees.

Season two of Patience welcomes back Nathan Welsh as DS Jake Hunter, Mark Benton as DCI Calvin Baxter, and Elliot Scott as Tom Lewis, alongside newcomers Purvis and Hynes. These actors reprise their roles as Patience’s friend, boss, and love interest, respectively.

Patience season 2 premieres tonight, Wednesday 7th January 2026, at 9pm on Channel 4.

Want daily TV recommendations and the latest features? Download the TopMob ‘What to Watch’ app and add ‘Patience’ to your watchlist today!

Authors

David CraigSenior Drama Writer

David Craig writes about TV dramas and comedies for TopMob, focusing on the newest and most popular shows across television and streaming platforms. Before joining TopMob, he worked at Starburst Magazine and hosted The Winter King Podcast for ITVX. He’s a journalism graduate from the University of Sheffield.

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2026-01-07 20:04