The Night Manager star reveals secret of character’s survival – and what they want now

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**Warning: contains spoilers for The Night Manager season 2 episode 3.**

Hugh Laurie, known for his role in The Night Manager, has explained how his character, Richard Roper, managed to survive being held captive and revealed what he’s planning next after his surprising reappearance in the third episode.

At the end of the first season, the arms dealer suffered a dramatic downfall. Jonathan Pine disrupted a major weapons deal, leaving Roper with significant debts and the anger of his buyers.

It appeared he’d died as a result of his mistakes, as the season began with Pine and his previous colleague, Angela Burr (Olivia Colman), in Syria. There, they confirmed the identity of a badly beaten and unkempt Roper.

Laurie hasn’t revealed exactly how that trick was done, but she has shared some details before this weekend’s episode airs.

For many years, Roper was held captive, more or less a hostage, because he owed a significant amount of money to a powerful and secretive criminal organization.

They originally intended to execute him, but Roper is persuasive and thinks fast, so he managed to negotiate with his captors. It’s surprising how a prisoner can sometimes control a situation, even when they’re powerless.

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Despite seemingly reverting to his familiar patterns in season two of The Night Manager, Hugh Laurie explains that Roper’s actions aren’t simply a repeat of past behavior. This time, the situation is deeply personal for him, with much more at stake.

According to the former ‘House’ star, he’s returned to work, reconnected with people he knows, and developed a plan to pay off his debts and stay safe – because if he fails, he fears serious consequences.

He wasn’t just seeking restoration; he wanted to rebuild his empire and conquer everything again. At his core, he was a relentless conqueror – a pirate, even – and he’d never give up on his ambition to seize power, land, and people.

Laurie hinted that Roper is trying to become a major power again and is willing to go to great lengths to regain his previous influence. But Roper differs from other ambitious people in one key way.

Roper isn’t interested in fame or grand monuments. He prefers to work behind the scenes, enjoying the quiet influence that offers. While he isn’t motivated by public recognition, he is drawn to power and the ability to control situations.

He’s ambitious on multiple levels – building a huge empire, but also focused on personal triumphs, particularly defeating Pine.

“He was beaten by Pine once, and Roper is not a man to forgive or forget easily.”

Tom Hiddleston, Hugh Laurie, and Olivia Colman will return for the second season of The Night Manager. Joining them are new cast members including Diego Calva, Camila Morrone, and Hayley Squires.

The Night Manager season 2 is airing Sundays on BBC One and iPlayer.

Don’t miss The Night Manager! Add it to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app. Download the app now for daily TV suggestions, exclusive content, and more.

Authors

David CraigSenior Drama Writer

David Craig writes about TV and streaming drama and comedy for TopMob. Before that, he contributed to Starburst Magazine, hosted the podcast ‘The Winter King’ for ITVX, and earned a degree in Journalism from the University of Sheffield.

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2026-01-13 14:37