Holding: will there be a season 2 of ITV drama - and are any other Graham Norton books being adapted for TV?

ITV has aired the final episode of Holding and fans are wondering if there will be a season two of the drama series
Clinton Liberty (left) as Linus Dunne and Conleth Hill as PJ Collins (right) Clinton Liberty (left) as Linus Dunne and Conleth Hill as PJ Collins (right)
Clinton Liberty (left) as Linus Dunne and Conleth Hill as PJ Collins (right)

Based on an adaptation of a Graham Norton book, Holding is an ITV drama-comedy series centred in a small Irish village.

The four-part series has left fans hoping for a season two, or even hoping that another Norton book is adapted into a TV show.

Find out everything you need to know here.

What is Holding about?

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The story follows a gentle and introverted local police officer, Sergeant PJ Collins.

PJ is known to hide from people and fills his days with comfort food and half-hearted police work.

However, when the body of a long-lost local legend is found, he is obliged to solve a serious crime for the first time in his career.

The story is set in the village of Duneen, in West Cork - and the place has a dark past.

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In episode two, a key suspect in the case vanishes from the village - and by episode three, a month has passed since the discovery of the body and PJ has found no new leads.

Will there be a season two of Holding?

Holding has filled a Monday night TV slot for the past four weeks on ITV.

The four-part drama series is based on a book by Graham Norton which has been adapted for television.

It remains unclear, however, whether or not there will be a second season of the series, ahead of the fourth episode.

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ITV is yet to confirm if Norton’s adaption will be brought back for season 2, or if the four instalments concludes the story.

Are any other Graham Norton novels being adapted for TV?

Graham Norton is an Irish actor, author, comedian, commentator, and presenter.

He is a five-time BAFTA TV Award winner for his comedy chat show The Graham Norton Show.

He has also written a number of novels - including Holding which was published in 2016 and made into a ITV drama in 2021.

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A Keeper (2018) and Home Stretch (2020), written by Norton, are also based around Irish characters in a small home town.

And on 14 April 2022, he will release a new book, The Swimmer.

However, it hasn’t been said if his new book or either of the older books will be adapted into a TV drama series like Holding has been.

Where can I watch season one of Holding?

Episode four of the season is being broadcast on ITV at 9pm on Monday 4 April.

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However, all four episodes of Holding are already available to watch on ITV Hub and BritBox UK.

You can also catch up on the one-hour episodes with an Amazon Prime subscription.

Who is in the cast of Holding?

Protagonist Sergeant PJ Collins is played by Olivier award-winning actor Conleth Hill, who is known for his role as Lord Varys in Game of Thrones.

Academy award-winning actress Brenda Fricker plays Lizzie Meaney, a shy presence in PJ’s life who is battling her own personal demons.

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Clinton Liberty (Normal People) is PJ’s boss, D.I. Linus Dunne, who he is working with to find the assailant.

Other recurring characters are Bríd Riordan, played by Siobhán McSweeney (Derry Girls), and shopkeeper Eileen O’Driscoll, played by Pauline McLynn from Father Ted.

Charlene McKenna (Bloodlands) and Helen Behan (This is England ‘90) are sisters Evelyn and Abigail Ross.

Amy Conroy (The South Westerlies), Eleanor Tiernan (Bridget and Eamon), Gary Shelford (Belgravia), Lochlann Ó’Meárain (Smother), Sky Yang (Halo), Demi Issac Oviawe (The Young Offenders), Norma Sheahan (Bridget and Eamon), and Anne Kent (Fair City) complete the cast.

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