Showtrial Season 2: BBC One release date, plot, and cast with Adeel Akhtar and Michael Socha

Showtrial will be returning for a second series, it was announced today (Thursday 17 August).

The series, which first aired in October 2021, will be returning as an anthology show - meaning the upcoming second season will follow entirely new characters and examine an entirely new trial. 

Here’s everything you need to know about the recently-commissioned second series of Showtrial.

What is Showtrial Season 2 about?

The official BBC One synopsis for Showtrial reveals that “when the high-profile climate activist Marcus Calderwood is left for dead in a violent hit and run, he uses his dying moments to identify his killer – a serving policeman. But who is this unnamed ‘Officer X’? What does his own history reveal about the nature of trauma and revenge, and was Marcus’s death a careless accident or cold-blooded murder?” 

Who stars in Showtrial Season 2?

Adeel Akhtar is set to play Sam Gill, an anxious defence solicitor. Akhtar in recent years has received particular acclaim for roles in true crime drama Sherwood and the Daisy Haggard comedy Back to Life, but you might also recognise him from films like Four Lions and Ali & Ava.

Michael Socha plays Justin Mitchell, the police officer accused of killing Marcus Calderwood. Socha is best known for starring in This Is England, but you might also recognise him from another more recent collaboration with Shane Meadows, the expressionistic true crime drama The Gallows Pole.

Nathalie Armin is set to play Leila Hassoun-Kenny, the CPS lawyer leading the case against Mitchell. Armin is best known for starring in the ITV crime drama Unforgotten, but you might also recognise her from roles in Maigret, Denial, and A Little Life.

Who writes and directs Showtrial Season 2?

Ben Richards, who created Showtrial, returns to write the series again. Richards is best known for writing a number of episodes of Spooks, as well as for creating the series Party Animals, The Tunnel, Cobra, and most recently Alibi’s The Diplomat. 

When and how can I watch Showtrial Season 2?

Showtrial doesn’t yet have an officially confirmed release date, but will air on BBC One and iPlayer when it is broadcast.

Filming is set to begin in November 2023, suggesting it’s unlikely Showtrial will arrive on screens before March 2024 at the earliest. 

How many episodes are there?

Showtrial Season 2 will be a five-part drama, with each episode running to around an hour long.

Where is Showtrial Season 2 filmed?

Showtrial Season 2 is set to begin filming in Belfast in November.

Why should I watch Showtrial Season 2?

Because Adeel Akhtar is one of the best actors currently working in British television.