A Discovery of Witches season 2: Exciting details about new characters revealed

From Good Housekeeping

Fans of Sky One's A Discovery of Witches will be thrilled to know a second series of the drama is on the way, again adapted from Deborah Harkness’ bestselling All Souls trilogy.

Set in a world where witches, vampires and daemons secretly live and work alongside humans, hidden in plain sight, the show's full of magic, mystery and drama.

Viewers are set to be transported back in time for the show's second outing, and Sky has revealed a first look image showing Matthew (Matthew Goode, Downton Abbey) and Diana (Teresa Palmer, Hacksaw Ridge) on the streets of Elizabethan London, where they are hiding in time from the Congregation.

STREAM SEASON ONE ON NOW TV HERE

It's in Elizabethan London they must find a powerful witch teacher to help Diana control her magic and search for the elusive Book of Life.

At New York Comic Con on Saturday (October 10), author Deborah Harkness and Bad Wolf Executive Producer Lachlan MacKinnon revealed that series 2 will have 10 episodes instead of eight.

Deborah and Lachlan also detailed what the exciting new characters - including James Purefoy as Philippe De Clermont and Sheila Hancock as Goody Alsop - will bring to series 2, and the exhilarating chemistry between the new cast and the original cast members.

"Philippe is such an enigma and informs so much about Matthew's (Matthew Goode) behaviour and as a result, the most important relationship in many ways is Diana (Teresa Palmer) and Matthew's," Lachlan said. "So for me, seeing Philippe just tells so much of the psychology of Matthew and therefore the dynamic between Matthew and Diana... So, that was one of my favourites."

On Sheila's anticipated debut, he continued: "The thrill to see Sheila Hancock play Goody Alsop - it fills me with glee every time. She's phenomenal and just exudes so many qualities as the mentor to Diana. It's such a wise head on those great shoulders. And the chemistry between Diana and Goody is really strong."

Deborah also teased the sizzling onscreen chemistry between Adelle Leonce (Phoebe Taylor) and Edward Bluemel (playing Marcus Whitmore).

"You can never know for sure that the chemistry is going to work but I loved watching the scenes between Phoebe and Marcus because they had amazing chemistry," she recalled.

Marcus falls in love with ambitious art curator Phoebe Taylor, played by Adelle Leonce, who, as a human, adds a new dynamic to the world of demons, witches and vampires.

"Phoebe adds a different flavour, a different spice to the modern day world," Adelle told Good Housekeeping UK. "She's also really important character for Marcus in terms of his family, for the things he needs to research, and it's the evolution of a love story too. I think she comes in and has a real strength and determination to her that works for them - she offers a different angle and perspective, and problem solving for the demons and witches. There's always drama!"

Edward added: "It's the first time we see one of the main characters being a human and it gives us the opportunity to see how a human in this world deals with vampires, witches and demons - how Matthew will deal with a human being brought into his life, something that traditionalists will be very against because they don't trust them and they think humans are progressive and scared because they've loved killing witches the past."

Marcus had an eventful storyline in season 1, being bestowed the responsibility and elevated status of Grand Master of the Knights of Lazarus. He also discovers that he is a carrier blood rage, which "sows the seed for an enormous part of the rest of the story".

"It's huge for him being Grand Master - it's such an important role in the de Clermont family and a chance to see Marcus grow up a little bit and take responsibility. He's been a cavalier vampire over the last couple of hundred years and he's hasn't taken the tradition seriously - he is more modern than the rest which is great in many ways," Ed explained. "But it does mean that he has a casual attitude which in the past has endangered the people around him. So that's huge."

He went on: "Marcus has found out he's a carrier which sows the seed for an enormous part of the rest of the story. He realises a lot about himself that he didn't know and It answers a lot of questions about how his father Matthew has treated him in the past - finally the final piece in the puzzle.

"That's why he did in this past. Why he has felt so marginalised for so long. Season 2 is about him feeling the betrayal of that and feeling the release of the relief that he finally knows what going on."

Phoebe will help Marcus realise his potential and fulfil his responsibility, and share some of his inner dialogue which he can now have with his new-found companion and lover.

"I think she recognises the revolutionary that he is, and the impact he can make," Adelle said. "And there's a reluctancy to talent this step to take on this huge responsibility and she recognises that he can do that. And that allows you as a character to have those feelings, you don't get to have those as a vampire. This relationship allows you for those moments and those private conversations and for the audience to revel in all of that."

Meanwhile, Steven Cree takes on fan-favourite Gallowglass, with Deborah describing his casting as so "perfect" that when she's writing his dialogue, in her head she can now hear Steven's voice.

Paul Rhys joins as Andrew Hubbard, with Lachlan lauding his performance as "mesmerising".

A Discovery of Witches season 2: Cast

Goode and Palmer return as the show's leads, Matthew and Diana.

Other returning characters include Sarah Bishop (Doctor Who's Alex Kingston), Emily Mather (Half & Half's Valarie Pettiford), Nathaniel Wilson (Daniel Ezra), Marcus Whitmore (Killing Eve's Edward Bluemel) and Sophie Norman (Aisling Loftus from Mr Selfridge).

Season two also sees Steven Cree (Outlander), Sheila Hancock (Doctor Who), James Purefoy (The Following) and Paul Rhys (Vincent and Theo) join the cast.

Cree stars as Gallowglass De Clermont, a vampire and soldier of fortune who is particularly fond of his uncle, Matthew. James Purefoy plays the role of Philippe De Clermont, founder of the Congregation, commander of the Knights of Lazarus, mate of Ysabeau, and stepfather to Matthew. Paul Rhys is Andrew Hubbard, the vampire ruler of all creatures in London in 1590 and Sheila Hancock appears as elder witch Goody Alsop.

Victoria star Tom Hughes also joins as Kit Marlowe, An English playwright, poet and translator of the Elizabethan era.

"Seeing Tom Hughes as Kit Marlow is such a treat," Deborah Harkness said at New York Comic Con 2020. "His black outfit and being mad, bad and dangerous to know. He cuts quite a silhouette."

A Discovery of Witches season 2: What's it about?

A Discovery of Witches season two is based on the ‘Shadow of Night’ novel from Deborah Harkness’s All Souls trilogy and will be made up of ten episodes.

Alongside the Elizabethan action, back in the present day, Diana’s beloved aunts, Sarah and Em, must take shelter with notorious witch hunter Ysabeau De Clermont at her ancestral home, Sept-Tours.

In Oxford, Marcus and Miriam take on Matthew’s mantle to protect daemons Nathaniel and Sophie, whose pregnancy is advancing.

Gerbert, Knox, Satu and Domenico are determined to hunt down every clue they can to Diana’s and Matthew’s disappearance, and the secrets their allies are keeping from them.

Cameron Roach, Sky Studios Director of Drama, said: “After the success of season one, we are really excited for the next instalment of A Discovery of Witches, as we continue to follow the love story of Diana and Matthew and their adventures in Elizabethan London. We have a great cast lined up and a unique historical setting, which we hope will further enchant fans".

Matthew Goode, Teresa Palmer, Adelle Leonce and Edward Bluemel collectively described the new series as "dark, solid, sassy and... horny" at New York Comic Con.

A Discovery of Witches season 2: When's it on TV?

We know filming was completed in the UK in late 2019 and in Italy in January 2020, meaning the show just dodged the major issues other shows are currently facing due to the coronavirus pandemic.

While production is halting on many other series, ADOW seems to have got all of its material shot before social distancing restrictions were put in place.

Thanks to this, season two will air in the UK on 8 January 2021, Sky has announced.

A Discovery of Witches season 2: Is there a trailer?

Yep, here it is...

A Discovery of Witches series two will air on 8 January 2021 on Sky One and NOW TV (UK) and 9 January 2021 on Sundance Now and Shudder (US & Canada).

A Discovery of Witches season two is based on the ‘Shadow of Night’ novel from Deborah Harkness’ All Souls trilogy and will be coming to Sky One and NOW TV this year.

STREAM SEASON ONE HERE

Like this article? Sign up to our newsletter to get more articles like this delivered straight to your inbox.

SIGN UP

In need of some positivity or not able to make it to the shops? Enjoy Good Housekeeping delivered directly to your door every month! Subscribe to Good Housekeeping magazine now.

SUBSCRIBE NOW

You Might Also Like

• The anti-ageing wonder ingredient you’re missing in your skincare routine

• 15 dresses perfect for a summer wedding

• 6 items our fashion team always take on a beach holiday