After a year and a half of waiting, we finally have our first look at the second season of hit David Mitchell series Ludwig, with a set of images having been unveiled – and Radio Times has got an exclusive sneak peek.

The images show the returns of Mitchell as John ‘Ludwig’ Taylor and Anna Maxwell Martin as his sister-in-law Lucy, as well as Dipo Ola as DCI Russell Carter, Dylan Hughes as Henry Betts-Taylor, Dorothy Atkinson as DCS Carol Shaw, Ralph Ineson as Chief Constable Ziegler

Karl Pilkington will also return to the cast as DI Matt Neville, although he hasn’t yet been seen in the images.

Ben Ashenden as DS Ethan Cole, Rumi Sutton as DC Caitlin Sullivan, Dipo Ola as DI Russell Carter, David Mitchell as John ‘Ludwig’ Taylor, Dorothy Atkinson as DCS Carol Shaw and Ralph Ineson as Chief Constable Ziegler in Ludwig, stood sat and leaning in a police office. — Ben Ashenden as DS Ethan Cole, Rumi Sutton as DC Caitlin Sullivan, Dipo Ola as DI Russell Carter, David Mitchell as John Ludwig Taylor, Dorothy Atkinson as DCS Carol Shaw and Ralph Ineson as Chief Constable Ziegler in Ludwig.BBC/Big Talk Studios/Olly Courtney

Meanwhile, also seen in the images are new additions to the cast including Line of Duty’s Mark Bonnar as newspaper editor Gareth Fisher, Fleabag’s Sian Clifford as local MP Joanne Kemper, Black Mirror’s Ben Ashenden as DC Ethan Cole and After the Flood’s Rumi Sutton as DC Caitlin Sullivan.

David Mitchell as John ‘Ludwig’ Taylor, Anna Maxwell Martin as Lucy Betts-Taylor and Dylan Hughes as Henry Betts-Taylor in Ludwig. They are stood together in a street and Martin is holding a camera. — David Mitchell as John Ludwig Taylor, Anna Maxwell Martin as Lucy Betts-Taylor and Dylan Hughes as Henry Betts-Taylor in Ludwig.BBC/Big Talk Studios/Olly Courtney

The synopsis for season 2, which has once again been written by show creator Mark Brotherhood, says: “Picking up from the end of series one, master puzzle-setter John ‘Ludwig’ Taylor (Mitchell) is now a Crime Scene Consultant, working alongside DCI Russell Carter (Ola), on ‘impossible’ crimes for the Cambridge Police Authority.

Mark Bonnar as Gareth Fisher in Ludwig, sat behind a messy desk. — Mark Bonnar as Gareth Fisher in Ludwig.BBC/Big Talk Studios/Olly Courtney

“No longer having to masquerade as his brother, he’s openly more ‘Ludwig’ than ever – brilliant at solving puzzles but hopeless at everything else. But John’s identical twin brother, James, is still missing, and now that he’s an official employee of the station, John is forbidden from using any police resources to look for his brother or uncover exactly what he was investigating.

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“Of course, John won’t stop and neither will Lucy (Anna Maxwell Martin), John’s sister-in-law and wife of his missing brother James – a puzzle needs solving and a husband and father needs bringing home. One masquerade may have ended, but a new one has just begun.”

Sian Clifford as Joanne Kemper in Ludwig, wearing a purple outfit and walking down a set of stairs. — Sian Clifford as Joanne Kemper in Ludwig.BBC/Big Talk Studios/Olly Courtney

Earlier this year, Mitchell opened up about how his character’s official role on the police team will shake things up in the new episodes.

Ben Ashenden as DS Ethan Cole and David Mitchell as John ‘Ludwig’ Taylor in Ludwig. — Ben Ashenden as DS Ethan Cole and David Mitchell as John Ludwig Taylor in Ludwig.BBC/Big Talk Studios/Amanda Searle

He told Radio Times: “When you watch the second series, you realise there’s still quite a lot of obfuscation involved in his role, because not everyone in the police force is entirely on side with his appointment.

Dipo Ola as DI Russell Carter in Ludwig, wearing a leather jacket and stood in an office. — Dipo Ola as DI Russell Carter in Ludwig.BBC/Big Talk Studios /Amanda Searle

“And of course, he’s still got to cover up the fact that for a long time he was solving cases while impersonating a police officer. And if that ever gets out, well, five murderers will walk free, and he won’t walk free himself.”

Ralph Ineson as Chief Constable Ziegler in Ludwig.BBC/Big Talk Studios/Olly Courtney

There are three major stars from Ludwig season 1 who won’t be returning for this new run, with DS Alice Finch star Izuka Hoyle and DC Simon Evans star Gerran Howell both having left the series.

Dorothy Atkinson as DCS Carol Shaw and Rumi Sutton as DC Caitlin Sullivan in Ludwig.BBC/Big Talk Studios/Amanda Searle

Howell, who was unable to return due to his ongoing role in US series The Pitt, said that he hopes “the door is still open” for a potential return, “because I really love that show”.

David Mitchell as John ‘Ludwig’ Taylor in Ludwig, stood against a wall boarded with wood. — David Mitchell as John Ludwig Taylor in Ludwig.BBC/Big Talk Studios/Olly Courtney

Meanwhile, Holly Pinder star Sophie Willan also won’t be back, after her character bit the dust at the end of the first season.

Anna Maxwell Martin as Lucy Betts-Taylor in Ludwig, stood by a board with post-its all over it. — Anna Maxwell Martin as Lucy Betts-Taylor in Ludwig.BBC/Big Talk Studios/Olly Courtney

Ludwig season 2 will air later this year on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Season 1 is available to stream now on BBC iPlayer.

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