In a surprising turn of events, The Undeclared War, the cyber thriller starring Simon Pegg which first aired on Channel 4 back in 2022, is finally coming back, with a second season about to air four years after the first.
The new season will pick up right where the previous run left off, and will see returns for Pegg, Hannah Khalique-Brown and Alex Jennings.
Meanwhile, Siân Brooke has joined the cast in a crucial new role as Barbara, the wife of Pegg’s character, Danny. But what else do we know about this new run of the show and when can we expect it to be on Channel 4?
Read on for everything you need to know about The Undeclared War season 2.
Has The Undeclared War been renewed for season 2?
It has – but it took its time.
The first season aired in June 2022, but a second run wasn’t officially confirmed until February 2025.
Fans had been waiting a long time for the news, after things were left in a seriously precarious situation.
At the end of the first season, GCHQ finally got some intel to be able to fight back against the Russian cyber attack, but Vadim was left in serious peril, as he was seemingly caught leaking the data by his colleague at the very end of the finale.
When season 2 was confirmed, Ollie Madden, director of Film4 and Channel 4 drama, said: “As the world of cyber-warfare and espionage continue to evolve at pace around us, what better than to bring back The Undeclared War for another riveting, unpredictable, painstakingly researched series.
“Colin Teevan’s scripts, Paul McGuigan’s dynamic direction, and our incredible cast promise something unmissable. We’re very excited to be collaborating again with our partners at Playground Entertainment, Universal International Studios, Stonehenge Films on this cutting-edge thriller.”
When will The Undeclared War season 2 be released?
It’s been a long road, but finally, four years after the first season aired, The Undeclared War will return for season 2 on Tuesday 21 July.
The synopsis for season 2 says: “Set in 2024, The Undeclared War returns with a fresh wave of tension and drama as the elite Malware Department at GCHQ grapples with the aftermath of a devastating Russian cyber-attack. Just when it seems the UK has gained the upper hand, Danny and the team uncover a far more dangerous threat.”
Who will be back to star in The Undeclared War season 2?
Given the delay between seasons 1 and 2 of The Undeclared War, it is perhaps unsurprising that there have been some quite substantial changeovers to the cast.
It’s no surprise that Mark Rylance isn’t back as John Yeabsley, after his character was apparently killed as part of Russia’s misinformation plot against the UK. Meanwhile, major figures like Maisie Richardson-Sellers, Edward Holcroft, Adrian Lester and Kerry Godliman also haven’t returned.
Those who are returning for season 2 include Simon Pegg and Hannah Khalique-Brown, while the most notable new cast member is Siân Brooke, joining as Danny Patrick’s wife Barbara.
Here’s a full list of the confirmed cast members for season 2:
- Simon Pegg as Danny Patrick
- Hannah Khalique-Brown as Saara Parvin
- Siân Brooke as Barbara Patrick
- Alex Jennings as David Neal
- Danny Sapani as Charlie Francis
- Ed Stoppard as Richard Marston
- Chloe Pirrie as Roz Cavendish
- German Segal as Vadim Trusov
- Joss Porter as Phil
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Is there a trailer for The Undeclared War season 2?
There is! You can watch the first-look trailer right here now.
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The Undeclared War season 2 premieres on Channel 4 on Tuesday 21 July 2026.
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