BBC Renews ‘Baptiste’ For Season 2, ‘Killing Eve’s Fiona Shaw Joins Cast
‘Baptiste‘ will return for a 2nd Season on BBC One production company Two Brothers Pictures (‘The Missing’, ‘Fleabag’, ‘Liar’, ‘Cheat’) has announced, and will see Fiona Shaw join the cast.
The series sees Tchéky Karyo (‘The Missing’) return as retired police investigator Julien Baptiste, with Fiona Shaw (‘Killing Eve’, ‘Fleabag’) joining for a brand-new gripping case which will take viewers into Budapest’s secretive and corrupt underworld.
Julien Baptiste is not the man we knew before. After enduring a horrific personal tragedy, Julien has pushed his wife Celia away and is looking for any distraction – whether that be the bottom of a bottle or a new case – to consume him.
When British Ambassador Emma Chambers’ (Shaw) whole family disappears whilst on a skiing holiday in the Hungarian mountains, Baptiste immerses himself into Emma’s world, committed to finding her husband and two sons. However, when the case turns into something far more brutal and desperate, Julien must navigate a Hungarian police force he doesn’t trust and unrelenting media interest who are hungry for information on such a high-profile international case.
Julien must remain rational in the face of chaos in order to find Emma’s family. Will he be able to solve his most complex case yet?
“I am so excited and proud of Harry and Jack for their new audacious story in Hungary,” commented Tchéky Karyo. “I can’t wait to prepare for Julien’s new adventure and for the emotions that he is about to go through. I’m looking forward to sharing this incredible journey with an amazing cast.”
Most recently, Fiona Shaw has been appearing as Carolyn in the smash-hit series ‘Killing Eve’, and also popped up in ‘Fleabag’. Previously she has appeared in tv shows such as ‘Mrs Wilson’, ‘True Blood’ and ‘Channel Zero’, along with starring as Petunia Dursley in the ‘Harry Potter’ movies.
“I’m honoured to be joining this hugely talented and committed team with the superb writing of Harry and Jack Williams and under the direction of Thomas Napper,” adds Shaw. “I’m so lucky to be working with all the best of the new generation!”
Baptiste is a Two Brothers Pictures Production for BBC One and was commissioned by Charlotte Moore, BBC Director of Content and Piers Wenger, Controller of BBC Drama Commissioning. The 6×60’ drama has been written by Harry and Jack Williams who will also serve as executive producers, alongside Christopher Aird for Two Brothers Pictures and Tommy Bulfin for the BBC. John Griffin will produce, and Thomas Napper and Hong Khaou will direct. International sales will be handled by all3media international.
“We are thrilled to be continuing Julien Baptiste’s story,” said Harry and Jack Williams, writers and managing directors of Two Brothers Pictures. “Even more ambitious than ever, this year’s story pays homage to its roots in The Missing by unfolding across two distinct periods of time, and we can guarantee even more surprises and twists. It’s a privilege to work once more with the mesmerising Tchéky Karyo who has created an iconic character. And this year he’ll be joined by Fiona Shaw, an incredible actress who we’ve wanted to work with for some time. We can’t wait to see the two of them together. ”
Filming on ‘Baptiste‘ Season 2 will begin in Budapest, Hungary in February 2020 and further casting will be announced in due course. The first series of ‘Baptiste’ aired on BBC One in February 2019 and for the USA, Season 1 will debut on MASTERPIECE on PBS on April 12th, 2020.
