‘Time’: Bella Ramsey, Jodie Whittaker, Tamara Lawrance & Siobhan Finneran Join Season 2 Of Jimmy McGovern Drama
Following the huge success of Season 1, Jimmy McGovern’s multi-award-winning prison-based drama ‘Time‘ returns for Season 2 with a brand new location and cast which includes Bella Ramsey, Jodie Whittaker, Tamara Lawrance & Siobhan Finneran.
An original new story told through the lens of three very different inmates, season two of the anthology series is a moving and high-stakes portrayal of life inside a women’s prison. Arriving at Carlingford Prison on the same day, Kelsey (Bella Ramsey), Orla (Jodie Whittaker) and Abi (Tamara Lawrance) are thrown together to face an unfamiliar world. But even with the ever-present threat of violence within its walls, they discover that an unexpected sense of community, and a shared understanding, still might be possible.
“I’m very happy to be a part of this project, working with an incredible team and following on from a stellar first season,” said Bella Ramsey. “And it’s such an honour to be Kelsey, I’m really excited to experience the world through her for a few months.”
The three-part drama will be led by Bella Ramsey (The Last of Us, His Dark Materials), Jodie Whittaker (Doctor Who, Broadchurch) and Tamara Lawrance (The Silent Twins, The Long Song) as Kelsey, Orla and Abi, with Siobhan Finneran (Happy Valley, Downton Abbey) reprising her role from series one as Marie-Louise, a prison chaplain.
“Time was such an incredible and powerful show created by an extraordinary team, and being a part of this project in its second iteration is an absolute dream,” adds Jodie Whittaker.
“Being a part of women-centred stories and productions is very important to me, as well as projects that challenge a prejudice. Time series two humanises a sector of society that is too often and easily vilified by elucidating the layered reasons why people end up in the criminal (in)justice system,” commented Tamara Lawrance. “I’m excited for us to platform the complexity of these characters and their experiences.”
“I am delighted to be returning for Time two,” said Siobhan Finneran. “It was a privilege to be involved in the first series and to be asked back is an honour, the scripts are again heartbreakingly brilliant.”
The first instalment of ‘Time’, which starred Sean Bean and Stephen Graham, was a huge hit for the BBC, with an average of 11.6 million viewers across its three-part run (30-day BBC all-screens data). The series won the 2022 BAFTA Television award for best mini-series.
Time series two is co-written by Jimmy McGovern (Broken, Cracker, The Street) and Helen Black, the writer of the now BAFTA-nominated Life and Death in the Warehouse, and is made by BBC Studios for BBC One and iPlayer.
“This is the best cast I have ever seen assembled for any drama of mine,” comments McGovern. “The best crew too. I am so, so looking forward to it.” His co-writer, Helen Black, adds: “To be asked to write the second season of Time with the incomparable Jimmy McGovern has been a joy and an honour.”
Time season two is a BBC Studios production for BBC One and BBC iPlayer. The series is directed by Andrea Harkin (The Confessions of Frannie Langton, The Trial Of Christine Keeler), and produced by Carmel Maloney (Domina, Dublin Murders). Executive producers are Priscilla Parish, Michael Parke and Andrew Morrissey for BBC Studios, Lucy Richer for the BBC, and Jimmy McGovern.
“Jimmy McGovern and Helen Black’s scripts are nothing short of extraordinary, and in Bella, Jodie and Tamara we’ve found the perfect acting talents to bring these utterly compelling central characters to life,” said Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama. “With Siobhan Finneran reprising her role from series one and Andrea Harkin in the director’s chair, BBC viewers are in for a remarkable three hours of television.”
Filming will take place in and around Liverpool soon. The series has secured funding and support through the Liverpool Film Office. Global distribution will be handled by BBC Studios.
‘Time‘ Season 1 is available to stream on BBC iPlayer. Season 2 does not yet have a premiere date, but if you want to keep track of this or any other show, you can add them via our Never Miss system, and you’ll be notified when it gets a UK premiere date.
