If there’s one thing the BBC is particularly good at, it’s giving us high-octane crime dramas to sink our teeth into. 

From its compelling, hard-hitting adaptation of You Don’t Know Me to the heights of Line Of Duty, the channel is known for producing some of the best crime dramas in the business. And The Responder, which debuted in 2022, enjoyed a glowing reception from fans and critics alike.

No wonder, then, that everyone is on tenterhooks for the second season – which arrives on BBC One and iPlayer on Sunday 5 May.

Watch the trailer for The Responder season 2 below:

Once again helmed by ex-police officer Tony Schumacher, the series will see Martin Freeman return as Chris, a “crisis-stricken, morally compromised” urgent response officer, and Adelayo Adedayo as his colleague, Rachel, who’s still reeling from the events of the first season.

It’s set to be a tense watch, and if the trailer’s anything to go by, it isn’t one you’re going to want to miss. 

Keep reading to find out more about what you can expect from The Responder season 2. 

What is The Responder season 2 about?

Picking up six months after the events of last season, which resulted in the murder of drug dealer Carl Sweeney, viewers will watch as a troubled Chris attempts to reclaim control over his life and embark on a journey of self-healing.

Rachel, meanwhile, is “fuming at the way Chris broke her dreams of being a police officer and dragged her down with him into the dirt,” reads the official synopsis. “But after working with a succession of ‘normal’ coppers, Rachel is starting to realise she’s got more in common with Chris than she’d ever want to admit.”

Who stars in The Responder season 2?

Alongside Freeman and Adedayo, the series will also see the following cast members reprise their roles:

• MyAnna Buring as Kate Carson
• Warren Brown as Raymond Mullen
• Josh Finan as Marco
• Emily Fairn as Casey
• Philip S McGuinness as Ian
• Faye McKeever as Jodie Sweeney
• Mark Womack as Barry
• Amaka Okafor as Deborah Barnes

Adam Nagaitis, Bernard Hill, and Ian Puleston-Davies are also set to join the series.

What are people saying about The Responder season 2?

Speaking to Variety about his character, Freeman has said that viewers will watch as Chris begins therapy in The Responder season 2.

“He goes: ‘I am going to give it a go, maybe I will learn something.’ It’s about putting yourself in a situation where you can actually get some help,” he explains. 

“He is probably quite cynical about it and then sees that the person leading it is the same person he picked up as a very drunk driver. I don’t think he holds out a lot of hope for it, but he is trying it on. Like a new pair of shoes.” 

Adedayo, meanwhile, adds that Rachel will be shown to struggle after leaving an abusive relationship.

“She suffers from PTSD and one of the symptoms is hyper-arousal: In terms of her job, that’s incredibly scary,” says the actor. 

“She faces all kinds of threats, all night long. Her job is to remain calm, but that’s almost impossible now.” 

When and where can we watch The Responder season 2?

As mentioned already, The Responder season 2 arrives on BBC One and iPlayer on Sunday 5 May.

Will you be tuning in?

Images: BBC