Carl Roberts 
Grab your life jackets and prepare to set sail as the hit BBC thriller, Nightsleeper, is to return for a second season. Get the details here.
The hit suspense thriller, Nightsleeper, will head out to sea for a brand-new six-part series for BBC iPlayer and BBC One. Following the success of the first series, the BBC has commissioned a second installment of the hit real-time thriller. Nick Leather, a BAFTA and RTS award-winning writer, crafted the text, while Element Pictures, a Fremantle company, produced it.
SERIES 1 & 2 PREMISE
The first series followed the fictional Heart of Britain sleeper train traveling from Glasgow to London. In it, two strangers were forced to work together to save the lives of its passengers. Launching in September 2024, the series became the BBC’s biggest new drama launch of the year. Episode one reached 8.5 million viewers. Moreover, the drama found significant international success, with the series selling in 176 territories worldwide.
This time the action moves from the rails to the open water, as a new high-stakes thriller unfolds aboard a ship traveling across the Irish Sea – and behind every cabin door is another story, another surprise…
NICK LEATHER AND KATE HARWOOD
Nick Leather says:
“It’s so exciting to set sail on season two! The passengers and crew on tonight’s Belfast to Liverpool passenger ferry are about to experience six hours of non-stop thrills and spills, secrets and lies, triumphs and tragedies. None of them are quite as they seem. Nothing in their lives will ever be the same again. Not all of them will make it to the other side. The new Nightsleeper is going to be more nightsleepery than ever…”
Kate Harwood, Executive Producer, says:
“Audiences embraced Nightsleeper in such a huge way, and we’re incredibly excited to return with a bold new story. Nick has once again created a brilliantly tense thriller packed with new characters, twists, emotion, and edge-of-your-seat drama. We can’t wait to bring this new drama from the high seas.”
LINDSAY SALT AND RICHARD WILLIAMS
Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, says:
“Series one of Nightsleeper was a breakout hit, thundering across the U.K. to reach millions of viewers. Series two brilliantly builds on everything that made the first so irresistible, and we could not be happier to be working with Nick, Kate and the team to bring it to BBC iPlayer and BBC One.”
Richard Williams, CEO of Northern Ireland Screen, says:
“We’re proud to support Element Pictures and the BBC as Nightsleeper returns with an exciting new story rooted in the Irish Sea. It’s wonderful to see Northern Ireland’s world-class crew, locations and creative talent playing a part in bringing this ambitious series to audiences around the world.”
BEHIND THE SCENES
The new 6×60 series was commissioned by Lindsay Salt, the Director of BBC Drama, specifically for BBC iPlayer and BBC One. Element Pictures, known for productions like Normal People and The Cage, is producing the series under the Fremantle label, with support from Northern Ireland Screen. James Kent, who directed The White Queen, and Chris Baugh, known for Wreck, will helm the direction of the series. Kate Harwood, Rachel Dargavel, Ed Guiney, Andrew Lowe, and Chris Aird will executive produce for Element Pictures alongside Nick Leather and James Kent, with Gaynor Holmes executive producing for the BBC. The series producer is Jonathan Curling, with Maria Mulhall serving as producer. Fremantle is handling global sales.
Filming will take place in Belfast later this year. Series one of Nightsleeper is available to stream on BBC iPlayer now.
Introducing Carl! As the News Editor at Future of the Force, Carl has been an invaluable member of our team since early 2016. His expertise and dedication have made him an integral part of our editorial staff. Beyond his professional role, Carl is a fervent supporter of Liverpool F.C. and an avid follower of pop culture. He has a deep passion for Halloween, Friday the 13th, and the iconic movie franchises Star Wars and Star Trek.
He can be found either at his neighborhood cinema, enjoying the latest releases on the big screen, or at home streaming the newest blockbuster movies.
