Baptiste season 2: Julien Baptiste to return for his final thrilling case on BBC One

Baptiste is back for one final case. 

Tchéky Karyo’s iconic detective, who viewers first met in BBC thriller The Missing, returns to our screens soon for a second spin-off series on BBC One.

Baptiste season 2  is nearly here and Fiona Shaw (Harry Potter, Fleabag, Killing Eve) joins the cast to take a leading role in the latest twist-filled mystery from the imagination of Two Brothers writers and producers Harry and Jack Williams.

Here is everything you need to know about Baptiste season 2….

The best detective series to watch now on Netflix

The best crime dramas to watch now on Netflix

When does Baptiste season 2 start?

Baptiste will air on Sunday 18^th July at 9pm, with all episodes available on iPlayer that day.

Tchéky Karyo said: "The story they [Jack & Harry Williams] have written for the second series is so bold, it questions our society and our relationships with others with a strong and accurate sense of judgement.

"I was excited to be challenged this way and to carry this ambitious story on my shoulders."

What do we know about Baptiste season 2?

In the six-part series, 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’ (Fiona Shaw) whole family disappears while 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 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?

Who is in the Baptiste season 2 cast?

The new season will be led by Tchéky Karyo as trouble detective Julien Baptiste.

“I am so excited and proud of Harry and Jack for their new audacious story in Hungary,” said the French actor.

“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.”

He will be joined by Fiona Shaw, who plays a British Ambassador, who is searching for family in Hungary.

“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,” said Shaw. 

“I’m so lucky to be working with all the best of the new generation!”

Baptiste season 2: Meet the cast

Catch up… The story so far

*Warning - Spoilers ahead*

The story of Julien Baptiste has evolved across three ‘missing person’ thrillers - two seasons of The Missing and one season of Baptiste.

Baptiste became a fan favourite in The Missing, which followed Tony Hughes (James Nesbitt) as he tried to piece together the truth behing the disappearance of his young son Oliver while on holiday in France.

In The Missing season 2, the reappearance of a girl who had been missing for nine years sparks the interest of Baptiste because she is offering new clues about an old case. The second season starred David Morrissey and Keeley Hawes.

In 2019, Baptiste returned for a spin-off series which focused more heavily on the detective’s personal life and starred Tom Hollander and Jessica Raine.

At the end of season 1 of the spin-off, Baptiste discovered that his long-lost son Niels was a corrupt cop involved in a dark criminal underworld.

Niels killed his own mother at the end of the series, but was caught and sent to prison.

Where is Baptiste filmed?

The latest season has been filming in Budapest, Hungary.

Talking about the city, Fiona Shaw said: "Budapest is a unique city. It has a beauty that belies its history. Its history is utterly chilling, you have of course the blowing up of their bridges after the war, then the reign of terror in the 50s, you have a huge exodus of people, so it’s quite an empty city.

"It’s got all the grandeur of the Austrian Hungarian empire, but all of the horror that they haven’t quite cleared themselves out of yet.

"It is very much a character in the show, and as always, it’s a privilege to film in these cities! We filmed in the famous railway station that was designed by Eiffel, as in the French Eiffel, so it is like this Parisian glass jewel box above the station.

"We of course filmed on the bridges and in the city - walking down Andrassy, which is the big main street, was a privilege. It’s got a strange sort of turn of the century feel about it, it has a darkness from its history, even though it’s got magnificent architecture and beauty."

Writers Harry and Jack Williams added: "Budapest as a place, whilst being very filmic and interesting visually, has a lot about it, where it is politically.

"There are forces that are changing the world now and they are reflected very acutely in Hungary and thematically that was very important to the story. Our rule when deciding where to write this series was, could it be anywhere else? and if so then we haven’t done our job. This story would not work if it were not filmed in Budapest."

Watch this if you liked?

The Missing, Liar, Cheat, The Pact, Innocent

Baptiste season 2 will air on Sunday 18th July at 9pm, with all episodes available on iPlayer that day.