BBC's period spy sensation The Lady Grace Mysteries sets season 2 date
After a breakout first season, BBC’s period spy smash The Lady Grace Mysteries is officially back for Season 2 — with Evie Coles returning, a premiere date set, and fresh production and plot teases pointing to bigger twists, bolder missions, and even more cloak-and-dagger intrigue.
If you're after the kind of telly where the main character solves mysteries between lessons in courtly etiquette and the odd bit of espionage for Queen Elizabeth I, you'll be chuffed to hear that 'The Lady Grace Mysteries' is officially coming back for a second round. That's right, the BBC has given the green light for Season 2 after the first lot went down a storm, and we’ve now got plenty of details on what's next.
Production is Underway (And Heading Abroad)
The BBC's sticking with their winning formula: Evie Coles returns as Lady Grace, and most of the familiar faces will still be in play. Filming is scheduled for July, and they’re splitting the shoot between the UK and Belgium. Bit ambitious, that – clearly the mysteries are getting broader. It's a proper 13-episode order for this season too, though the exact air date is still a mystery in itself. As before, you'll catch it on CBBC first, then streaming later on iPlayer. No plans announced to bring it over to BBC One, so it’s still very much a younger-audience affair.
Plot: High Stakes, Royal Trouble, and Famous Faces
So what's Grace up to this time? According to what’s been revealed, our courtly sleuth will be busy unravelling another "high-stakes" case, right at the centre of the Royal Court. She’ll cross paths – and possibly swords – with Mary, Queen of Scots. That's bound to ruffle a few ruffs. The plot also ropes in the ever-adventurous Sir Francis Drake, who apparently needs rescuing. As always, the show promises that, hidden beneath all the courtly drama, Grace will be tackling proper teenage issues, because even Elizabethan super-spies have growing pains.
The Returning & New Cast Line-up
- Evie Coles – returns as Lady Grace Cavendish
- Imogen Mackie Walker – joins as Mary, Queen of Scots
- Jack Forsyth-Noble – playing Sir Francis Drake
- Amaree Ali – new character Daniel Bunting
- Joy Tan – Lady Meadows joins the lineup
On the directing front, Louise Ní Fhiannachta is back, which makes sense given how slick the first season looked, and she's joined by Jordan Hogg. The writing team behind the scripts – Anna McCleery, Vicki Lutas, and Karissa Hamilton-Bannis – are also all returning. From everything I’ve seen, they're planning to stick close to the vibe that made Season 1 a success.
The Books Behind the Series (In Case You Fancy Reading Ahead)
Just to clear this up: the show is based on those 'Lady Grace Mysteries' books for children, originally penned by Patricia Finney (with Sara Volger and Jan Burchett jumping in on later installments). The set-up is pretty irresistible – Lady Grace Cavendish, a maid of honour at Elizabeth's court, secretly navigates the dangerous world of Tudor intrigue as the Queen’s unofficial investigator, all while wrangling her mates Ellie and Masou (who, frankly, really need their own spin-off).
'This time, [Grace] will come face-to-face with Queen Elizabeth I's rival, Mary, Queen of Scots. Meanwhile, she will also attempt to rescue the popular explorer Sir Francis Drake.'