Apple TV has another multi-season hit based on Mick Herron books on its hands. The streaming service has renewed Down Cemetery Road two days after the finale debuted.
This isn’t too surprising, given the success of — with multiple early renewals as well — Slow Horses, based on Herron’s Slough House books. Emma Thompson and Ruth Wilson will both be back for the second season, even though Wilson’s character isn’t in all of Herron’s Zoë Broehm novels on which the series is based. That’s not too surprising, given what Herron told TV Insider while discussing the finale and remaining cautiously optimistic about another season.
“I think if any sequel were made, it would have to include both characters in the same kind of dynamic that they have played in Down Cemetery Road,” he said. “It’s the way they play off each other. I think that they can do the humor as well as compassion and danger as well. All the different things they go through, they do so well. It’s a joy to watch, I thought.”
To celebrate the renewal, Thompson, who also serves as an executive producer, said in a statement, “I’m so thrilled that Down Cemetery Road has been enjoyed enough to warrant a second season. The thought of working with the team again, with wonderful Morwenna Banks in the writer’s seat and the indomitable Ruth Wilson who is the best and most brilliant co-star any aging Dame could desire, is frankly far more than I feel I deserve. Zoë Boehm is a punkishly delicious avatar and I can’t wait to pull on her knock-off Doc Martens again. Thanks to everyone who watched! We are go for the next one and it’s all down to you.”
Added Jay Hunt, creative director, Europe, Apple TV, “Audiences around the world fell in love with Down Cemetery Road and I am glad the unlikely duo of Zoë and Sarah will be back with their unique form of acerbic wit.”
Read on for everything we know about Down Cemetery Road Season 2, including the plot, cast, and more.
When will Down Cemetery Road Season 2 premiere?
It’s too soon to tell; there’s no news yet about when production will begin.
What is Down Cemetery Road Season 2 about?
Season 1 saw private investigator Zoë Boehm (Thompson) and art restorer Sarah Trafford (Wilson) cross paths after a young girl went missing following an explosion; the subsequent investigation led to Zoe’s husband’s murder and the discovery of a conspiracy.
Now, Apple TV reveals, “Season 2 reunites Zoë Boehm and Sarah Trafford chasing down another twisted mystery. After a woman falls in front of a train Zoë is called in to investigate, but this seemingly simple case soon upends her life as she and Sarah find themselves navigating the glamorous but ruthless world of black market antiquities. Matters take a deadly turn when they stumble into the path of a brutal serial killer who will stop at nothing to cover up his crimes.”
What book is Down Cemetery Road Season 2 based on?
There are four books in the series, with the first season based on the first of the same name. The next three books are The Last Voice You Hear, Why We Die, and Smoke and Whispers.
“I think they’re going to try and put it into three seasons altogether, so, it would be about condensing those three books into two more seasons,” Wilson told us. “And they may, depending on what they want to do — I mean, Sarah doesn’t actually feature in Book 2 and 3, she comes into Book 4, but I think they might bring Sarah in, create another storyline for her. But we’ll see. I’ve got no idea. That’s what they’re sort of working out now.”
The description for The Last Voice You Hear reads: “Zoë Boehm has harbored a distinct aversion to death ever since she shot the man intent on killing her. So when Caroline Daniels takes a deadly fall in front of a train and her lover fails to turn up at the funeral, Zoë wants nothing to do with the case. But Caroline’s boss is persistent, and as Zoë attempts to unlock the secrets of a woman she’s never met while in search of a man who could be anywhere, she starts to wonder if he’s found her first. And if he has, will that make her the next victim, or prove to be her salvation from a paralysing fear?”
Then, in Why We Die, “When Zoë Boehm agrees to track down the gang who robbed Sweeney’s jewellery shop, she’s just hoping to break even in time for tax season. She certainly doesn’t expect to wind up in a coffin. But she’s about to become entangled with a strange collection of characters, starting with suicidal Tim Whitby, who’s dedicating what’s left of his life to protecting Katrina Blake from her late husband’s sociopathic brothers, Arkle and Trent. Unfortunately for Zoë, Arkle has a crossbow, Tim has nothing left to lose, and even Katrina has her secrets. And death, like taxes, can’t be avoided forever.”
And in Smoke and Whispers, “When a body is hauled from the River Tyne, Sarah Tucker heads to Newcastle for a closer look. She identifies the dead woman as private detective Zoë Boehm, but putting a name to the corpse only raises further questions. Did Zoë kill herself, or did one of her old cases come back to haunt her? Why was she wearing the jacket a murderer had stolen years before? And what’s brought Sarah’s former sparring partner Gerard Inchon to the same broken-down hotel where she’s staying? Coincidence is an excuse that soon appears pretty unconvincing. Sarah can’t leave until she’s found the answers to her questions, however dangerous they might turn out to be.”
Who’s in the Down Cemetery Road cast?
Down Cemetery Road stars Emma Thompson as Zoë Boehm and Ruth Wilson as Sarah Trafford. They’ll both be back in Season 2.
The Season 1 cast also included Adeel Akhtar, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Tom Goodman-Hill, Darren Boyd, Tom Riley, Adam Godley, Sinead Matthews, Ken Nwosu, Fehinti Balogun, and Aiysha Hart. Beyond Thompson and likely Wilson, it’s unclear who could return for future seasons. For example, Godley’s Joe was killed off in the premiere.
Down Cemetery Road is produced by 60Forty Films and is written by Morwenna Banks. Banks executive produces with Jamie Laurenson, Hakan Kousetta and Tom Nash at 60Forty Films, Thompson, and Down Cemetery Road author Mick Herron. Börkur Sigþórssen will serve as Season 2’s lead director.
More Headlines:
- ‘Today,’ ‘GMA,’ & ‘CBS Mornings’ Ratings December 2025: Who’s on Top?
- ‘Down Cemetery Road’ Renewed for Season 2 — Is Ruth Wilson Returning With Emma Thompson?
- ‘Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery’ Hits Netflix
- Jamie-Lynn Sigler to Play Doctor with MS on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’
- Jimmy Kimmel Reveals He Received a Check With Trump’s Name on it
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.