‘Unpredictable edge-of-your-seat cases’: Why crime drama Ellis will be even more ‘compelling’ in series 2

Groundbreaking detective drama Ellis is coming back to Channel 5 for more unpredictable edge-of-your-seat cases, in a second run of the dynamic crime series. The show follows tenacious police duo DCI Ellis and DS Harper, as they’re brought in to tackle hard-to-solve murder cases across the north of England – and the second series promises even more compelling drama.

The first series launched last October to critical acclaim and with more than 2.4m viewers. The show was praised for breaking new ground as the first black solo female-led detective series, with three-time Olivier Award winner and BAFTA nominee Sharon D Clarke delivering a standout performance as DCI Ellis. Speaking to Radio Times about what initially drew her to the role, Sharon said, ‘I’ve never seen a Black, dark-skinned female woman in a title role in a cop show, ever. And that alone is the biggest draw for me before anything had gone in the script.’

Ahead of series 2, here’s everything you need to know so far to get you up to speed...

What is Ellis about?

In Ellis, we meet DCI Ellis (Sharon D Clarke), who’s billed as ‘a determined detective driven by a quest for justice and compassion’. She and her right-hand man, DS Harper (Andrew Gower) are brought in to solve cases that have left previous teams stumped. If there’s a failing investigation somewhere in the north of England, DCI Ellis is the woman to call.

Series one aired across three weeks as three 120-minute episodes, making them a dramatic, almost cinematic experience for gripped viewers. Each episode tackled a different case and saw DCI Ellis dig deeper into the world around the crime, uncovering dark secrets to finally connect the missing dots.

What happened in Ellis series 1?

In the first episode of series one, DCI Ellis was presented with the case of a murdered teenager and his missing girlfriend, but soon learned there was a lot more going on with the young people in the town – and that their parents were in the dark about it all. In the second episode, DCI Ellis arrives to whip a chaotic police station into shape in the wake of a crime gang leader’s arrest. But when a female detective who raised issues of bullying disappears, she realises there’s much more at play.

And, in the finale, ‘dynamic pair’ DCI Ellis and DS Harper are brought in on the case of a pair of newlyweds who’ve disappeared. While it could seem as though they simply had a tragic accident in a dangerous stretch of river, DCI uncovers something much more sinister that could be connected to the village's past.

What will happen in Ellis series 2?

In the second series of Ellis, viewers have been promised ‘a new slate of compelling mysteries led by the enigmatic and brilliant DCI Ellis’, according to an official release about the ‘groundbreaking detective drama’. While we don’t yet know exactly what the crimes faced by DCI Ellis and DS Harper will be, we do know the new series will return with three more ‘unpredictable, edge-of-your-seat cases’, which will also be aired across three weeks as 120-minute episodes.

Speaking in the release about the new series, Sharon D Clarke said, ‘Ellis is a character who resonates deeply, and I can’t wait for audiences to see what we have in store for her and Harper in series two.’

Who’s in the Ellis series 2 cast?

Both Sharon D Clarke and Andrew Gower have been confirmed to return for series two as DCI Ellis and DS Harper respectively. As there will be new crimes lined up for the pair in the next series, we expect there’ll be a whole new cast list, which has yet to be announced. We’ll update as soon as we know more about who else is starring in the new series.

How can I watch Ellis?

Ellis series two is set to begin filming May 2025 and will air on Channel 5 and Acorn TV in 2026.