“As good as police dramas get”: The Split star Nicola Walker’s “exceptional” series Annika returns to the BBC

Whether you’re as much of a fan of Nicola Walker as we are or you simply love a crime drama, we’ve got some seriously good news for you. The second series of The Split star’s exceptional police drama, Annika, which originally aired on U&Alibi, is about to follow in the footsteps of series 1 and arrive on the BBC – and as police dramas go, it’s as good as they get.

Based on the hit Radio 4 drama of the same name, the series introduces us to the brilliantly witty and enigmatic DI Annika Strandhed (Nicola Walker), who heads up the Marine Homicide Unit (MHU) in Scotland. The team's task? To investigate the many unexplainable - and unfathomable - murders that wash up in the Scottish waterways. Brilliantly twisty and full of dry humour, it’s the sort of of police drama you can get lost in for hours.

Ahead of series 2's arrival on BBC One and iPlayer, here's everything you need to know about Annika, including the plot, cast and release date.

What is Annika about?

As we mentioned, the series is based on the hugely popular Radio 4 drama of the same name and follows the sharp, witty and enigmatic DI Annika Strandhed (Nicola Walker). Annika heads up a new specialist Marine Homicide Unit (MHU) that must investigate the unexplained, brutal, and seemingly unfathomable murders that wash up in the waterways of Scotland.

The clever drama sees Annika make the audience her confidante, sharing her wry observations on the case and her life along the way, while managing her brilliant yet unconventional team. Oh, and then there's her equally brilliant yet complex teenage daughter to manage, too.

What will happen in Annika series 2?

The second series sees Annika and the MHU team find themselves investigating crimes in new landscapes, showing multiple sides of Scotland from the Hebridean Isles to the vibrant capital city, Edinburgh. The team finds themselves challenged as their dynamics shift, pushing them to adapt quickly as they encounter murders more complex than ever before.

According the UKTV’s official synopsis, "Meanwhile, Annika balances a family dynamic that grows more complicated as long-held secrets from the past begin to impact her relationships. As always, Annika breaks the fourth wall, sharing her wry and humorous observations through a literary lens, alongside raising her brilliant yet complex teenage daughter, Morgan."

Who's in the cast of Annika series 2?

The cast of Annika series 2 includes:

• Nicola Walker (Unforgotten, The Split) as DI Annika Strandhed
• Jamie Sives (Department Q) as DS Michael McAndrews
• Katie Leung (Bridgerton) as DC Blair Ferguson
• Ukweli Roach (The Midwich Cuckoos) as DS Tyrone Clarke
• Silvie Furneaux (Limbo)as Annika's daughter Morgan
• Kate Dickie (Department Q) as DCI Diane Oban
• Paul McGann (Doctor Who) as Jake Strathearn
• Sven Henriksen (Wolf) as Annika's father Magnus
• Varada Sethu (Doctor Who) as new recruit DC Harper Weston

Is Annika any good?

Yes – when the first series aired on Alibi in 2021, it broke records to become the channel’s most-watched drama for at least seven years and proved a ratings hit once again when it aired on BBC One two years later. Both series 1 and 2 have been highly praised by audiences, with viewers and critics calling it “exceptional” with “all the makings of a Vera-like long-runner (The i) and describing Nicola Walker’s performance as “wonderful”. If you fancy a police drama with plenty of wit, it’s one for you.

How can I watch Annika series 2?

Good news - there’s not long to wait before Annika series 2 arrives on the BBC! The first episode will air on BBC One on Saturday 2^nd August at 9.10pm, while all six episodes will also be available to stream on BBC iPlayer from the same date. In the meantime, you can catch up on series 1, which is available to stream in full on BBC iPlayer.

What else can I watch Nicola Walker in?

If you haven't yet watched Nicola's legal drama The Split, which centres around a family of divorce lawyers known as the Defoes, it's a good place to start. All three series and a two-part special set in Barcelona are available to stream on BBC iPlayer now. Alternatively, crime drama fans will love ITV's Unforgotten; Nicola played DCI Cassie Stuart in series 1-4 (there's 6 in total) and she's truly brilliant alongside Sanjeev Bhaskar. You might also be pleased to know that Nicola will star in a new Disney+ relationship drama called Alice and Steve, and you can find more details about it here.