New faces in series two of Victoria and the Doctor Who Christmas special
a stellar cast lines up for the second series of itv’s epic royal drama
Denis Lawson is the latest big name to sign up for a guest role in the muchanticipated second series of ITV’S hit period drama Victoria.
Our lovely photo (bottom) shows Perthshire-born Denis looking splendid in tartan, as his character, the Duke of Atholl, greets Queen Victoria and Prince Albert (Jenna Coleman and Tom Hughes) to the Highlands.
The scenes were filmed at
Blair Castle, Perthshire.
New Tricks star Denis joins an impressive list of guest stars for series two, with Line of Duty’s
Martin Compston as Dr Robert Traill.
Call the Midwife’s
Emerald Fennell
(nurse Patsy Mount) takes on the role of Lord Byron’s daughter, Lady
Ada Lovelace, while theatre star Jo Stonefewings will be Charles Babbage, father of the computer, and French actor Bruno Wolkowitch will play King Louis Philippe.
Meanwhile, Dame Diana Rigg joins the regular cast as the Duchess of Bucchleuch, Victoria’s new Mistress of the Robes.
Fans will be pleased to hear that returning series one cast members include Nigel Lindsay
(Sir Robert Peel), Peter Bowles
(Duke of Wellington), Nell Hudson (Skerrett) and Ferdinand Kingsley (chef Francatelli). Victoria is also reunited with her horse, Almonzo.
After the gripping series one finale last October, which saw Victoria give birth to the couple’s first child, the action picks up six weeks on, and finds the Queen juggling royal duties with being a mum. Prince Albert is still struggling to find his role as an inevitable power struggle plays out between the couple.
‘In series one
Victoria married the handsome prince, but in this series she and
Albert get down to the serious business of living happily, sometimes stormily, ever after,’ says creator Daisy Goodwin.
‘Victoria is the only
Queen Regnant to marry and give birth while on the throne and the challenges of being head of state as well as wife and mother are legion. In many ways, Victoria’s dilemma is a modern one – how do you have a successful marriage and a happy family when you are holding down an important job? Can you really have it all?’
The new eight-part series, set to air this autumn, will be followed by a two-hour Christmas special.