Bloodlands series 2 was announced as series 1 breaks Northern Ireland records for a drama series

Bloodlands launched with an average of 8.2 million viewers, making it the biggest new BBC drama launch since last June. In Northern Ireland, the premiere episode had a 52 percent consolidated audience share (live and time-shifted viewing), making it the highest BBC drama to launch locally on record. Following this success, the BBC have ordered a second series from writer Chris Brandon, who had his first original drama commission in Bloodlands.

The critically acclaimed ‘Irish-noir’ drama which has kept the nation hooked for the past four weeks concluded tonight, as audiences were shocked by the revelations about the complex character of DCI Tom Brannick and what his future might entail. The cat-and-mouse thriller is rooted in Northern Ireland, and filming will take place once again in Belfast and the surrounding areas, including Strangford Lough.

Piers Wenger, Director of BBC Drama, says:

“We’ve been overwhelmed by the audience response to Bloodlands and are thrilled to announce that the series is returning. Chris’ scripts shine a light on to tensions in Northern Ireland, both historic and present day, and it’s a testament to his skills as a dramatist, to a virtuoso performance from Jimmy Nesbitt and the care taken by all at HTM Television, that the series has been so beloved by audiences in Northern Ireland and throughout the UK.”

You can read the full announcement on the BBC press site. Bloodlands is still available on iPlayer.