Dawn French sitcom Can You Keep a Secret? recommissioned for a second series

After the launch episode racks up 5.3 million viewers, renewal was an easy decision for the BBC to make. Dawn French returns, alongside Mark Heap, Mandip Gill, and Craig Roberts, with filming due later this year. The series landed as the third biggest comedy launch on BBC iPlayer since 2024 with an audience of 3.3 million (62% of the audience) across 28-days (behind Ludwig 5.5 million and Amandaland 4.3 million).

Created and written by Simon Mayhew-Archer, and Big Talk Studios, Mayhay Studios and CBS Studios co-production, the sitcom wrapped up its first series run on BBC One on Wednesday, 11 February. The full series is available on BBC iPlayer.

What do we know so far

Series one of Can You Keep a Secret? followed Debbie Fendon (Dawn French), a domineering granny, who loses her reclusive husband William (Mark Heap), and makes a reckless decision to safeguard her family’s future. However, William isn’t dead. Declared deceased by mistake, he’s hiding in the loft while they await the life insurance payout. The scheme shocks their high-strung son Harold (Craig Roberts), whose wife, Neha (Mandip Gill), is a local police officer. Just as the family begins to navigate this bizarre charade, Debbie drops another secret — one that could bring the whole family down.

For the second series, Dawn French will return as Debbie, alongside Mark Heap as William, Mandip Gill as Neha, and Craig Roberts as Harry.

No details on potential storylines or new cast — we’ll let you know when we get any more news.