Nightsleeper returning to BBC One for a second series with a new cast

And this time the action moves from the rails to the open water.

BBC One has revealed that its hit suspense real-time thriller from Nick Leather, will return for a second series, this time heading out to sea.

The first series followed the fictional Heart of Britain sleeper train travelling from Glasgow to London, where two strangers were forced to work together to save the lives of its passengers.

This time the action moves from the rails to the open water, as a new high-stakes thriller unfolds aboard a ship travelling across the Irish Sea - and behind every cabin door is another story, another surprise…

The first series aired in September 2024, and became the BBC’s biggest new drama launch of the year, with episode one reaching 8.5 million viewers.

Speaking ahead of the new series, writer Nick Leather said "It’s so exciting to set sail on season two! The passengers and crew on tonight’s Belfast to Liverpool passenger ferry are about to experience six hours of non-stop thrills and spills, secrets and lies, triumphs and tragedies. None of them are quite as they seem. Nothing in their lives will ever be the same again. Not all of them will make it to the other side. The new Nightsleeper is going to be more nightsleepery than ever…"

To which the BBC's Director of Drama, Lindsay Salt added "Series one of Nightsleeper was a breakout hit, thundering across the U.K. to reach millions of viewers. Series two brilliantly builds on everything that made the first so irresistible, and we could not be happier to be working with Nick, Kate and the team to bring it to BBC iPlayer and BBC One."

Made by Element Pictures, a Fremantle label, with support from Northern Ireland Screen, Nightsleeper will be directed by James Kent and Chris Baugh, series produced by Jonathan Curling, produced by Maria Mulhall and executive produced by Kate Harwood, Rachel Dargavel, Ed Guiney, Andrew Lowe and Chris Aird for Element Pictures alongside Nick Leather and James Kent, with Gaynor Holmes for the BBC.

On returning to Nightsleeper, Executive Producer Kate Harwood said "Audiences embraced Nightsleeper in such a huge way, and we’re incredibly excited to return with a bold new story. Nick has once again created a brilliantly tense thriller packed with new characters, twists, emotion and edge-of-your-seat drama. We can’t wait to bring this new drama from the high seas."

To which Richard Williams, CEO of Northern Ireland Screen, added "We’re proud to support Element Pictures and the BBC as Nightsleeper returns with an exciting new story rooted in the Irish Sea. It’s wonderful to see Northern Ireland’s world-class crew, locations and creative talent playing a part in bringing this ambitious series to audiences around the world."

Filming will take place in Belfast later this year with casting set to be announced in due course.

Nightsleeper will return to BBC One