Last Updated on June 4, 2023
Filming has begun on the new season of the MASTERPIECE and BBC hit British period drama “World on Fire.”
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“World on Fire” (Season 2) features six new episodes that tell the story of World War II through the eyes of ordinary people whose lives have been thrown into chaos.
Read on for plot and cast details.
October 1940. Lone pilots are sent to destroy German bombers prowling the skies above Manchester as the Northern Blitz begins. The true reality of war has arrived in Britain.
The second season of “World on Fire” will take viewers from the streets of Britain into occupied France, Nazi Germany, and to the sands of the North African desert, where British troops struggle alongside Indian Sappers and Australian Diggers to adapt to a very different kind of combat.
Returning cast include Lesley Manville as Robina, Jonah Hauer-King as Harry, Julia Brown as Lois, and Zofia Wichlacz as Kasia, with Blake Harrison as Stan, Eugénie Derouand as Henriette, Eryk Biedunkiewicz as Jan, and Cel Spellman as Joe.
Production of the new season was on pause because of the pandemic, but the wait is over; filming on Season 2 is underway in Northern Ireland as of July 2022. MASTERPIECE Executive Producer Susanne Simpson says Peter Bowker’s new scripts are “riveting” and with its talented returning cast and compelling new characters, “Season 2 will definitely be worth the wait.”
According to Ben Irving, Acting Director of BBC Drama, Season 2 will bring “a range of intriguing, untold stories that put ordinary people at the centre of history.” “World on Fire” creator and writer Peter Bowker expands: “How the conflict played out in North Africa is a fascinating and little explored history and we are aiming to redress that balance with stories of struggle and friendship. Our diverse cast will continue to reflect the global nature of the conflict.”
Joining the “World on Fire” cast for Season 2 are Mark Bonnar (Operation Mincemeat) as Sir James Danemere, Ahad Raza Mir (Hum Tum) as Rajib, and Gregg Sulkin (Pretty Smart) as David. Further casting will be announced in due course.
Lesley Manville says: “It’s wonderful to be bringing Peter Bowker’s epic scripts to life again. Rich characters telling great, human stories set against the backdrop of World War II. It’s a feast!”
Mammoth Screen, who makes the historical drama for the BBC and MASTERPIECE, says: “This is a drama which poses the question – how do you survive when everything around you has changed unimaginably?” We can’t wait to find out.
“World on Fire” (Season 2) premieres Sunday, October 15 at 9/8c on PBS MASTERPIECE.
“World on Fire” (Season 1) aired on MASTERPIECE in Spring 2020. Read about it and watch the trailer here. Need to catch up? “World on Fire” (Season 1) is AVAILABLE to STREAM.
If you enjoyed this post, wander over to The Period Films List.
