The Tourist Series 2: Ireland's charms, new mysteries, and hilarity unveiled

Virgin Radio

22 Dec 2023, 16:34

The eagerly awaited second season of The Tourist beckons viewers into a world brimming with surprises, laughs, and the allure of Ireland's picturesque landscapes.

Trading the Australian Outback for the lush greenery of Ireland, the series continues the thrilling saga of Elliot and Helen, offering an intriguing blend of mystery and comedy.

Writers Jack and Harry Williams on spoke on crafting a sequel: "Writing a second series is always hard," acknowledges Jack Williams.

The unexpected success of the first series left them facing the challenge of crafting a compelling continuation. Harry Williams reflects on the pivotal question: "Elliot now knows he’s done this awful thing - what does carrying that around look like? Can you forget something as massive as that?"

The decision to move the story to Ireland was driven by a desire to explore Elliot's roots. Jack Williams explains, "In series two we are asking where did he come from?" The ambitions for the sequel were to maintain the delicate balance of comedy, thriller, and drama achieved in the first series but dialing it up a notch.

Jamie Dornan, also an executive producer in the second series, delves into Elliot's character evolution. After the tumultuous events of the first season, Elliot finds himself in a relationship, attempting to move forward. Dornan muses, "He is about to find out across the series that you can't leave things behind that easily. And more importantly can Helen forget his past and accept this new version of him?"

Reflecting on the challenges and joys of reprising his role, Dornan emphasizes the series' exploration of family: "We're dealing with a guy who has no concept of who he is... little by little, there are these kernels of information revealed to him, and he starts to piece his history together."

Danielle Macdonald, reprising her role as Helen, shares insights into her character's growth. "Season two really leans into that, her discovering herself further. She's still Helen, but she's also a bit more confident, a bit stronger, and a bit more vocal in certain ways which has been interesting and fun to play with."

Describing her favorite scene, Macdonald recalls a moment of laughter with Dornan during an emotional scene about sausages: "We just could not stop laughing for about seven minutes straight, to a point of hysterics. We could not keep it together."

Conor MacNeill, who plays Detective Ruairi Slater, sheds light on his character. "Ruairi is a detective who meets Helen very early on in the series and becomes sort of embroiled in the investigation of these two warring families that Elliot Stanley is also very much involved in."

MacNeill describes the experience of working with the cast as "unreal," praising co-star Danielle Macdonald's genius and the enjoyable atmosphere on set. He emphasizes the uniqueness of Jack and Harry Williams' writing, stating, "Every episode goes somewhere unexpected, and I can never quite see where the characters are going, and that's rare."

Jack Williams assures fans that series two maintains the essence of the first but with added intensity: "Audiences should expect the same show they enjoyed in series one. The story does continue, but it's also its own new and unique journey. There's more of the thrills, surprises, and offbeat characters."

In the words of Jamie Dornan, "The humour is all there, and the story is as mad as the first series." The series promises a captivating mystery thriller with a huge comic and joyful heart, set against the stunning backdrop of Ireland.

As viewers eagerly anticipate The Tourist Series 2, the prospect of unraveling new mysteries, exploring evolving relationships, and enjoying the comedic charm of Ireland adds to the excitement. With a talented cast, skilled writing, and the scenic beauty of Ireland, the series is poised to deliver another unforgettable adventure.

Watch The Tourist on BBC iPlayer