LUDWIG: FILMING BEGINS AND CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR SECOND SERIES OF HIT BBC COMEDY DRAMA

Ludwig, the smash hit detective series starring David Mitchell and Anna Maxwell Martin, will return to BBC iPlayer and BBC One after a stellar first run. 

The series captivated audiences, attracting over 9.5 million viewers (28-day figure), making it the BBC’s biggest scripted show of the year to date and the biggest launch for a comedy since at least 2018. 

For the second series, David Mitchell returns as Ludwig, alongside Anna Maxwell Martin as Lucy Betts-Taylor, the wife of John’s missing brother James. They are joined by new cast members Mark Bonnar, Sian Clifford, Ben Ashenden and Rumi Sutton.

Also returning for the second series are Dipo Ola (DCI Russell Carter), Dylan Hughes (Henry Betts-Taylor), Dorothy Atkinson (DCS Carol Shaw), Ralph Ineson (Chief Constable Ziegler) and Karl Pilkington (DI Matt Neville).

The show follows John ‘Ludwig’ Taylor, whose identical twin brother James mysteriously vanishes. John takes on his brother’s identity to uncover the truth behind his disappearance.

But there’s a twist: John has lived a quiet, uneventful life, designing puzzles and avoiding the outside world, while his brother is a high-flying DCI leading a major crimes team in Cambridge. Filling in for James leads to hilariously high stakes and serious crime-solving.

David Mitchell says: “I’m delighted that John ‘Ludwig’ Taylor has failed to escape the clutches of the Cambridge police and will have to continue to face up to the city’s alarming conundrum-based crime wave.”

Kenton Allen, Executive Producer and CEO Big Talk Studios, says: “The success of Ludwig is a testament to the power of Mark Brotherhood’s sharp and intelligent storytelling combined with the phenomenal talents of David, Anna and the brilliant supporting cast. It’s no surprise to me that the show has been such a resounding hit in these uncertain times. I think audiences crave solutions to life’s problems and Ludwig’s detective skills give us all comfort in this often puzzling world”.

Jon Petrie, BBC Director of Comedy Commissioning, says: “The blend of top-tier British comic talent, a gripping mystery, and brilliantly crafted crime storylines had viewers hooked from day one. We had high hopes for Ludwig, and it’s safe to say this comedy-detective series with a twist has become a true standout...

"We can’t thank Mark Brotherhood, David Mitchell, Anna Maxwell Martin, and the entire cast and crew enough for creating something so special. We’re eagerly awaiting series two, though it’s a bit of a shame we’ll have to spoil the surprises for ourselves by actually reading the scripts first!”

Mark Brotherhood, Creator and Writer, says: “We’ve all been blown away by the reaction to Ludwig and I’m thrilled we get to come back with a whole new set of puzzles for him to solve in his unique way”. 

The first series of Ludwig is available to watch in full on BBC iPlayer.