ITV Studios inks first global pre-sales for second season of award-winning drama Vigil

ITV Studios has secured a host of pre-sales across the globe for the second season of the Emmy®-winning drama Vigil, produced by World Productions, the award-winning production company behind the internationally acclaimed Line of Duty and Bodyguard. 

Following a successful first season, the second season of the adrenaline-fuelled thriller will stream on NBCUniversal’s Peacock in the US. Bell Media and TVA will broadcast the show in Canada. Meanwhile, in Europe, Arte has acquired for France and Germany as well as DR for Denmark, NRK for Norway, YLE for Finland and SVT for Sweden. In the Asia Pacific region, BBC Studios ANZ has acquired the show for Australia, TVNZ for New Zealand and Now TV for Hong Kong.

Ruth Berry, Managing Director, Global Partnerships, ITV Studios, said: “It’s a huge privilege to take Vigil across the globe and to find that many partners have been so thrilled with the first season, they want to support the second. Fans of the show are in for a whole new nail-biting experience as the setting moves from the depths of the ocean to the thrilling turbulence of the air. I’m sure they’ll be fascinated to see Silva and Longacre exploring a new case in a new world.”

The first season of Vigil was the most-watched new drama launch in the UK since Bodyguard in 2018, attracting over 13 million viewers. Since then, it has gone on to win an International Emmy® for Best International Drama and secured a BAFTA nomination for Best Drama Series. To date, series one has sold to 175 territories worldwide.

Vigil returns with a brand-new investigation that takes Amy Silva (Suranne Jones) and Kirsten Longacre (Rose Leslie) into the secret world of drone warfare to catch a killer. Following multiple deaths at a Scottish weapons test, Silva and Longacre are tasked with uncovering the cause. Entering the closed ranks of the air force in Scotland and the Middle East, the pair face the deadly warfare of tomorrow as they fight for their own uncertain future. 

The returning six-part series stars Suranne Jones (Gentleman Jack, Doctor Foster) and Rose Leslie (Game of Thrones, Downton Abbey) alongside Gary Lewis (His Dark Materials, Granite Harbour) as DSU Robertson. They will be joined for series two by new cast members Romola Garai (Becoming Elizabeth, The Hour), Dougray Scott (Crime, Enigma), Amir El-Masry (SAS Rogue Heroes, Limbo), David Elliot (The Liberator, Bulletproof), Chris Jenks (Sex Education, Karen Pirie), Tommy Sim’aan (The Midwich Cuckoos, Doctors), Oscar Salem (House of the Dragon, Des), Jonathan Ajayi (Noughts + Crosses) and Hiba Medina in her first major TV role.

Vigil (6x60’) series two is made by World Productions for the BBC. It is written and created by Tom Edge, with episodes by Maryam Hamidi, James Smythe and Ryan O’Sullivan and Matilda Wnek. Series two was directed by Andy De Emmony (The Nest, The Last Kingdom) and Josh Agnew (Deep State, Outlander). The producer is Marcus Wilson (Doctor Who, Luther) and the associate producer is George Aza-Selinger. Executive producers are Simon Heath and Jake Lushington for World Productions, Gaynor Holmes for the BBC, and Tom Edge.

[ENDS]

About ITV Studios

ITV Studios is a creator, producer and distributor of world-leading programmes that people can’t get enough of. We connect millions of people every day and shape and reflect the world they live in, we are More Than TV.

ITV Studios is home to some of the best creative minds, crafting over 6,700 hours of original programming across more than 60 production labels. Our global footprint spans 13 countries including the UK, US, Australia, France, Germany, The Nordics, Italy and the Netherlands and our global distribution business sells our catalogue of 90,000+ hours to broadcasters and platforms around the world.

ITV Studios is part of ITV PLC, which includes the UK’s largest commercial broadcaster.