Inside the filming locations behind season 2 of ITV crime drama Karen Pirie
The whodunnit is set and filmed in Scotland, with its incredible scenes of breathtaking coastal lines and historic villages lending the series an eerie quality.
2
Lauren Lyle returns as DS Karen Pirie with Chris Jenks as DC Jason Murray
What is Karen Pirie about?
The gritty cop drama is produced by
Line of Duty
bosses
and follows Detective Inspector Karen Pirie, freshly promoted after the events of series one.
Based on crime writer
In the second season, Karen is put in charge of an infamous cold case from the 80s that has gained fresh scrutiny from senior police, the media, and the victim's relatives.
In 1984, Catriona Grant, the daughter of a wealthy local oil tycoon, was abducted, along with her infant son.
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The ransom notes that followed stirred up a huge press storm, but the culprits were never traced and neither Catriona nor her son were seen again.
But when, in the present day, a body is found with an undeniable link to the historic crime, Karen and her team must discover the truth under intense personal and professional pressure.
Here's a list of where some scenes were filmed:
The kidnapping scene – Kinghorn, Fife
Karen Pirie opens with the dramatic kidnapping scene that the series revolves around.
Most read in Drama
2
It's been a busy year for Lauren, who has also appeared in Toxic Town and The Bombing of Pan Am 103
Oil tycoon heiress Catriona and her infant son Adam meet up with close friend Bonnie. They grab fish and chips, before taking in the views of the coast from Kinghorn station. But when they all bid farewell, Catriona and Adam are bundled into a car and abducted.
These scenes were filmed on the streets of Kinghorn, a coastal town in Fife, with additional footage captured in the nearby town of Inverkeithing.
The hostages scene – the Luss Estate in Loch Lochmond
This location is featured across both timelines, with viewers first seeing Karen investigate the remote cottage where Catriona and Adam were held, before later flashback scenes showing Catriona and her abductors in a fierce showdown.
The Highland estate on the banks of Loch Lochmond has previously featured in Black Mirror and Netflix's The Outlaw King.
How to survive TRNSMT 2025
The romantic scene – The Citizen in Glasgow
In the present day, Karen has her own struggles to deal with outside of the murder case. She's grappling with her relationship with police colleague Phil, as the pair struggle to keep work and romance separate.
In the opening episode, the pair head to Glasgow's The Citizen bar and restaurant for a date.
The police station scenes – Glenrothes police station
When she's not travelling across Scotland to investigate the crime, Karen can be found in the police station, regrouping with her colleagues on the case.
The police station scenes were filmed at the real Glenrothes police Station in
The fateful scene – Glasgow's Barrowland Ballroom
Legendary music venue the Barrowland also features in season 2. In one of the flashback scenes, we see pals Catriona and Bonnie head out to a nightclub to blow off some steam, where the former meets a shady character who becomes pivotal to her abduction plot.
Iconic music venue Barrowland set for major overhaul
THE Barrowlands is set for a major upgrade of its iconic neon illuminated facade.
The music venue in
The firm that owns the premises as well as the Barras Marketplace, Margaret McIver Ltd, has lodged plans with the city council to upgrade the front of the building.
The proposals include adding two LED displays above the Gallowgate entrance, as reported by the
The renowned neon signage was originally installed in 1982.
The Barrowland Ballroom was first opened as a dance hall by Maggie McIver on December 24, 1934.
Other world-famous musicians who have played to audiences over the decades include
,
, Iggy Pop,
, and
.
The showdown scene – Caiplie Caves, Anstruther
The Caiplie Caves are used as a filming location for dramatic scenes as the series reaches its climax.
In the present day, Karen and her colleagues inspect the caves, and find a vital clue to solving the mystery.
In the past, there's a tense showdown between Catriona's abductors and her family members.
The investigation scenes – Malta
As the investigation comes to a head and secrets from 40 years ago are uncovered, Karen and her team head to Malta to pursue a suspect.
Filming took place in Malta's capital, Valletta, with its historic 16th-century buildings and coastal views giving an idyllic contrast to the harrowing murder case.
Who is in the Karen Pirie cast?
Lauren Lyle returns as Detective Inspector Karen Pirie. It's been a busy year for the actress having also appeared in Toxic Town and The Bombing of Pan Am 103.
Chris Jenks (Sex Education) stars as DC Jason 'Mint' Murray, with Zach Wyatt (The Witcher: Blood Origin) as Karen's boyfriend and colleague, DS Phil Parhatka.
James Cosmo (Braveheart) plays oil tycoon Sir Broderick Grant, while Julia Brown (The Last Kingdom) is victim Catriona Grant, daughter of Sir Broderick.
When is Karen Pirie season 2 released?
The second series of Karen Pirie started at 8pm on ITV on Sunday, July 20.
There are three episodes in the series, with the remaining two airing on Sunday, July 27 and Sunday, August 3.
All episodes are available to stream on ITVX.
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