Latest news with #BAFTAScotland
The Herald Scotland
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Leo DiCaprio film to make Scottish debut at Montrose cinema
It will serve as the closing film of the LandxSea festival, which will be held at the 'state of the art' community run cinema in Montrose between the 12th and 14th of September. Twenty-two independent films from Scotland and across the world will also be screened at the festival, which has been curated by director Rachel Caplan and You've Been Trumped documentarian Anthony Baxter. A range of workshops are also held during the festival. (Image: Supplied) Caplan said: "This year's theme, Creative Ground, celebrates the vital role artists play in helping us navigate a changing climate. From Indigenous sci-fi to luminous orchestral film, the programme reflects our belief that imagination is essential for transformation.' BAFTA Scotland award-winner Baxter, who co-founded the festival in 2023, added: "It's incredible to see LandxSea grow into a national platform for environmental cinema, based right here in Montrose. We're proud to bring stories that inspire change to audiences of all ages." Yanuni tells the story of Juma Xipaia, an indigenous Brazilian activist who has survived six assasination attempts from illegal miners and loggers. Xipaia, who became the first female chief in her region at the age of 24, told Yale Environment 360: 'These miners and loggers are heavily armed. They have no problem with threatening us. They want confrontation. And we are afraid.' The activist, who attended COP26 in Glasgow three years ago, added: 'There were 40 leaders from Brazil and the majority were women. The only reason there were so many of us was because there was a very large mobilization that started with us, that came from our organizations. 'It's not because we were invited or brought to this climate discussion, so much so that during the discussion itself, during the decision-making, there was no participation of any traditional peoples. 'Others decided. They decided about our lives. They talked about our forests. They made decisions about our futures without our direct participation.' 'I believe there needs to be greater involvement of the people,' she said. 'It needs to be democratized.' Actor Leonardo DiCaprio is one of the film's films to be screened at the festival include Lost For Words, which has been described as 'a poetic journey across Britain's landscapes and seasons,' as well as Future Council, which follows the experiences of eight children across the world and their fight to hold business leaders accountable. Lowland Kids, a film about America's 'first climate refugees' will make its Scottish premiere, as well as North Sea, Nature Untamed, which depicts the North Sea from the perspective of underwater cameraman Peter van Rodijnen. A family-friendly soundtrack workshop, live music, and a 'bracing' North Sea swim will also be held during the three day event. The 50-year-old DiCaprio has long spoken out on environmental issues, dating back to 1998, when he founded a non-profit aimed at supporting climate initiatives. In June, the Academy Award winning actor welcomed the premiere of Yanuni, writing on Instagram: 'The Amazon may feel far away, but its fate is tied to ours. I'm proud to help bring Juma Xiapaia's story to life in Yanuni to showcase her work in protecting forests, culture and community in the Brazilian Amazon. 'These forests play a critical role in regulating the global climate through their vast biodiversity and are upheld by the Indigenous communities who have inhabited these lands for centuries. 'Their destruction by extractive industries isn't just an environmental issue, it's a human one.' Read more: Crown Office warned of human rights violations over Palestine Action crackdown Long Covid charities quit working group over Scottish Government 'failure' Scottish activists in free speech row after Palestine Action proscription DiCaprio added: 'Our goal is for Yanuni to build powerful momentum behind Juma's mission—affirming the sovereignty of Indigenous Peoples and recognizing the Brazilian rainforest, along with the megadiverse forests of Indonesia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, as vital to the survival of our planet. 'In November when world leaders will gather for COP30 in the Amazon with an opportunity to pass two critical initiatives – establishing the Tropical Forests Forever Fund and urging countries to join the Intergovernmental Land Tenure Commitment – we hope they will honor Juma's indelible words: 'The forest is our mother; she feeds us even when we forget to thank her.'' Tickets to all screenings of LandxSea go on sale on Thursday at 12 pm at
Daily Record
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Outlander's Lauren Lyle returns as Karen Pirie for series two of ITV drama
Outlander star Lauren Lyle returns to her role as Karen Pirie in the hit ITV drama for season two - here's an insight into her life off screen. Lauren Lyle first won over audiences as Marsali MacKimmie Fraser in the popular time-travel drama Outlander. Since then, her career has continued to grow from strength to strength. Most recently, she secured a leading role in ITV's crime drama Karen Pirie, with the second season premiering tonight. It was one of the surprise TV hits of 2022, and now Karen Pirie is making its comeback on Sunday evening. Outlander star Lauren returns as the lead detective, once again diving into decades-old cold cases in the highly anticipated second season. Based on Val McDermid's novels, Karen Pirie won over viewers with its gripping storytelling and unique take on the detective genre. Lauren's portrayal of the lead character was widely praised, earning her two BAFTA Scotland awards. Unlike many typical detectives on TV, Pirie is portrayed as approachable, witty and fun-loving with a touch of sarcasm. Lauren has admitted that carrying the weight of leading her own show was "overwhelming" at times, but she's keen to see how audiences respond to the new season. Much different to the character she portrays on-screen, off-screen Lauren likes to keep a low profile. Only occasionally keeping her fans up to date on her life via her Instagram account - which has over 225,000 followers - showing behind the scenes photos from her career and travels. Let's take a closer look into the life of Lauren Lyle, as she returns to her role as Karen Pirie. Early life Lauren was born on July 12, 1993, in the south side of Glasgow, where her family still lives today. Though she keeps her personal life mostly under wraps, fans know that acting wasn't always the career she expected to take. Initially involved with the Scottish Young Conservatives, Lauren made a bold decision to switch paths and pursue acting. Her early performances included an impress performance the Edinburgh Fringe for Fourth Monkey and a role in The Crucible on the London stage. Her talent earned her a spot in the highly competitive National Youth Theatre's rep programme in 2015 - a programme that selects only around 15 actors under the age of 25 to perform a season of plays in London's West End. During this time, Lyle starred in productions such as Wuthering Heights, Consensual, and The Merchant of Venice. Outlander Lyle was cast as Marsali MacKimmie Fraser in Outlander, the TV series based on the best-selling books by Diana Gabaldon, back in 2017. Her character appeared in the show in the third season. Speaking to Glasgow Times about her role, she said: "Outlander changed my life. I don't think I realised going into Outlander how big a deal it was. How big a show, how popular it is and how dedicated the fanbase are." It has now been confirmed that Lauren will be back for the 8th and final season of Outlander, reprising her role as Marsali, alongside her on-screen husband Fergus Fraser, played by Cesar Domboy. Dating life As with many rising stars, Lauren's personal life has sparked curiosity among fans, particularly since her breakout role in Outlander in 2017. Rumours of a romantic relationship between Lyle and her on-screen husband Cesar Domboy (Fergus Fraser) have been speculated by fans for years due to their on-screen chemistry. Additionally, the pair are close off screen as they spend a lot of time together outside of work. During a previous Starz interview, both actors shared that they enjoy exploring Glasgow together on their days off. However neither Lauren or Cesar have confirmed anything publicly, with Lauren often keeping that side of her life extremely private.
Scotsman
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
'You get awards and have that second album fear' - Lauren Lyle is back as TV detective Karen Pirie
With a promotion and a tangled life work balance, the young detective has a new cold case mystery that takes us back to Scotland's Miners' Strike struggles. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... 'The minute you put the bumbag on it's like 'oh we're back!' says Lauren Lyle, star of Karen Pirie, ITV's crime drama set in Fife, back for season two this month with a new cold case series to solve. 'And The Doc Martens. I just start marching about everywhere. The Carhartt trousers with the belt, the Fred Perry polo shirt with a popped collar... And the haircut. Straight away, when I put the fringe in, it's like 'we're back!' Lauren Lyle as the Fife detective, Karen Pirie, who is back in a new series. | ITV Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The double BAFTA Scotland winner takes the lead once more in one of ITV's most-watched dramas of 2022, in three new 120-minute episodes that see the detective investigating an unsolved kidnapping that takes us back to the dark days of the Miners' Strike of 1984. When a man's body is discovered in the present day, secrets are revealed and the past comes to life. With Karen promoted to Detective Inspector, the series written by Emer Kenny and executive produced by Simon Heath and Emma Luffingham at World Productions, Emer Kenny and Val McDermid, opens with Pirie's team in the thick of a present day mystery with its roots in the past. Back on board are sidekick DC Jason 'Mint' Murray (Chris Jenks) and DS Phil Parhatka (Zach Wyatt), Emer Kenny as River Wilde and Rakhee Thakrar as podcaster Bel Richmond and new cast members including James Cosmo and Saskia Ashdown as DC Isla Stark. Today Lyle, who hails from Glasgow, is Zooming from her London home where she's sweltering in the heatwave, a Dyson fan blasting through her flat where the door is open to her balcony, causing her to break off occasionally to make sure her ginger cat hasn't gone kamikaze. Despite the temperature, like Pirie, the actors is a breath of fresh air, which might explain why the launch episode of season one won an audience of 6.6 million viewers, and the series averaged 5.9m across each episode. It also won Lyle BAFTA Scotland Awards for Best Actress in a Series and Favourite Scot on Screen. Lauren Lyle and Cesar Domboy in Outlander | STARZ Why does Lyle think Karen Pirie is so popular? Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Because often we see detective shows and it's a middle aged man who has a drinking problem, hates his job, is going home to a divorce, and that is just not what she is at all. 'She's really funny. She loves her job, she's good at it. I think people enjoy that. The way she speaks to her bosses as well. People come up to me and say 'I wish I was brave enough to say that to my boss'. I think it's a nice look into a young person at work. You don't see twentysomethings, early thirtysomethings, and what it's like to be a young person in a job where you've really got to grit your teeth through some things and do as you're told - and not want to do as you're told,' she laughs. 'Also we don't just get a case, you're getting the whole life of this woman, especially in Season Two. She's dealing with problems with her boyfriend, and just wants to go to the pub and hang out with her friends. Which is what I want to do,' she laughs. 'She fancies a boy at work and they're not allowed to tell anyone, so what do you do? It is so relatable and many people go through dealing with that and I don't think we get to see it very often. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Because each episode is two hours of television you get so much room to breathe and Emer [Kenny] Trojan horses in a young woman, with humour and character, just trying to live her life.' The double timeline element of the plot takes the viewer back to the 1980s, a time before Pirie and Lyle were born, to the era of Margaret Thatcher and the Miners' Strike, a time of seismic political and social change and events that changed the social and physical landscape for ever. 'Mint says 'we've all seen Billy Elliot' - but I think people haven't seen [on screen] what actually happened in Scotland and what a horrible impact that had, how people were destitute. You see it in the North of England, but it happened in Scotland as well. Lauren Lyle as Karen Pirie, Saskia Ashdown as DC Isla Ray and Chris Jenks as DC Jason Murray in Karen Pirie. | ITV 'And it's interesting to think about how much has not changed, like the way Scotland is used for its oil. It's interesting to see that's something that's always gone on and not a lot's changed. Scotland's quite a politically left, activist country and I love that we're putting that on display because it's often seen as a forward thinking country in the world and it's nice to delve into parts of that and how people have really suffered for good things here.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Karen Pirie also brought Lyle the chance to work at home in Scotland, after 13 years living in London. 'I'm so proud to be from there and also to be doing work that puts it on an international I've worked around Scotland more I think I'm going to get myself a place I can always come home to. Every time I come home and hear the accents I think this is where I'm from, this is me. To go home and hear a Scottish accent warms your bones.' Being promoted to inspector brings Pirie new responsibilities and pressures. How does Lyle think she copes with her new role? 'She's quite a reluctant new boss. She's always wanted this authority, to tell everyone what to do and call all the shots and now she's got it she really doesn't know what to do with it. She's really got to step up. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I think that's exactly what happens. As an actor too, you're really looking for the leading role, the big job and then you get it and you're like ' oh my god, now I've got to do it, what am I going to do? 'I really understood how intimidating it can be. It was intimidating to stand in front of a whole room of 30 extras who are supposed to be your team, all men and older than you and tell them what to do. There is something about leading a show and having to stay quite true to your opinions and thoughts and not doubt yourself just because you might be getting some looks around 'do you know what you're talking about?' 'I've certainly experienced in my life and my career where I've been patronised because I look younger. And I'm hugged more, like I'll watch two men have a handshake and then I'll get a hug. It's so strange the way women are treated when in positions of power. People kind of don't know what to do with it and get very awkward with it.' Not least Pirie's exasperated boss, DI Lees, played by Steve John Shepherd, who describes her as 'blunt, blinkered, obsessive, rude and brilliant'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Yep, that's it, blunt to a fault, rude, but brilliant. That's what the bosses don't understand. Her boss is awkward with her and doesn't know what to do with her sometimes, and she doesn't know what to do with him either. Either way, Pirie will do what she wants. 'Karen knows she's going to have to break some rules, but she loves her job and really is doing it for the best reasons. She's not just trying to break rules because she doesn't care, it's a lot more three-dimensional. She does care, almost too much, so she'll do all she can for the case and the victims to her own detriment. 'It's not about breaking the rules just to be badass, it's breaking the rules because that's the only way to do the right thing. Lauren Lyle as Karen Pirie and Chris Jenks as DC Jason Murray in ITV's Karen Pirie. | ITV 'Also she's having to deal with a relationship at work where she's just young and fancies her boyfriend and wants to kiss him but isn't allowed to? I know lots of people that deal with that exact issue, and I love showing that on screen. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I just don't see the show as a detective show. I see it as a character study of this woman that's trying to do a job that's really high-powered and pressured and also trying to go to the pub on Friday.' While Pirie grapples with her new role, for Lyle, was playing the lead easier second time around? 'I was worried because you get awards and have that second album fear. But there were things I was less worried about, for example the police jargon, which I slipped back into. 'And the first series there was so much adrenaline because we'd all just come out of COVID and it was my first time leading a show and being part of something brand new is so exciting. Season Two, it's like woah, we've got to do that again, and elevate it. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'It felt like a bigger show, like there was more money behind it, more pressure, we're going further afield and doing more action. So it felt bigger, and more intense, and we had to step up to that. 'But Season One because we'd just come out of COVID we worked and also partied and this time, with new cast as well, I wanted everyone to have a good time, so I strived to have a fun set, get ice-cream vans and doughnuts on Fridays, which was great. I just want to have a good time at work as well. I want it to be a show where all the crew want to come back.' Speaking of which, does she think there will be another series, given there are several of Val McDermid's Karen Pirie books to inspire the writers. 'I hope so. I think everyone wants to do another one.' In terms of new cast members, including Saskia Ashdown, James Cosmo, Frances Tomelty, John Michie, Mark Rowley, James Fleet, and Julia Brown, what was it like working with James Cosmo? Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Aww, what an absolute babe. I was nervous. I was like 'he's going to be intimidating'. He's done so much work and has a lot of gravitas, and the minute you go and say hello to him, he turns round and goes 'hellooo! And he's got the smileyest teddy bear way and he'll talk to you about any job he's done and he's not precious at all. He just knows exactly what and who he is. And he's very funny, very funny.' Until the camera rolls and scary and intimidating is called for… 'There was a scene where the director went to him and said really, really give it to her this time, really make her shit herself, because you're powerful, and I didn't know he'd been told to do that, and he was right in at me and I was like 'oh my god Karen's being torn apart here'. It was brilliant.' Inspired by the Val McDermid books and written by Emer Kenny, what difference does it make that it has a strong female slant? Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Yes, the books are written by Val [McDermid] who sold the rights and Emer Kenny writes the show. It makes a big difference because Karen is written as a woman who actually knows what it's like to be scared walking home at night. Her male counterparts, bosses, the men, Phil her boyfriend, don't really have that same fear in the same way. Karen, Lauren, knows what that feels like and Karen therefore cares so much more. Emer writes it from a place of really understanding those things. 'And that she screams and shouts in the car when she's frustrated and does all that, I love that we see that because I do that, and I think a lot of women do and you never see it. We never see that's how people release frustration and it makes me really proud that we show it and let that breathe, her female rage.' 'Also Emer will take inspiration from things going on in our personal lives and weave it in a little bit, so it's really relatable.' Lauren Lyle stars as the eponymous Karen Pirie in the new season of the detective drama set in Fife. | Pip Bourdillon As well as working on Karen Pirie, Lyle spent two months filming a new six-part series in New Zealand at the beginning of this year, for BBC Scotland and Sky New Zealand Originals. Called The Ridge, she stars as a Scot who arrives in New Zealand and is drawn into a web of secrets and lies. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'The Ridge is a very strange, psychological kind of horror at times, a thriller. Jay Ryan who is a big Kiwi actor and I lead it and I play a bit of a psychopath and drug addict, a bit of a crazy person. I'm an anaesthetist who is getting in trouble at work so runs away to New Zealand to my estranged sister's wedding. But the sister goes missing and turns up dead - that's not a spoiler! - and I go on the hunt for what happened. I'm also embroiled with this very Succession-type family and lots of bad things happen. So it's fun, but also very intense. It's a really good show and really wild. 'We stayed in Auckland and filmed at all these incredible locations all around the North Island, with amazing beaches, which was wonderful.' Lyle has also been on our screens recently in the acclaimed Toxic Town (Netflix) and The Bombing of Pan Am 103 ( BBC and Netflix) and appeared in Saoirse Ronan and Jack Lowden's feature film The Outrun, opposite Sean Bean in Broken and in BBC's Vigil. Her big TV break came in Starz's Outlander as Marsali MacKimmie Fraser, after she learned her trade on the job in various acting roles rather than at drama school after heading for London at 19. What is it she looks for in a role? 'It's not necessarily about what the role is, it's about who are the really cool people to work with? Toxic Town I knew I'd be working with Rory Kinnear and Aimee Lou Wood, and all these absolutely unbelievable actors, from Skins, Game of Thrones, Sex Education. Everyone was playing something kind of fun, and also I liked playing a posh person. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Outlander was just a huge turning point for me in my career, an absolute no-brainer to say yes. Marsali was the daughter of the baddie as well which I loved, something spicy. And The Outrun, again it was Saoirse Ronan and Jack Lowden, so… 'They said we're writing a film and would like to write a part for you in it. I was like, what Saoirse Ronan and Jack Lowden like my work, that's crazy. They'd seen me in Vigil and Outlander so ended up writing me into The Outrun. Obviously you're never going to say no to that. 'It was heavily improvised as well and I loved the idea of being so creative and really working my muscles there. It's doing theatre on camera, so I loved that.' 'I would really like to do something a bit like Succession, really posh people being absolutely horrible to each other all the time. I really want to do more film, accents and someone different to myself. And maybe something funny next, because a lot of what I've been doing is quite dark and when I've been doing Karen I loved being funny.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad With a growing list of credits, is there any advice she follows as she looks forward to the next challenge on the horizon? 'I think the biggest thing that changed the way I approached the world and being an actor was not putting so much weight into having to be everything. The minute I started going to the pub more, seeing my friends and making time for a holiday and giving up on the day a little bit, everything changed. Finding real life to live has made me a much better actor and a more interesting and happier person. 'I went so hard when I started and didn't have a lot of fun and now that I've made a lot more time for fun - if that's just going round the corner and sitting outside with mates - it's changed my life.'
The Herald Scotland
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Karen Pirie star on pressures of hit Scottish crime drama
When ITV drama returns on July 20, nearly three years after the first series aired, the stakes are even higher for Lyle and Pirie. Read more: Pirie has been promoted to detective inspector and is responsible for an expanded team in a new adaptation of crime writer Val McDermid's best-selling series focusing on the character. In the new series, Pirie is thrust into a reopened investigation into an unsolved mystery involving one of Scotland's richest oil tycoons, played by veteran Scottish actor James Cosmo. Lauren Lyle plays recently-promoted detective inspector Karen Pirie in the ITV drama series. (Image: Mark Mainz) The case will take Pirie and her team back 40 years to the kidnapping oil heiress Catriona Grant and her son Adam outside a fish and chip shop in Fife, but are never seen again despite the sending of two chilling ransom notes. Meanwhile he is still struggling to win acceptance into what Lyle describes as 'the boys' club' within her police force, is unwilling to let her superiors know she has been in a relationship with a colleague for more than two years and seems prepared to bend the rules at work even more than before. Zach Wyatt and Lauren Lyle star in Karen Pirie. (Image: Mark Mainz) Although she had previously starred in Outlander and Vigil, Karen Pirie was the most high-profile role to date for Glasgow-born Lyle. Despite winning two BAFTA Scotland awards for her performance in that first series, which aired nearly three years ago, Lyle admitted she was 'worried' about returning to the role in the new series which was filmed across Scotland and also moves to Malta for an action-packed finale. James Cosmo stars in the new series of Karen Pirie. (Image: Mark Mainz) Taggart star John Michie is among the other special guests appearing in the new series, which sees the return of Zach Wyatt as detective sergeant Phil Parhataka, who is also Pirie's boyfriend, her series one sidekick, detective constable Jason 'Mint' Murray, played by Chris Jenks, and newcomer detective constable Isla Stark, played by Saskia Ashdown. Lyle said: 'Karen has a lot more power in this series. She is semi-in charge of everyone, which is really funny to play because she's so young. Saskia Ashdown, Lauren Lyle and Chris Jenks headed to Malta for filming part of the new series of Karen Pirie. (Image: Mark Mainz) 'There's this very funny balance we've got to try and strike where she is very good at her job, she is reliable and she gets results, but with very obscure methods. The bosses sort of hate that they have to deal with that. 'She is thrust into a huge case in this series and has a much bigger team, so it's a big step up for her. 'She does feel the pressure more. But she has got a bit more armour this time and is less afraid to break the rules than maybe she was the last time. 'There are definitely times in this series when she breaks the rules to get what she needs. I think she just thinks: 'Well, that works. Why would I not do that?' 'It feels like way more happens in this season. Every episode has way more hooks. A lot more people die and there are a lot more suspects.' Lyle got her TV breakthrough when she landed the recurring role of Marsali in time travel fantasy Outlander and went to appear in four episodes of the submarine thriller Vigil, starring alongside Suranne Jones, Rose Leslie, Martin Compston and Gary Lewis. Lyle said she could easily relate to Pirie's efforts to handle the pressures and responsibilities of a taking on a bigger job. She added: 'It's funny, I compare it a bit to what I felt like when I did the first series. 'I had this thing of being like: 'Can I do it? Can I actually do this role? Can Karen do it?' It was huge what she cracked in the first season. 'The first series was my first time as number one on the call sheet, and it was quite overwhelming at times, but it was really exciting and thrilling. I just wanted to do the best job I could. "I honestly didn't know how the first series would go down with me being the face of the show, but not being Hollywood-star-famous. But people just jumped in and went with it. "I think it's to do with the fact that there are lots of crime shows on TV, but pretty much all of them are about men who have drinking problems who hate everything. It's crime by a cool young person that actually understands what people want to see on TV. 'I was worried coming back to this season that I couldn't do it again. 'I was like: 'Can I still be funny and likeable, and a bit sarcastic and rude? 'It was really satisfying at how I was able to slip straight back into who she was. I think that's sort of down to the foundation of the writing, what we made in the last season and the dynamic between the characters.' The new season, which has again been adapted by a McDermid novel by screenwriter Emer Kenny, sees Pirie struggle to cope being in a relationship at work that she insists on keeping from almost all of her colleagues. Wyatt said: 'Karen and Phil do come across some difficulties when their values as police officers come into play. It causes friction in their relationship. 'Karen and Phil are both strong-willed and stubborn. They have very different ways of working. Phil is very much a straight-laced cop who wants to abide by the book. It's very important to him to move up the ranks in the right way and not skip any steps. 'The bottom line in Karen is a more talented police officer and is much more creative than Phil. I think that challenges Phil's ambition a bit and pushes him to be better, but they definitely butt heads.' Lyle said: "Karen and Phil's relationship is a couple of years down the line now, but it's still a secret at work. 'Phil really wants things to be exposed, but she is still quite nervous about that. She has never been able to be part of the boys' club. She is always having to prove herself. To jeopardise that for love feels like too much of a risk for her. 'I think Karen's under the impression that, as a woman, you can only have one or the other – a career or a home life. She's misguided in thinking she can't have both. 'Phil's a good, smart man who's willing to support her, but Karen thinks she has to choose her career to keep getting ahead. Her career gives her a sense of worth, but it can damage her love life. 'I think she's right to protect Phil because he's really good for her. It's important to have meaningful relationships, and that's what makes Karen a layered character.' More light relief is on offer from the character of Mint, who is described as "a bit of a prima donna" by Jencks. The actor said: "He is a bit more ambitious in this series. "His deluded dream is that he wants to work for MI5, so he is putting in the steps to try to make that happen. He has got ideas based on what he has seen on TV and in the movies. He thinks he should be involved in high-profile cases. "It was good for him to step up a bit and show that he can lead things and take the initiative – but I think Karen's a bit alarmed by it." Lyle added: 'Karen is blunt and direct, and I love that about her. She's not overly concerned about how she's perceived, which sometimes gets her into trouble. 'It's refreshing to play someone who says what she thinks. I also love how funny she is. There aren't many roles for women my age that balance humour, depth, and action. "Karen also gets these epic, high-stakes moments - big arrests, chase sequences, and dramatic reveals. It's rare to get to do all that in one role. As an actor, it's the dream.'
Business Upturn
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Upturn
Is Karen Pirie Season 2 releasing in June 2025? Everything we know so far
By Aman Shukla Published on June 11, 2025, 19:35 IST Last updated June 11, 2025, 20:49 IST The critically acclaimed ITV crime drama Karen Pirie has captivated audiences with its gripping storytelling and stellar performances, particularly from Lauren Lyle as the fearless Detective Inspector Karen Pirie. Following the success of its debut season in 2022, fans are eagerly awaiting the second season. But is Karen Pirie Season 2 really releasing in June 2025? Here's everything we know so far about the release date, cast, plot, and more. Karen Pirie Season 2 Release Date: Is June 2025 Confirmed? Recent reports have sparked excitement and confusion about the release of Karen Pirie Season 2. While some sources initially suggested a potential June 2025 premiere, more recent updates clarify that the show is set to return in July 2025 in the UK on ITV1, STV, ITVX, and STV Player. For international viewers, the series will premiere on BritBox in the US and Canada in October 2025. Specifically, one source mentioned a launch date of June 21, 2025, but this appears to be an outlier, with the majority of reports confirming July 2025 for the UK release Karen Pirie Season 2 Expected Cast The core cast of Karen Pirie Season 2 will see familiar faces returning alongside exciting new additions, bringing depth to both the present-day and 1984 flashback timelines. Returning Cast Members Lauren Lyle as Detective Inspector Karen Pirie: Now promoted from Detective Sergeant, Karen continues to lead with wit and tenacity. Lyle's performance earned her BAFTA Scotland awards for Best Actress and Audience Favourite in 2023. Chris Jenks as DC Jason 'Mint' Murray: Karen's loyal colleague, known from Sex Education and Vigil . Zach Wyatt as DS Phil Parhatka: A key member of Pirie's team, seen in The Witcher: Blood Origin . Steve John Shepherd as DCS Lees: The team's commanding officer, previously in Harry Potter . Emer Kenny as River Wilde: Also the series' writer, Kenny returns as Karen's friend and colleague. Rakhee Thakrar as Bel Richmond: Known for Wonka and Sex Education , she reprises her role. New Cast Members The new season introduces a fresh ensemble for the 1984 flashbacks and present-day storyline, centered around a new case: Julia Brown as Catriona Grant: The kidnapped heiress to the Grant oil fortune in 1984. Mark Rowley as Mick: A key figure in the flashback timeline, seen in One Day . Kat Ronney as Bonnie and Conor Berry as Andy: Additional 1984 characters. Stuart Campbell as Kevin: Known from The Winter King . Jamie Michie as young Brodie Grant, Madeleine Worrall as young Mary Grant, and Jack Stewart as young Fergus: Portraying the Grant family in 1984. Saskia Ashdown as DC Isla Stark: A new detective adding gender diversity to Pirie's team in the present day. James Cosmo and Frances Tomelty as Sir Broderick Grant and Mary Grant: Catriona's parents in the modern timeline. John Michie as Fergus Sinclair: Catriona's son's father, known from Holby City . Potential Plot Details for Karen Pirie Season 2 Karen Pirie Season 2 is adapted from Val McDermid's novel A Darker Domain , diving into a chilling new cold case set against the backdrop of 1984's political turmoil, including the UK miners' strike. The story unfolds over three feature-length episodes, alternating between the present day and 1984 flashbacks. The plot centers on the 1984 kidnapping of Catriona Grant, a wealthy heiress to the Grant oil fortune, and her infant son, Adam. Initially assumed to be politically motivated, the high-profile case sparked a media frenzy but went cold when the culprits ceased communication, leaving Catriona and Adam missing. Forty years later, the discovery of a man's body prompts Detective Inspector Karen Pirie to reopen the case in secrecy. As she uncovers new evidence, Karen battles increasing media scrutiny and sinister forces determined to keep the truth buried. Aman Shukla is a post-graduate in mass communication . A media enthusiast who has a strong hold on communication ,content writing and copy writing. Aman is currently working as journalist at
