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New Statesman
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- New Statesman
Peter Kosminsky: We need a BBC that is brave
Photo by Bailey-Cooper/Alamy One could be forgiven for thinking that British television is at the strongest it has ever been. More than 12 million of us tuned in to watch the Gavin and Stacey finale. Mr Bates vs The Post Office sparked a wave of national anger and forced the government into action after years of journalist trying to raise awareness of the Horizon Post Office scandal. Baby Reindeer, Adolescence and Toxic Town have all been enormous successes on both sides of the Atlantic. But those at the very top of the industry are worried. 'We're in dire straits,' Peter Kosminsky, one of the UK's most highly respect TV professionals and the man behind the BBC's Wolf Hall, told the New Statesman podcast. While we are able to watch a variety of high-quality programming, dramas that are 'peculiarly British' are under threat of extinction. The likes of Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video and Apple TV will not make them. 'The streamers say they're speaking to an international audience, and they make programmes that are of interest to an international audience,' Kosminsky explained. 'What they actually mean is American audiences.' 'Mr Bates vs The Post Office doesn't get made' in this world, he warns Kosminsky has worked in the television industry for 45 years, and for all of the UK's major public service broadcasters. A director, writer and producer, he has won every accolade possible: multiple Baftas, Royal Television Society awards, Golden Globes along with individual recognition for what he has personally contributed to British television. His most recent triumph was the final part of Wolf Hall, broadcast in 2024. But the cost of making high end drama, documentary and comedy has soared in recent years – 'by a factor of five or six', Kosminsky says. Not because of inflation, but because the streamers have driven up the costs. 'They've arrived here, competed to use our crews and our facilities, and they have deep pockets, and they pay a lot of money.' The homegrown sector – BBC, Channel 4 and ITV – have been priced out. They can't compete. 'It's interesting talking to Patrick Spence, the producer who developed Mr Bates vs The Post Office,' Kosminsky says. 'He said he wouldn't develop it now. Why? Because there would be no prospect of it getting made. And that's really worrying.' Both Mr Bates and Wolf Hall were turned down by all the big streamers, Kosminsky told the New Statesman. Actors and executives on both took significant pay cuts to make sure they even made it to screen. Both Kosminsky and executive producer Colin Callender waived 90 per cent of their production fee. Peter Straughan who wrote the adaptation and actor Mark Rylance who played Cromwell 'also made a huge financial sacrifice'. Kosminsky dismisses those who cite the success of Adolescence or Toxic Town – both written by Jack Thorne and both snapped up by Netflix – as a challenge to his argument. 'Adolescence was a fantastic drama, and I applaud Netflix for making it. But just stop and think for a moment. What's adolescence about at root? It's about a murder carried out in a school of one pupil by another pupil. Not a problem they're unfamiliar with in America.' The same goes with Toxic Town, Kosminsky says of the drama depicting the fight by a group of Corby mothers to get justice for their children damaged by contaminated waste from the nearby steelworks. Stop again and think about the subject, Kosminsky says. 'Anyone watched Erin Brockovich recently?' Reflecting on his career, Kosminsky is someone trying to 'challenge the orthodoxy'. He wants to ask uncomfortable questions of the rich and powerful. A television maker, yes, but a public service journalist at heart. Audiences don't want to be 'harangued all the time', he says, 'but occasionally it's our job to say, hang on a minute, have you thought about it like this? And actually, are you really comfortable with this? And if not, what could we possibly do about it?' He has made powerful dramas on the Israel-Palestine conflict (The Promise), British peacekeepers who bear witness to ethnic cleansing in Bosnia (Warriors), the experience of young British Muslims post 7/7 (Britz), and the role of scientist Dr David Kelly in the run-up to the Iraq War (The Government Inspector). Subscribe to The New Statesman today from only £8.99 per month Subscribe Kosminsky places the blame for the British TV's current predicament firmly at the Government's door. He says they 'refuse' to help public service broadcasters make these programmes by rejecting the idea of a streamer's levy. A levy would make it compulsory for the streaming giants to pay 5 per cent of all money earned from British subscribers into a separate fund to be used to make programmes where a UK public service broadcaster is part of the commission. Similar schemes are in place in 17 European countries, including France and Germany where Netflix unsuccessfully tried to take legal action to prevent the levy being introduced. 'When I asked one of the founders of Netflix, whether they would challenge it in the court if it was brought in here in this country, he said, 'No, as long as it was a level playing field across all the streamers,'' Kosminsky said. So why is the Government saying no? 'Because they fear that it would be perceived by the current administration in America as a tariff.' This misses a fundamental point, he stressed. The streamers can get some of the levy back if they partner with UK broadcasters on productions. 'So, it's not a tariff,' Kosminsky insists: no other tariff allows you to get some of your money back. 'And the British government has failed to make that argument… I think the truth is that… the British government currently is disappointingly craven,' Kosminsky said in a damning rebuke. 'There's a proud 100-year tradition of public service broadcasting in this country. Stand up for it. Defend it. Don't just say, 'Yes, Donald; you're not very happy. Allow us to bow down and lick your boots.' It's pathetic. It's embarrassing.' On 22 July, the Guardian reported that Kosminsky had written to the Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy, accusing her of trying to 'bully' the BBC over its Gaza coverage. In recent weeks, Nandy has levelled intense criticism the corporation, refusing to say she has confidence in the leadership of its director general, Tim Davie, and asking why no one has lost their job over the broadcast of a documentary about Gaza, narrated by the 13-year-old son of a Hamas official. The letter reminded Nandy that past attempts by government to place political pressure on the BBC had ended badly. 'There's a dreadfully dishonourable tradition of this,' he told the New Statesman. (He cited both the suicide of David Kelly shortly after being revealed as the source for a BBC's reporting on the dodgy dossier behind the Iraq war, and the Thatcher government's attempt to pull a 1985 BBC documentary on Northern Ireland.) 'I think you have to be very careful as a government when you hold the purse strings of what is supposed to be an impartial broadcaster whose job is to speak truth to power in a democracy,' Kosminsky said. 'When you call for sackings and by implication the sacking of the chief executive of the BBC, I think that is deeply troubling… It feels like you're placing financial pressure on the organisation. You're saying, 'Do what I'm asking you to do and otherwise you won't get the money that we all know you want.'' Was the Culture Secretary really 'bullying' the BBC, or was she simply saying to its upper echelons, on behalf of the nation, 'get your house in order; we've had enough'? Davie's tenure has been plagued with difficulties. Soon into his role it emerged that the BBC religion editor Martin Bashir had misled Princess Diana's brother, Earl Spencer, to secure a Panorama interview with her 25 years earlier. Davie bears no responsibility whatsoever for the original misdemeanour. A host of scandals followed: the failure to tackle multiple and ongoing complaints against former MasterChef presenter Gregg Wallace; bullying allegations levelled at senior staff; serious criminality on the part of former news anchor Huw Edwards. Others involved editorial failures, including the live broadcasting of an anti-Semitic rant by Bob Vylan at this year's Glastonbury and the broadcasting of a Gaza documentary linked to Hamas. Does Nandy speak for the public when she says the corporation has 'a problem of leadership'? A spokesperson for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport told the Guardian that license fee payers rightly expect 'serious failures' to be acted upon so that they don't happen again. 'The BBC is operationally and editorially independent of government, and we will always defend this principle. However, there is an important distinction between being independent and being accountable.' If something has gone wrong, Kosminsky counters, it is for Ofcom or the BBC Board to hold the corporation to account. It is not the job of government. 'What I'm worried about is the chilling effect of this. You can see [it] in other Gaza programmes that the BBC has backed away from in recent years,' Kosminsky says, referring to the BBC's decision not to broadcast Gaza: Doctors under Attack, leaving it instead to Channel 4. Programmes like these, he says, are 'just too hot to handle because they're nervous of what the reaction will be in certain quarters. We need a BBC that is brave enough to not care about ruffling a few feathers.' Few would disagree with that final sentiment. But there are many in the industry, both inside the BBC and out, who see a wider problem. That perhaps the exodus of senior, long-standing editorial staff over the past five years has left the corporation depleted. There is a lack of diversity of thought, and years of both editorial and life experience have been lost, providing a vacuum at times in sound editorial judgement. 'Just because I'm saying the government should lay off the BBC and let [the board] and Ofcom do their job, it doesn't mean I'm saying I would personally endorse everything that's going on at the BBC. The two are not linked,' Kosminsky explained. While having the 'highest respect' for Tim Davie 'as a person', for example, Kosminsky expressed his 'surprise' that 'a man with no journalistic or editorial experience in his past' should have been made the BBC's editor-in-chief. 'If I'd been asked my opinion of the appointment – and I knew Tim well as head of BBC Worldwide – I would have said, 'No, I'm not sure that is quite right.' He's a great bloke, fantastic asset to the organisation, but I don't think he has enough editorial experience. I think the governors got that wrong.' For Kosminsky, the failure of the government to address the impossibility for UK public service broadcasters to compete with the streamers and its recent criticism of the BBC are inextricably linked. 'It seems to be the tentpole of our foreign policy is to butter up the Americans and unfortunately our domestic broadcasting is going to be the casualty,' he said. 'Lisa Nandy has had virtually nothing to say about all the problems that broadcasting is facing in this country… The only time she's popped her head above the parapet is to start calling for sackings at the BBC.' While this 'may get lot of sort of nods from certain quarters' – the US – 'it's extremely dangerous'. Kosminsky believes we have a government 'too susceptible to pressure from outside' and unwilling to stand up for and defend our national institutions. Instead, it is 'prepared to grovel to outside forces for reasons of limited financial and political gain'. And, Kosminsky believes, this attitude comes from the top. 'We have seen the way our Prime Minister behaves around Donald Trump… Actively fanning the ego of this man in the way he has been is really quite an unpleasant thing to observe and it filters down through everything. Anything that might upset Donald Trump and therefore by extension anything that might upset Israel is stamped on. And dear old Lisa Nandy, in my opinion, is part of this government. Keir Starmer is her boss and she's performing her role.' We are in a delicate place. When broadcasters can no longer make programmes that hold truth to power, 'that's just a little bit of our freedom of speech gone', Peter Kosminsky argues. And while future governments might be relieved about that, 'our democracy is the worse for it'. Perhaps a streamers levy is not the answer, but the government does not seem to be coming up with any solutions of its own. If it does not intervene, we will 'end up with a situation where the editorial decisions about everything we watch here in the UK on our television, are made half a world away in California,' Kosminsky warns. 'I regret that.' Hannah's full conversation with Peter Kosminsky is available as a New Statesman podcast. [Further reading: The BBC is afraid] Related
Cosmopolitan
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Cosmopolitan
Karen Pirie season 2 cast: Meet the characters and actors
After nearly three years away Lauren Lyle is officially back in action as DI Karen Pirie (yep she's got a promotion btw) for a second season of ITV's Karen Pirie. The detective series is based on Val McDermid's crime novel series and the new season will see Karen and the team investigate a decades old cold case as they look into the kidnapping of Cat Grant, the daughter of oil tycoon Brodie Grant, and her young son. Since 1984 Cat and her son have never been found, but when a body turns up in the present day Karen and her team are on the case to discover what happened all those years ago. And with a new series and new crime, comes a bunch of new characters, and so here's everything you need to know about the cast of Karen Pirie, from the returning familiar faces to the new cast you need to pay attention to. The full cast of Karen Pirie: Who is DI Karen Pirie?: The show's lead is Karen Pirie, who has been promoted from DC to DI in the new series. She's the one heading up the investigation into Cat's disappearance. What else has Lauren Lyle been in?: Lauren is best known for her role in Outlander as Marsali. She's also appeared in The Outrun, Vigil, Toxic Town and The Bombing of Pan Am 103. Who is DC Jason Murrary?: Jason works on Karen's team and is also known as 'The Mint'. What else has Chris Jenks been in?: Prior to Karen Pirie, Chris was best known for appearing in Netflix's Sex Education where he played the role of Steve. He's also appeared alongside Laura in the series Vigil and appeared in a number of episodes of Beyond Paradise. Who is DS Phil Parhatka?: Phil works alongside Jason and Karen, and he is currently in a secret relationship with Karen. What else has Zach Wyatt been in?: Zach is known for his role in Netflix's The Witcher: Blood Origin and his on stage role as Malcolm in A Little Life. Who is River Wilde?: River is Karen's best friend and a professor of forensic anthropology and archaeology, and this time around she's helping Karen on the case. What else has Emer Kenny been in?: Emer is one half of the writing team for Karen Pirie, working alongside novelist Val McDermid on the adaptation. Outside of her writing she's also been in The Curse, Father Brown and Pramface amongst many other shows. Who is Bel Richmond?: Bel is a podcaster and documentary maker who Karen meets in season one when working on the Rosie Duff case and thankfully she's back for season two. What else has Rakhee Thakar been in?: You'll most likely recognise Rakhee from her role as the English teacher Miss Sands in Sex Education. She's also had main roles in Eastenders, Wonka and the recent TV series of Four Weddings and a Funeral. Who is DC Isla Clark?: Isla is new to the team this season and has been brought in by Karen's boss to keep an eye on Karen. What else has Saskia Ashdown been in?: Prior to Karen Pirie, Saskia had appeared in episodes of The Rig, Six Four, Trust Me and Annika. Who is Cat Grant?: Cat is the young mother who is kidnapped along with her son all the way back in 1984. What else has Julia Brown been in?: Julia first appeared on TV back in 2014 as part of CBBC's MI High. Since then she's gone onto appear in The Last Kingdom, The Alienist, Shetland, and World on Fire. Who is Brodie Grant?: Brodie is Cat's dad and a successful oil tycoon. What else has James Cosmo been in?: James is of course best known for his roles in movies such as Braveheart, Troy, Highlander, and The Last Legion. More recently he's appeared in TV shows such as Nightsleeper, Game of Thrones, The Durrells, Shetland and many, many more. Who is Mary Grant?: Mary is Cat's mother and the ex-wife of Brodie. What else has Frances Tomelty been in?: Frances is best known for her TV work including roles in shows such as Catastrophe, The Woman in the Wall, The Nevers and Vanity Fair. Who is Fergus Sinclair?: Fergus is the father of Cat's son and he also worked with Brodie. What else has John Michie been in?: John is best known for his roles in the TV shows Taggart, Coronation Street and Holby City. He's also been involved in projects such as Ridley and Our Girl. Who is Mick Prentice?: Mick had a secret relationship with Cat before she went missing. What else has Mark Rowley been in?: Mark is best known for appearing in The Last Kingdom as Finn. He's also been in Netflix's One Day, BBC's Rogue Heroes and the movie The Eye. Who is Bonnie?: Bonnie is Cat's best friend who witness her abduction. What else has Kat Ronney been in?: Kat is best known for appearing in the series Dinosaur, and also had appearances in Casualty and McDonald & Dodds. Karen Pirie season 2 is available on ITV1 and ITVX
The Irish Sun
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Inside the filming locations behind season 2 of ITV crime drama Karen Pirie
MURDER-MYSTERY favourite Karen Pirie is back for season two as another unsolved murder case is unearthed. 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. READ MORE IN TV 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.
Scottish Sun
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Inside the filming locations behind season 2 of ITV crime drama Karen Pirie
Everything you need to know about the new series, including its breathtaking locations DARK DRAMA Inside the filming locations behind season 2 of ITV crime drama Karen Pirie Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MURDER-MYSTERY favourite Karen Pirie is back for season two as another unsolved murder case is unearthed. 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. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 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 Val McDermid's novels, the new series is adapted from the Scottish novelist's 2008 page-turner, A Darker Domain. 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. 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. 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 Fife. 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 Glasgow's east end is one of the most iconic in the UK, featuring legendary performancs from Scottish acts such as Primal Scream, Teenage Fanclub, Big Country and Simple Minds. 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 BBC. 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 Bob Dylan, David Bowie, Iggy Pop, Oasis, and U2. 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.
Daily Record
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Inside Outlander star Lauren Lyle's life before Karen Pirie role
Lauren Lyle is returning to screens as Karen Pirie for a second season of the ITV detective series - here's everything you need to know about the actress away from the cameras Lauren Lyle is set to reprise her role as Karen Pirie in the second series of the ITV detective drama. The 32-year-old actress is perhaps most recognised for her portrayal of Marsali MacKimmie Fraser in Outlander, where she stars alongside Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan. Her acting credits also include playing Jade Antoniak in the BBC's Vigil, as well as roles in Netflix's Toxic Town and The Bombing on Pan Am 103. On the theatrical front, Lauren has graced the stage in productions such as The Crucible, Wuthering Heights, Consensual and Merchant of Venice. She first made a name for herself in the West End after relocating to London at 19, which was followed by her television debut on BBC Three's BBC Comedy Feeds, in an episode titled Radges, reports the Express. Subsequently, she appeared in Holby City and starred opposite Sean Bean in the BBC drama Broken. Her breakthrough role came in 2017 with Outlander, and the following year saw Lauren feature in the film adaptation of Fiona Shaw's novel Tell It to the Bees, sharing screen time with Anna Paquin and Holliday Grainger. In addition to her acting career, Lauren hosts a podcast called She's A Rec, where she engages guests in discussions about their top picks for albums, films, books and influential female figures. Her portrayal of the intrepid young Scottish detective Karen Pirie earned her the accolades of Best Actress - Television and Favourite Scot on Screen at the 2023 Bafta Awards Scotland. Lauren previously spoke to The Sunday Post about her journey to fame, recalling how she moved to London and shared a house with four strangers while working multiple part-time jobs in an attempt to secure her big break. During the interview, she revealed: "I came to London to audition for drama schools and came close but didn't get in. I think I'd only been to London once before as a kid but didn't remember it. "I was so hungry for it, and being around other actors in this world was so thrilling and I knew this was what I wanted to do and the place to do it." Lauren, who confessed to having always had a "deluded confidence" and a fiercely competitive nature, had held various positions - ranging from dog walker and flyering, to working as a receptionist, and even stocktaking at Zara - for several months. This was all before her life changed when she landed the two significant roles in Outlander and Broken within mere weeks of each other. Lauren candidly described the journey as a struggle, saying: "It was bleak at times but I loved going to the theatre and seeing this life dangled in front of me. It was quite inspiring," but expressed that going to the theatre served as an inspiration for her. When not on-screen, Lauren has largely maintained a low-profile, except when giving glimpses into her professional life and travels on social media. However, she did use the opportunity during the 2023 interview with The Sunday Post to acknowledge her romantic relationship, confirming that her boyfriend would be joining her at the Baftas. Lauren shared: "My parents are coming - my dad has a new velvet jacket to go with his tartan troos - as is my boyfriend, who is South-African-Australian, but we've recently discovered he has lots of Scottish heritage, so he might wear a kilt."
