Book is back!

Bookish is about to return to our screens for its second season, with writer and star Mark Gatiss bringing us six new episodes, charting three new cases for the bookshop owner-turned crime solver.

Also returning for the new stories, which Gatiss has described as being "more ambitious", are key cast members such as Polly Walker, Connor Finch, Elliot Levey, Blake Harrison and Buket Kömür.

Meanwhile, Bookish fans have even more to celebrate, as it has now been confirmed that the show will be returning for a two-part Christmas special later this year, followed by a third season in 2027.

But, before then, when will season 2 start airing and what else do we know about it so far? Read on for everything you need to know about Bookish season 2.

Will there be a Bookish season 2?

There will! In fact, Bookish was renewed well before the first season had even debuted - a full two months before, back in May 2025.

On the renewal announcement, Gatiss said: "I’m thrilled that the team at U&Alibi are allowing me to dive back into the world of Bookish and create more fiendish crimes for Gabriel Book and the team to solve.

"I can’t wait for viewers to immerse themselves in the world we’ve created when the first series airs in a few months’ time."

When will Bookish season 2 be released?

Bookish season 2 will be available on . The first two episodes will air on the channel from 8pm that day.

This means it will be arriving just over a year after season 1, which first debuted in July 2025.

The synopsis for season 2 says: "In the second series, Book investigates the world of spiritualism when he’s asked to help solve the mysterious case involving medium, Harold Sneed (Jason Watkins).

"Off Savile Row, Bliss asks Book to help in a puzzling murder at a gentleman’s outfitters - the elderly tailor Maxie Kleinmann (Allan Corduner) is keen to confess to the murder, but the evidence doesn’t quite stack up and points to something much more complex and sinister.

"And Book and Jack are sent to the seemingly charming German village of Würl by the mysterious ‘E’ (Simon Callow) to thwart a thieving Duchess (Miranda Richardson) at Christmas time. However, festivities take a deadly turn when Book and Jack uncover secrets of their own, past and present, in an ominous castle brimming with plausible murder suspects."

Who will star in Bookish season 2?

All of the central cast for Bookish season 1 will be returning for season 2, including, of course, Mark Gatiss as Gabriel Book.

Joining him will be Polly Walker, Connor Finch, Elliot Levey, Blake Harrison and Buket Kömür, all reprising their season 1 roles.

This includes Jason Watkins, Miranda Richardson, Claire Skinner, Ingrid Oliver and more.

Meanwhile, Rupert Graves and Simon Callow will be joining in recurring roles, with the former playing Trottie's new love interest, Colonel Winters, and the latter playing E, an old contact of Book's from the war.

Here's a list of the announced cast for Bookish season 2:

• Mark Gatiss as Gabriel Book
• Polly Walker as Trottie Book
• Elliot Levey as Inspector Bliss
• Blake Harrison as Sergeant Morris
• Jason Watkins as Harold Sneed
• Miranda Richardson as Duchess Alberta
• Rupert Graves as Colonel Reggie Winters
• Claire Skinner as Mrs Calthrop
• Allan Corduner as Maxie Kleinmann
• Liza Sadovy as Ruth Kleinmann
• Oli Fyne as Hannah Kleinmann
• Ingrid Oliver as Liesl Pohl
• John Hopkins as Guy Windjammer
• Rosie Cavaliero as Mrs Dredge
• Nadia Albina as Dr Calder

Is there a trailer for Bookish season 2?

There is! You can watch the trailer for season 2 right here now.

Bookish season 2 starts at 8pm on Wednesday 26 August on U&Alibi.

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