Filming Begins on 'D.I.Ray' Season 2

Filming has officially begun on Season 2 of lauded police procedural D.I. Ray, and Detective Inspector Rachita Ray has returned to Birmingham for another season of mystery and intrigue. The ITV series stars Parminder Nagra as Detective Inspector Rachita Ray, a newly promoted and tenacious officer who combats crime while facing the equally insidious challenges of racism and sexism.

The series is produced by Jed Mercurio (of Line of Duty fame), and like many of his projects (Bodyguard, Trigger Point, and Bloodlands, to name a few), its first season was met with praise from critics and audiences alike. So it came as little surprise when the show was greenlit for a second season after airing in the UK. Season 1 aired in May 2022 in the UK before making its way over to the US via streaming on PBS Passport in February 2023. Season 2 was announced in November 2022. ITV announced in early May 2023 that filming for Season 2 of D.I. Ray is finally underway. The cast and crew have returned to Birmingham, where Season 1 was filmed, to uncover more mysteries.

The show’s creator and writer Maya Sondhi said of Season 2, “I am excited to bring D.I. Ray back to our screens for a second series that promises to go deeper, darker, and more explosive than the last.” Sondhi, who wrote all of Season 1, will write Season 2 alongside new writer Sarah Deane (Compulsion), who is new to the show. Season 2 will welcome two new directors, Nirpal Bhogal (Endeavour) directing the first four episodes and Nicole Volavka (The Pact) directing episodes five and six. Season 2 will be six episodes long in comparison to Season 1’s four-episode run.

ITV has released this synopsis of Season 2:

Set in Birmingham, the new series will see Leicester-born DI Ray investigating the murder of a high-profile criminal. Sensitive ethnic issues relating to the case ignite racial tensions, causing a personal conflict for Rachita, both as a British Asian woman and as a police officer, which she must fight to prevent a turf war erupting on the streets of Birmingham…

Parminder Nagra will, of course, return as the eponymous Detective Inspector Rachita Ray. Nagra said of her return, “So thrilled to be back to start work on D.I. Ray 2. We have an amazing team helming it this season for what looks to be an exciting season.”

Cast members also returning from Season 1 include Gemma Whelan (The Tower) as DCI Kerry Henderson, Ian Puleston-Davies (The Bay) as Superintendent Ross Beardsmore, Steve Oram (The End of the F***ing World) as DS Clive Bottomley, Peter Bankole (The Chelsea Detective) as DS Kwesi Edmund and Sam Baker-Jones (The Walk-In) as DC Liam Payne. Newcomers for Season 2 will include Patrick Baladi (Line of Duty) as DI Patrick Holden, Dinita Gohil (Our House) as Anita Choudhry, Witney White (Father Brown) as DC Charlene Ellis, Michael Socha (Big Boys Don’t Cry) as Dave Chapman, Syreeta Kumar (Apple Tree Yard) as Sharan Mochani, Lauren Drummond (Holby City) as Suzie Chapman and Taha Rahim (The Serpent) as Ravinder ‘Rav’ Mochani.

There is no word yet as to when Season 2 of D.I. Ray will air or be available to stream. All four episodes of Season 1 are streaming on PBS Passport. Season 1 will air on most PBS stations beginning Sunday, July 9, 2023, at 10 p.m. ET following Grantchester, and will air weekly through the end of the month. Check your local listings.