'The Dry' Reveals New Cast for Season 2 As Filming Begins

The Dry is officially back in production for Season 2. The Irish-based series, starring Roisin Gallagher (The Fall) as recovering alcoholic Shiv Sheridan, is a dark comedy that streamed in the U.S. on Sundance Now in 2022 and landed eight nominations at the Irish Film and Television Awards, including a win for Ciarán Hinds (Belfast) for Supporting Actor in a Drama as Shiv’s father. Element Pictures, best known for BBC 3/Hulu hits Normal People and Conversations with Friends, announced filming has commenced on the highly anticipated second season along with a new set of faces for the new season.

Emma Norton, the executive producer at Element Pictures, said, “We all fell in love with the Sheridan family in season one, and so it’s a huge treat to spend more time in their company. [There’s] a hilarious and heartbreaking arc for this season.” The statement also confirmed that Gallagher returns as Shiv, and Sam Keeley (Kin) will join for the new season as Alex, a barista who could be her new possible love interest. Other significant names joining the new season include Michael McElhatton (Game of Thrones) and Thommas Kane Byrne (Derry Girls). 

The casting announcement also included a statement from Gallagher. “I am thrilled to be jumping back into Shiv’s shoes once more. It has been a joy to work with the returning cast from series one – and this time, we’ve welcomed some new faces to share the chaotic shenanigans of the Sheridans' life,” she said. “I cannot wait to see where this next chapter takes us; there are so many more hilarious twists and turns on her continuous battle to stay sober.”

Here is the official Season 2 synopsis:

The storyline picks up seven months on from the events of the first series, and we now meet the Sheridans in their new normal. To all outward appearances, it seems like the family is relatively content: Shiv’s been sober, celibate, and solvent for six months, Ant has hung onto his job at the estate agents and his relationship with Max, and Caroline’s making up for a lost time by shagging everyone she meets on Tinder. So far, so normal... Or is it? After all, how normal is it for three grown adults to still be living at home with their parents? And are the Sheridans really happy with this new status quo, or have they just rearranged their dysfunction and found another groove of denial to fit into? Shiv is determined to get sobriety right this time, to cut the toxic influences out of her life for good. But what if the biggest threat to Shiv’s stability turns out to be closer to home? Giving up alcohol is one thing...but what about giving up your family?

In returning cast, Hinds and Pom Boyd (Vanity Fair), Siobhán Cullen (The Long Call), and Moe Dunford (Dublin Murders) reprise their roles as Shiv's family. Returning co-stars include Adam Richardson (Intruder) as Ant and Emmanuel Okoye (Conversations with Friends) as Max. Additional newcomers include Seán Doyle (Normal People), Helen Norton (Cracks), and Ruth Codd (The Midnight Club). All eight episodes of Season 2 are once again penned by series creator Nancy Harris (Dates) and directed by Paddy Breathnach (Viva).

The Dry Season 2 is expected to debut on ITVX and RTÉ in 2024 and will probably follow on AMC+/Sundance Now (and maybe BBC America or Acorn TV) in the U.S.