Mark Bonnar Joins 'Ludwig' Season 2 As Filming Begins

—BritBox has been on a roll since early 2024; the BBC never managed to launch its own standalone streaming service (sorry, BBC Select), but when given one that's already on a successful track, the British Broadcaster certainly knows how to program it effectively. The uptick in premium series debuting over the last 18 months is remarkable, as is the marketing: September marks the second half of a two-month push to familiarize American viewers with their existence via HBO Max.

However, nothing thus far has been quite as successful as Ludwig. The show is a perfect combination of specific factors, starting with star David Mitchell, who developed a cult following in the U.S. after That Mitchell & Webb Look aired on BBC America. His comedic timing is showcased in the classic cozy crime "amateur detective solves mysteries better than the professionals," in which he plays Ludwig, and Ludwig's missing identical twin brother, James, wasn't just a hit for the BBC when it debuted in the U.K. It was the biggest debut for a U.K. comedy on the broadcaster since 2018.

But more importantly, Ludwig's first season earlier in 2025 was the #1 season premiere in total viewership and unique viewers across North America. Naturally, the series is returning for a second season — greenlit before the show arrived in the U.S. — and, moreover, it's adding a PBS favorite from Masterpiece to the party.