'Patience' Rewarded with Season 2 Ahead of PBS Debut

Much like the Ben Miller version of Professor T, PBS' new series Patience arrives next month with a semi-built-in audience. Based on the super popular French crime drama Astrid, about an autistic researcher who helps her police precinct solve crimes, the new show is an English language remake of the Walter Presents favorite (four seasons and counting on PBS Passport). Foreign language fans who are big into the original will probably at least check out the new version. The English language edition also has one small but crucial alteration: the actor who plays the lead character, Patience Evans, Ella Maisy Purvis, is also on the autism spectrum. In fact, every character with a diagnosis of a spectrum disorder is played by an actor who has the same diagnosis.

Between the novelty of a show walking the walk of casting differently abled actors as differently abled characters, the popularity of the original, and Grantchester Season 10 directly following, it's pretty much guaranteed the show will at least do moderately well, if not land as a major hit. Perhaps that's why Channel 4 decided to announce the show was being renewed for Season 2, despite the series still being a month out from its U.S. premiere.

Purvis has been front and center of the U.K. media storm around this show, giving candid interviews where she discussed how it felt to be othered by her peers, how autistic women are usually infantilized in mainstream media, and how much the show means to her personally, both as an actor and as someone who on the spectrum, being the representation she's always wanted to see. In the press release for Season 2, Purvis said: "The response and popularity of Season 1 were staggering, so I am beyond thrilled to dive back into the world of Patience for Season 2, especially because we have some brilliant new cases to crack. Buckle up!"

Here is the Season 2 synopsis:

Returning for an extended duration of eight episodes, Patience will continue her work in the police criminal records department of City of York Police after establishing herself as an invaluable team member, bringing her unique insight into a series of perplexing cases. However, when a new boss, Detective Frankie Monroe, brings a very different management style, it proves tricky for them both to navigate. Love is also in the air in this series as Patience begins a relationship with a work colleague, Elliot, and the police department gets a makeover with the arrival of a new PR consultant, all whilst tackling intriguing crimes in extraordinary settings such as York Minster.

And the Season 1 synopsis for those who need a refresher:

Patience Evans works in the criminal records department of Yorkshire Police, cataloging and filing the evidence produced during major cases. A young autistic woman, she craves routine and order, relishing the solitude and structure her job provides, but she yearns for more. A brilliant, self-taught criminologist, Patience has an instinctive eye for crime scenes and a passion for problem-solving. Detective Bea Metcalf is the first person to spot and utilize her talent, which opens a door into a whole new world for Patience.  Patience attends a regular support group for autistic adults where they discuss the barriers in operating in a neuro-typical world and how best to navigate it. 

Season 2 will bring back Purvis as Patience and Laura Fraser (Outlander) as her neurotypical partner in crime-solving, DI Bea Metcalf. The series also brings back the entire core cast from Season 1, including Nathan Welsh (Domina) as DS Jake Hunter,  Liza Sadovy (Ridley Road) as Dr. Loretta Parsons, Ali Ariaie (The Great), as DC Will Akbari, Mark Benton (Shakespeare & Hathaway) as Calvin Baxter, Adrian Rawlins (The White Princess) as Douglas Gilmore, Connor Curren (Whitstable Pearl) as Billy Thompson, and Tom Lewis (Gentleman Jack) as Elliot Scott. The series will also add a new season regular, Jessica Hynes (Miss Austen) as DI Frankie Monroe, the new boss in charge of Patience and Bea. As always, neurodiverse actors will play all neurodivergent characters in the series.

Season 2 trades out Matt Baker (Hotel Portofino) as the lead writer for a team that includes Amy Shindler, Beth Chalmers, Rachel Smith, and Jacqui Honess-Martin, all of whom have personal experience related to autism. Director Maarten Moerkerke will return to helm Season 2, which expands from six to eight episodes, and split helming duties with Raf Reyntjens. As always, Jo McGrath and Walter Iuzzolino executive produce, now with Eagle Eye's newest member, Alison Kee.

Patience Season 1 will premiere on most local PBS stations, the PBS app, and the PBS Masterpiece Prime Video Channel on Sunday, June 15, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET, to be followed by new Grantchester at 9 p.m. All six episodes of the show's inaugural season will be available on PBS Passport for members to stream on premiere day. Season 2 is expected to film in late 2025 and air/stream in 2026. Astrid Seasons 1 through 4 are also available to stream for members, with Season 5 also expected in early 2026.