ROSE AYLING-ELLIS BEGINS FILMING SERIES TWO OF ITV'S BAFTA-WINNING THRILLER CODE OF SILENCE
TV, BritBox and Mammoth Screen have announced that filming is now underway on the second series of Code of Silence, the BAFTA-winning drama from Mammoth Screen, with Rose Ayling-Ellis MBE reprising her acclaimed lead role as Alison Brooks.
Rose is joined by returning cast members Andrew Buchan (Black Doves, Passenger), award-winning comedian and actor John Bishop (Doctor Who, The Accused), Nathan Armarkwei Laryea (The Witcher, Doctor Who) and Fifi Garfield (Coffee Morning Club, Deaf Funny).
New cast members include Jonah Hauer-King (A House of Dynamite, The Tattooist of Auschwitz), Jo Joyner (Little Disasters, Ackley Bridge), Sophie McShera (Downton Abbey, The Gallows Pole), John Hollingworth (Poldark, The Crown), Sasha Desouza-Willock (Vengeance: Murder on the Heath, London Kills) and Emily Head (Whitstable Pearl, The Inbetweeners).
Following the success of its debut series, the six-part thriller returns with a new, gripping case as creator and writer Catherine Moulton continues to explore the worlds of crime, communication and representation through a unique lens.
Two years on, Alison has completed her forensic lip-reading training with the police and is called upon to assist with a high-stakes surveillance operation involving Ruby Dowling (Emily Head), a woman caught up in a sophisticated money-laundering syndicate.
After being arrested when illicit cash is discovered hidden in her car, Ruby is released on bail back into a dangerous world where she finds herself trapped between police scrutiny and ruthless criminals. When she becomes the victim of a brutal attack, DI James Marsh (Andrew Buchan) and his team – DS Daniel Henshaw (Jonah Hauer-King), DS Ben Lawford (Nathan Armarkwei Laryea) and DC Lizzie Silver (Sasha Desouza-Willock) – are left searching for answers.
Tasked with decoding vital CCTV footage, Alison’s unique expertise becomes crucial to the investigation. But as hidden secrets begin to emerge, the case takes a disturbing turn, revealing threats far closer to home. With loyalties tested, trust beginning to unravel and dangerous criminals closing in, Alison discovers that uncovering the truth may come at a devastating personal cost – and could make her the next target.
Commented Rose Ayling-Ellis:
“I am so happy to be back on set with the brilliant cast and crew that made working on the first series such a delight and I’m looking forward to welcoming new members of the team too.”
Commented Catherine Moulton:
“I’m thrilled to be bringing Alison back for a second series. Now she’s officially part of the police team she’s keen to make her mark. Faced with her first murder investigation, she struggles to balance her determination to uncover the killer with the limits of her new police role. But blurred boundaries lead to divided loyalties, and her detective’s instincts, combined with her unique skill as a lip reader and close attention to detail, tell her there’s so much more to this case than meets the eye.”
Commented Mammoth’s Founder and Chief Creative Officer, Damien Timmer:
“This is a special show to work on, and it was a thrill to win a BAFTA for series 1. Audiences have really taken Rose and Alison to their hearts, and we have so many surprises we’re excited to share on series 2!”
The first series of Code of Silence was met with widespread praise for its originality, emotional impact and authentic representation of the Deaf community. Critics hailed the series as “a landmark moment for inclusion and representation” and “the must-watch thriller of the year”, with Rose Ayling-Ellis’s performance receiving particular acclaim.
The drama also resonated strongly with audiences, with the opening episode of series one consolidating to 7.5 million viewers and the full box set generating more than 20 million streams.
Series two continues the production’s commitment to authentic representation both on and off screen, featuring a diverse cast and crew that includes talent from the Deaf, disabled and neurodiverse communities.
Joseph Shrubb returns as producer, with Meenu Gaur (The Forsytes, Murder is Easy, World on Fire) directing episodes one to three and Nirpal Bhogal (Grace, DI Ray, Endeavour) directing episodes four to six. Working alongside Catherine Moulton are writers Genevieve Barr (Then Barbara Met Alan), Melissa Bubnic (Young Sherlock), Kevin Rundle (Gangs of London) and Nicola Wilson (Call The Midwife).
The second series is executive produced by Damien Timmer, Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Mammoth Screen, alongside Rose Ayling-Ellis and Catherine Moulton, and Jon Farrar and Jess O’Riordan for BritBox. ITV’s Director of Drama Polly Hill and Drama Commissioner Callum Dziedzic will oversee the production on behalf of ITV.
Code of Silence is produced by Mammoth Screen, part of ITV Studios, with BritBox as the North American commissioner.
The series is produced in association with and distributed by ITV Studios.
Code of Silence is available to stream on ITVX and STV Player and on BritBox in the US and Canada.