Latest news with #EmerKenny
Cosmopolitan
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Cosmopolitan
Karen Pirie season 3: Is the detective drama going to return?
The second season of Karen Pirie landed on ITV earlier this week, and while we have loved watching Karen and the team in action figuring out the 40 year old kidnapping case of Cat and Adam Grant, we do have one complaint. The series is far too short. Seriously, we could watch another 20 episodes of Karen and her iconic bumbag travelling around Scotland solving cold cases. So will Karen return for a third season? Here's what we know. As of yet there's been no word to the future of the ITV show. Following the release of season one, it took about four months to get confirmation a second season of Karen Pirie would be happening. If the announcement of a third season is to follow a similar pattern, we likely wouldn't hear if the show is going ahead until around November. Thankfully there's a lot of material the show can use as inspiration, as the series is based on Val McDermid's eight part novel series about Karen. The first two series were based on the first and second books so you'd likely expect a third season to follow the plot of the third book. The third book sees Karen investigate a skeleton that is found in a crumbling Edinburgh building. Well it wouldn't be the show without her, so we would expect Lauren Lyle to return as titular character Karen Pirie. We'd also expect to see Chris Jenks as DC Jason Murray, Zach Wyatt as DS Phil Parhatka, Emer Kenny as River Wilde and Rakhee Thakrar as Bel Richmond. New to the cast for season two was Saskia Ashdown as DC Isla Stark, who now seems to be a permanent member of the team, and so we'd expect to see her return too. As a new series would see a new investigation take place, there would also be a new cast for these roles. The gap between seasons one and two coming out was three years, however this was in part due to writer Emer Kenny having a baby. So with this take into consideration if the series were to get renewed we'd hopefully be expecting to see the show back on our screens in the next one to two years. Karen Pirie season two is available on ITX now
Daily Mail
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Karen Pirie viewers open-mouthed as EastEnders star pops up in ITV detective drama with VERY different look
Karen Pirie viewers have been left open-mouthed after a EastEnders star popped up in a new ITV detective drama with a distinctly different look. The second series of Karen Pirie, a series based on Val McDermid's Inspector Karen Pirie, fit our screens earlier this month. The show originally aired its first series on ITV in September 2022. It stars Lauren Lyle as DS/DI Karen Pirie, Chris Jenks as DC /DS Jason Murray, Zach Mywatt as DS Phil Parhatka and Rakhee Thakrar as Bel Richmond. ITVX's official synopsis reads: 'The relentless Scottish DI returns with a baffling new cold case. 'Can she crack the infamous 80s disappearance of an oil heiress and her son? BAFTA-winning drama starring Lauren Lyle.' And some have just realised where they recognise Dr. River Wilde from, the character who is Karen's best pal and professor of forensic anthropology and archaeology. Dr. River is played by actress Emer Kenny, 35, who has previously played a number of other roles in various TV shows. But many will remember her taking on the role of Zsa Zsa Carter in EastEnders in 2010. One said on the EastEnders Facebook fan page: 'Emer Kenny who played Zsa Zsa Carter is in the new ITV show Karen Pirie.' 'I thought it was her!' 'Same here I recognised her from somewhere.' The former soap star starred in 56 episodes and also appeared in the first and second series of EastEnders: E20. Her alter-ego is the daughter of Tina Carter (Luisa Bradshaw-White) and Mark Reynolds. She turned up in Walford and caused a scene after she kissed Peter Beale (Thomas Law) at a party in front of Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa). Zsa Zsa then appears in E20, where her relationship with Leon Small (Sam Attwater) plays out and decides to move to France in her van because of the drama. Not only that, she's also been a screen writer for the BBC soap for three episodes, with one in 2012, another in 2013 and another the following year. One of Emer's first roles was playing Gail in Coming Down the Mountain. She later played Kate in Freefall, Rebecca in Lesbian Vampire Killers and Joan Bartlett in Eric and Ernie. Between 2012 and 2014 she played Danielle Reeves in Pramface. She also played Hope in Beaver Falls, Rachel in Badults and Izzy in Siblings. Emer took on the role of Penelope Windermere between 2017 and 2021. Most recently she's appeared in The Duchess and The Curse. The actress has also done a lot of writing over the years for various TV shows. Some include EastEnders, Doctors, Holby City, Harlots, Save Me, Karen Pirie and The Curse. Emer is married to TV presenter Rick Edwards, 46 and the couple share one son. The pair tied the knot in 2016, but met three years prior at a Jessie Cave show, with Rick proposing just six weeks later. Earlier this week ITV viewers dubbed Karen Pirie 'the new Line Of Duty ' and binged through episodes. The show is produced by World Productions, the same company behind other hits including Bodyguard and Line Of Duty. Sunday's episode saw Detective Karen investigate a challenging kidnapping case when a man's body is found. The remaining episodes of the new season will air each Sunday evening on ITV1, and will be available to stream on ITVX. The new season of Karen Pirie was well-received by some fans who took to social media to rave. One posted on X: 'Enjoyable first episode of the new series, so intriguing I immediately binge-watched the other two on ITVX!' Another chimed in: 'I thought #KarenPirie was excellent TV, looking forward to next Sunday.' Someone else said: '35 minutes in and I'm hooked. This is brilliant #KarenPirie.' 'Feel like I've been waiting a lifetime for this new series of #KarenPirie,' one fan posted. 'The new Line of Duty I think!' someone else said, according to WalesOnline. Another reportedly added: 'Watched the first three episodes already! So good.' 'Tried watching #KarenPirie but really don't care about any character past or present. Boring drama by numbers.' The new season of Karen Pirie was well-received by some fans who took to social media to rave, though not everyone was so impressed The Mail's Christoper Stevens rated the drama an impressive five out of five stars. He described the story line and various 'plots as deep and dark as a coal mine shaft'. 'The characters aren't merely well drawn — they're alive, constantly seeking to understand and learn more about each other,' the critic gushed. Karen Pirie airs on ITV1 on Sundays at 8pm and streams on ITVX.
The Irish Sun
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Is Karen Pirie based on a true story?
KAREN Pirie is now in its second season and once again has viewers hooked. The much-loved Advertisement 1 EastEnders actress Emer Kenny stars as River Wilde in Karen Pirie and also adapted the series from Val McDermid's crime novels Is Karen Pirie based on a true story? ITV's new drama Karen Pirie is not based on a true story. The series was adapted for television by actress and screenwriter, And while the characters are entirely fictional, Lyle explained what real-life research went into becoming Karen. Lyle said: "It was really interesting when we were filming, we started at St Andrews Cathedral and one night we had police escorts with us. Advertisement "One of them was a 20-something blonde woman, and it turns out she was a detective from Methil, the same tiny town Karen is from! To me, she was the real Karen Pirie. "So we exchanged numbers and we stayed in touch, it was like looking into a mirror for Karen." Read More on Karen Pirie Is Karen Pirie based on a book? Karen Pirie is the work of best-selling Scottish writer Val's novels have sold over 17 million copies worldwide, and this isn't the first time they have been adapted for the small screen. Advertisement Most read in TV Exclusive Her Tony Hill and Carol Jordan series were used as the basis for ITV crime drama Wire In The Blood. latest on itv Exclusive Who is in the second season of Karen Pirie? As mentioned above, Lauren Lyle is the lead actor and Emer Kenny, who adapted the novel for the ITV show, Other cast members in season two include: DC Jason 'Mint' Murray - Chris Jenks DS Phil Parhatka - Zach Wyatt River Wilde - Emer Kenny DCS Simon Lees - Steve John Shepherd DI Anderson - Thoren Ferguson Isla - Saskia Ashdown Catriona - Julia Brown Sir Broderick Grant - James Cosmo Lady Mary Grant - Fergus Sinclair - John Michie Bel Richmond - Rakhee Thakrar Advertisement Will there be a season three? Time will tell but you can keep up to date with all the best TV news and gossip with The Sun here.
Scottish Sun
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Is Karen Pirie based on a true story?
KAREN Pirie is now in its second season and once again has viewers hooked. The much-loved new series has left many viewers asking the same question – is it based on real-life events? 1 EastEnders actress Emer Kenny stars as River Wilde in Karen Pirie and also adapted the series from Val McDermid's crime novels Is Karen Pirie based on a true story? ITV's new drama Karen Pirie is not based on a true story. The series was adapted for television by actress and screenwriter, Emer Kenny – who also stars in the drama alongside the show's lead, Lauren Lyle. And while the characters are entirely fictional, Lyle explained what real-life research went into becoming Karen. Lyle said: "It was really interesting when we were filming, we started at St Andrews Cathedral and one night we had police escorts with us. "One of them was a 20-something blonde woman, and it turns out she was a detective from Methil, the same tiny town Karen is from! To me, she was the real Karen Pirie. "So we exchanged numbers and we stayed in touch, it was like looking into a mirror for Karen." Is Karen Pirie based on a book? Karen Pirie is the work of best-selling Scottish writer Val McDermid and the first season came from her book The Distant Echo, while the second season is adapted from Val's novel A Darker Domain. Val's novels have sold over 17 million copies worldwide, and this isn't the first time they have been adapted for the small screen. Her Tony Hill and Carol Jordan series were used as the basis for ITV crime drama Wire In The Blood. Who is in the second season of Karen Pirie? As mentioned above, Lauren Lyle is the lead actor and Emer Kenny, who adapted the novel for the ITV show, joins the cast as River Wilde. Other cast members in season two include: DC Jason 'Mint' Murray - Chris Jenks DS Phil Parhatka - Zach Wyatt River Wilde - Emer Kenny DCS Simon Lees - Steve John Shepherd DI Anderson - Thoren Ferguson Isla - Saskia Ashdown Catriona - Julia Brown Sir Broderick Grant - James Cosmo Lady Mary Grant - Frances Tomelty Fergus Sinclair - John Michie Bel Richmond - Rakhee Thakrar Urban Myths actor Zach Wyatt stars as DS Phil Parhatka with Jhon Lumsden as Ziggy Jnr who has made appearances in Doctors. Will there be a season three? Time will tell but you can keep up to date with all the best TV news and gossip with The Sun here.
Daily Record
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Karen Pirie season 2 start time, cast, episode count and how to watch
Karen Pirie, based on the Val McDermid Inspector Karen Pirie novels, is returning to screens in just hours with a second season The ITV detective drama Karen Pirie is set to grace our TV screens once again in mere hours, as it rolls out its second instalment. Launched in 2022, the series draws from the pages of Val McDermid's Inspector Karen Pirie novels and features Outlander's Lauren Lyle in a robust leading performance. She plays a young, fearless Scottish investigator "with a quick mouth and a tenacious desire for the truth". In its debut outing, viewers saw Pirie grapple with a 25-year-old cold case of a murdered barmaid, unravelling skeletons in the closet and deception to pinpoint the true culprit amidst a tangle of possible angles. Scripted by Emer Kenny and crafted by the minds behind Line of Duty and Bodyguard, Karen Pirie makes a much-anticipated comeback for season two, inspired by McDermid's second book in her literary sequence, A Darker Domain, reports the Express. In anticipation of the new episodes, Lauren expressed: "I'm thrilled that we will continue the life of our fearless young detective Karen Pirie, and of course, her bumbag. I've known for a while how well the show has gone down behind the scenes so it's been a joy to see audiences want more." She went on to say: "It's a creative honour to work alongside Emer Kenny with the backbone of Val McDermid's story. Season 1 was incredibly exciting building an original character we hadn't seen before. I look forward to getting the gang back together and finally being able to answer the question: 'Please say there will be a season 2?' with an 'Oh yes.'" For those eagerly awaiting, here is what you need to know about the upcoming season two. When does Karen Pirie air on ITV and how can I watch? Karen Pirie season two will air on Sunday, July 20, with the first episode premiering at 8pm on ITV1. All episodes will be available to stream on ITVX. Who is in the cast of Karen Pirie season 2? Lauren Lyle will return alongside series one stars including Sex Education actor Chris Jenks, Timestalker's Zach Wyatt, EastEnders actor Steve John Shepherd, Emer Kenny and Rakhee Thakrar. Joining the returning cast as new characters related to the case are Saskia Ashdown, James Cosmo, Frances Tomelty and John Michie. The cast also includes Julia Brown, Mark Rowley, Kat Ronney, Conor Berry, Stuart Campbell, Jamie Michie, Madeleine Worrall, Jack Stewart, Thoren Ferguson, and Helen Katamba, James Fleet, Tom Mannion, and Tommaso Basili. How many episodes are in Karen Pirie season 2? Just like the first season, series two will have three episodes, titled A Darker Domain: Part 1, 2 and 3. The official synopsis reads: "After her bittersweet success in series one, Karen has been promoted to Detective Inspector and seemingly given the authority she has long been fighting for. "Just as she's getting into the swing of her powerful new role, she is assigned an infamous unsolved case that will put her under intense scrutiny; from her boss, from the media, and ultimately, from sinister forces that would rather the past stayed in the past. "The 1984 case of Catriona and Adam Grant has confounded investigators and intrigued the public like no other. Catriona, the charming young heiress to a vast oil fortune, and her two year old son Adam, were brutally kidnapped at gunpoint outside a fish and chip shop in Fife. "The ransom notes that followed stirred up an uncontrollable press storm, but when the culprits fell silent, the police faltered, and Catriona and Adam were never seen again. "Now, a man's body has been discovered, with indisputable links to the original kidnap. With the first piece of evidence in decades, Karen must assemble an unbeatable team alongside her sincere and lovable sidekick DC Jason 'Mint' Murray (Chris Jenks) and the brilliant - but romantically complicated - DS Phil Parhatka (Zach Wyatt). "With the international renown of the kidnap and the constant pressure from Catriona's father, Sir Broderick Grant (James Cosmo), the team take on the biggest challenge of their careers to date. "As Karen delves deeper into what happened in the autumn of 1984, political grudges and painful secrets reveal themselves, and it soon becomes clear... the past is far from dead." Karen Pirie season 2 will air from Sunday 20th July 2025 on ITV1 and ITVX.
