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Karen Pirie is a British crime drama on ITV, adapted from Val McDermid’s Inspector Karen Pirie novels. Lauren Lyle leads the cast as Karen Pirie, a detective whose role changes across the two series broadcast so far.
Series 1 aired across three episodes in September and October 2022. Series 2 premiered on Sunday 20 July 2025, and its returning and new cast members are listed below by series.
Two questions come up most often: who plays which role, and when the latest episodes air. The sections below answer both, with cast names and dates kept separate by series.
Who stars in Karen Pirie?
British crime drama broadcast on ITV
Lauren Lyle as DS/DI Karen Pirie
Val McDermid’s Inspector Karen Pirie novels
Series 2, premiered on Sunday 20 July 2025
Lauren Lyle has led the show across both series. Several other performers also return, while Series 2 introduces a large group of new characters tied to a 1984 kidnapping case.
- Lauren Lyle plays Karen Pirie in both Series 1 and Series 2.
- Chris Jenks, Zach Wyatt, Steve John Shepherd, Emer Kenny and Rakhee Thakrar return for Series 2.
- Emer Kenny also writes and adapts the Series 2 episodes.
- Series 2 adds a new group of characters, including James Cosmo, Frances Tomelty and John Michie.
- Some Series 2 roles are credited differently across sources, and the cast table below sets out where names differ.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Broadcaster | ITV (ITV1 and ITVX) |
| Lead actor | Lauren Lyle as Karen Pirie |
| Series 1 roles | Lauren Lyle, Chris Jenks, Zach Wyatt, Emer Kenny, Rakhee Thakrar and Steve John Shepherd in the main cast |
| Series 2 writer and adapter | Emer Kenny |
| Series 2 source novel | A Darker Domain, adapted across three episodes |
| Series 2 premiere | Sunday 20 July 2025, 8pm |
| Series 1 run | 25 September 2022 to 9 October 2022, three episodes |
| Series 2 commission | 21 February 2023 |
Which cast members return for Series 2?
Several Series 1 performers appear again in Series 2, although some of their character names and credits vary between listings. Wikipedia lists the main returning roles, and the picture is clearest for the central police team.
Who from Series 1 is back?
Lauren Lyle returns as DI Karen Pirie, continuing from her role as DS/DI Karen Pirie in the earlier run. Chris Jenks is back as DC Jason “Mint” Murray, and Zach Wyatt returns as DS Phil Parhatka.
Steve John Shepherd plays DCS Simon Lees, Rakhee Thakrar plays Bel Richmond, and Emer Kenny returns as River Wilde while also writing and adapting the episodes.
Emer Kenny’s dual role as actor and writer is listed in the Series 2 credits, so her adaptation work forms part of her involvement in the new run.
Who joins the cast for Series 2?
Series 2 brings in a wide group of new performers, including Saskia Ashdown as DC Isla Stark and James Cosmo as Sir Broderick “Brodie” Grant. Frances Tomelty plays Lady Mary Grant, and John Michie plays Fergus Sinclair.
Julia Brown is listed as Catriona “Cat” Grant, while Mark Rowley plays Mick Prentice. Other new names include Kat Ronney as Bonnie, Conor Berry as Andy Kerr, and Stuart Campbell as Kevin Campbell.
Younger versions of several characters also appear. Jamie Michie plays young Brodie Grant, Madeleine Worrall plays young Mary Grant, and Jack Stewart plays young Fergus Sinclair.
Some sources list the roles of James Fleet and Tom Mannion as TBC. A Wikipedia entry names Tom Mannion as Andy Kerr/Mathias, while other listings credit Conor Berry with the Andy Kerr role.
Some listings use “Broderick” and others use “Brodie” for James Cosmo’s character. The exact name is less settled than the actor’s presence in the series, so the spelling may vary by source.
When does Karen Pirie air on ITV?
The show has run in two series so far, with a gap of almost three years between them. Series 1 ran in autumn 2022, while Series 2 premiered in summer 2025.
When did Series 1 broadcast?
Series 1 premiered on and concluded on . The three episodes all follow one case, titled “The Distant Echo”.
When does Series 2 start?
Series 2 premiered on at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX. Episode two aired on , and the finale followed on .
All Series 2 episodes were available on ITVX from the premiere.
For viewers in the United States and Canada, Brit.co reported that Series 2 was scheduled for BritBox in October 2025, with episodes premiering on 2, 9 and 16 October 2025.
How did the broadcast schedule unfold?
- : Series 1 premieres on ITV.
- : The Series 1 run concludes with its final episode.
- : Series 2 is commissioned.
- : Series 2 premieres on ITV1 and ITVX.
- : Episode two of Series 2 airs.
- : The Series 2 finale airs.
- October 2025: Series 2 is scheduled for BritBox in the United States and Canada, according to Brit.co.
Which cast details are confirmed and which are still unclear?
Most of the core cast and broadcast information is consistent across the available sources. A smaller number of roles and character names still differ between listings.
| Established information | Information that remains unclear |
|---|---|
| Lauren Lyle plays Karen Pirie in both series. | The roles of James Fleet and Tom Mannion are listed as TBC in some sources. |
| Series 1 aired from 25 September to 9 October 2022. | The character name for James Cosmo is given as both “Brodie” and “Broderick”. |
| Series 2 premiered on 20 July 2025 on ITV1 and ITVX. | Some sources credit Andy Kerr to different actors. |
| Emer Kenny writes and adapts the Series 2 episodes. | Some listings give Emer Kenny and Steve John Shepherd roles or credits that differ from the main Wikipedia listing. |
| Series 2 is adapted from A Darker Domain. | The BritBox schedule is reported for the United States and Canada only, and may differ elsewhere. |
What is Karen Pirie about?
Karen Pirie follows a detective who is promoted to DI and given a long-running cold case. In Series 2, the case concerns the 1984 kidnapping of heiress Catriona Grant and her baby son.
A body with links to the original kidnap is found, giving the team their first real lead in decades. The story is drawn from Val McDermid’s Inspector Karen Pirie novels, with Series 2 adapting A Darker Domain.
Readers who follow other UK police dramas may find it useful to compare casts and formats. The Cast of Trigger Point (TV Series) – Complete Cast Guide offers one example of a similar series guide.
Where do these cast and broadcast details come from?
Most cast and broadcast details in this guide come from Wikipedia’s entries for the series, with Brit.co supporting the BritBox schedule. Where a source gives a role differently or as TBC, the difference is shown in the sections above.
For the latest scheduling or cast information, ITV’s own programme pages are the most direct reference, as ITV is the broadcaster for the series.
What should viewers know about the Karen Pirie cast?
Lauren Lyle is the constant lead across both series, with Series 2 adding a large new ensemble tied to a 1984 kidnapping. Viewers wanting a broader view of similar UK drama casts can also browse the Heartbeat Cast – UK Series by Season and K-Drama Guide.
Frequently asked questions
Who wrote and adapted the Series 2 episodes?
Emer Kenny adapts and writes the Series 2 episodes. Emer Kenny also appears in the cast as River Wilde, which is listed in the Series 2 credits.
Which book is Series 2 adapted from?
Series 2 is adapted from A Darker Domain. The series covers this story across three episodes, all part of the 2025 run on ITV.
Where can viewers stream Karen Pirie?
All Series 2 episodes were available on ITVX from the premiere on 20 July 2025. The series also aired on ITV1 at the same time.
Who wrote the original Karen Pirie novels?
The series is based on Val McDermid’s Inspector Karen Pirie novels. McDermid is the author of the books on which the TV adaptation is built.
When was Series 2 commissioned?
Series 2 was commissioned on 21 February 2023. The series premiered more than two years later, on 20 July 2025.
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Toby Marsh is Senior Reporter at Castradar.uk, covering film and TV stories across the UK.