The BBC’s hit detective drama Ludwig has been renewed for a third season, ahead of the release of its second series later this year.

The popular mystery series, which stars David Mitchell and Anna Maxwell Martin, was the BBC’s biggest scripted series since 2024, drawing almost ten million viewers in its first 28 days.

© BBC/Big Talk Studios /Olly Courtney)

Created and written by Mark Brotherhood, the Emmy-winning series follows puzzle setter John ‘Ludwig’ Taylor, whose quiet life is suddenly upended when his identical twin brother, DCI James Taylor, mysteriously vanishes.

Drafted in by his sister-in-law Lucy, John agrees to impersonate James as a detective in the Cambridge Police Authority in order to uncover the truth about his disappearance.

I completely devoured this gripping and witty series upon its initial release. David Mitchell is brilliantly cast as the reclusive, endearing puzzlesetter John in this original and hugely entertaining mystery drama.

Ahead of the second season, which has added the likes of Shetland‘s Mark Bonnar and Fleabag star Sian Clifford to the cast, find out all we know about the upcoming two seasons.

What to expect from season three

David Mitchell will reprise his role as Ludwig, alongside Anna Maxwell Martin as Lucy Betts-Taylor in season three.

Expressing his excitement in a statement, David said: “I am delighted that Ludwig will be returning to solve more of Mark Brotherhood’s brilliant mysteries. I can’t wait to get started and have renewed the subscription on my denouement-learning app.”

© BBC

Meanwhile, Jon Petrie, BBC Director of Comedy Commissioning, added: “Ludwig is exactly the kind of smart, distinctive, audience-pleasing show we love at BBC Comedy. Sharp writing, a compelling story, big laughs and, naturally, a generous helping of puzzles. The team at Big Talk have crafted something truly distinctive and much-loved, and we’re excited to see what mysteries Ludwig tackles next.”

What happens in season 2?

The upcoming episodes pick up from the end of season one, which saw John offered a job as a Crime Scene Consultant for the Cambridge Police Authority.

© BBC/Big Talk Studios /Olly Courtney

No longer having to masquerade as his brother, John is more ‘Ludwig’ than ever – brilliant at solving puzzles but hopeless at everything else – as he solves “impossible” crimes for the police alongside DCI Russell Carter (Dipo Ola).

The synopsis continues: “But John’s identical twin brother, James, is still missing, and now that he’s an official employee of the station, John is forbidden from using any police resources to look for his brother or uncover exactly what he was investigating.

© BBC/Big Talk Studios /Olly Courtney

“Of course, John won’t stop and neither will Lucy (Anna Maxwell Martin), John’s sister-in-law and wife of his missing brother James – a puzzle needs solving and a husband and father needs bringing home. One masquerade may have ended, but a new one has just begun.”

Who stars in season two?

Some familiar faces have joined the cast of season two, including Mark Bonnar and Sian Clifford, who play newspaper editor Gareth Fisher and local MP Joanne Kemper, respectively.

Meanwhile, Ben Ashenden (Deep Cover, Black Mirror) plays DC Ethan Cole, alongside Rumi Sutton (After the Flood, Mutiny) as DC Caitlin Sullivan.

© BBC/Big Talk Studios /Olly Courtney

Reprising their roles alongside David and Anna in season two are Dylan Hughes as Henry Betts-Taylor, Dorothy Atkinson as DCS Carol Shaw, Ralph Ineson as Chief Constable Ziegler and Karl Pilkington as DI Matt Neville.

The first series of Ludwig is available to watch on BBC iPlayer and series two will air later this year.