Bookish season 2 releases first look at new episodes and starry new cast members - plus a Sherlock reunion

Rupert Graves is heading straight from Baker Street to Archangel Lane.

Mark Gatiss in Bookish, wearing a hat, suit, jacket and scarf and looking at the camera with a slight smile.

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Published: Monday, 26 January 2026 at 12:51 pm

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With fans waiting desperately for news of Bookish season 2, a set of first-look images have now been unveiled, reuniting us with Mark Gatiss's Gabriel Book and the rest of the central cast.

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Returning cast members seen in the images alongside star and creator Gatiss include Polly Walker as Trottie Book, Connor Finch as Jack Blunt, Elliot Levey as Inspector Bliss, Blake Harrison as Sergeant Morris, Buket Kömür as Nora and Nadia Albina as Dr Calder.

Rosie Cavaliero, Gerard Horanand Jonas Nay will also be back in the new season, while they will be joined by a host of beloved guest stars - including Sherlock's Rupert Graves.

While Graves will be seen on screen with Gatiss once again, having played Inspector Lestrade to his Mycroft Holmes, others who will be appearing, and who are seen in the images, include Jason Watkins as Harold Sneed, Miranda Richardson as Duchess Alberta, Simon Callow as ‘E’, Claire Skinner as Mrs Calthrop and Youssef Kerkour as Yusuf.

The Celebrity Traitors star Ruth Codd has also been newly announced as joining the series, playing a character called India Flynn, who is seen in one image holding a camera.

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Youssef Kerkour in Bookish, stood behind a bar.

Mark Gatiss, Connor Finch, Elliot Levey and Nadia Albina in Bookish, stood together, looking at the camera.

Polly Walker, Conor Finch and Rupert Graves in Bookish, stood together in a street, outside. Finch is stepping into a car.

Conor Finch in Bookish, stood in a street and wearing a pinstriped suit and hat.

Buket Kömür in Bookish, looking shocked and holding a magnifying glass with both hands.

Blake Harrison in Bookish, wearing a police uniform and hat.

Miranda Richardson in Bookish, wearing a dress and sat in a chair.

Claire Skinner in Bookish, wearing suit jacket and hat and walking past a pile of books.

Jason Watkins in Bookish, wearing a suit and stood in a room, next to a lamp.

Simon Callow in Bookish, wearing a suit and with an eyepatch on, looking at the camera.

Ruth Codd in Bookish, wearing a brown suit, holding a camera and looking at the camera.

Youssef Kerkour in Bookish, stood behind a bar.

Mark Gatiss, Connor Finch, Elliot Levey and Nadia Albina in Bookish, stood together, looking at the camera.

Polly Walker, Conor Finch and Rupert Graves in Bookish, stood together in a street, outside. Finch is stepping into a car.

Conor Finch in Bookish, stood in a street and wearing a pinstriped suit and hat.

Buket Kömür in Bookish, looking shocked and holding a magnifying glass with both hands.

Blake Harrison in Bookish, wearing a police uniform and hat.

Miranda Richardson in Bookish, wearing a dress and sat in a chair.

Claire Skinner in Bookish, wearing suit jacket and hat and walking past a pile of books.

Jason Watkins in Bookish, wearing a suit and stood in a room, next to a lamp.

Simon Callow in Bookish, wearing a suit and with an eyepatch on, looking at the camera.

Ruth Codd in Bookish, wearing a brown suit, holding a camera and looking at the camera.

Youssef Kerkour in Bookish, stood behind a bar.

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The synopsis for season 2 reads: "Book investigates the world of spiritualism when he’s asked to help solve the mysterious case involving medium, Harold Sneed (Watkins).

"Off Savile Row, Bliss asks Book to help in a puzzling murder at a gentleman’s outfitters - the elderly tailor Maxie Kleinmann is keen to confess to the murder, but the evidence doesn’t quite stack up and points to something much more complex and sinister.

"And Book and Jack are sent to the seemingly charming German village of Würl by the mysterious 'E' to thwart a thieving Duchess at Christmas time. However, festivities take a deadly turn when Book and Jack uncover secrets of their own, past and present, in an ominous castle brimming with plausible murder suspects.

"Book’s close association to the police continues to be not without its personal dangers and his lavender marriage with childhood best friend Trottie, is threatened by debonair Colonel Winters (Graves). Marrying post-war nostalgia with the reckless and life affirming atmosphere of the times, Bookish is a stylish period detective drama with a difference."

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In December 2025, Gatiss revealed in a post on Instagram that filming had officially wrapped on the six-episode season 2, after it went into production in September of the same year.

Bookish airs on U&Alibi. The series is available to stream on demand on Sky, Virgin, BT and TalkTalk.

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Authors

Black and white cut-out portrait headshot of James Hibbs, smiling against a lime green background.

James HibbsDrama Writer

James Hibbs is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering programmes across both streaming platforms and linear channels. He previously worked in PR, first for a B2B agency and subsequently for international TV production company Fremantle. He possesses a BA in English and Theatre Studies and an NCTJ Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.

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