FilmingcommencesonsecondseriesofcriticallyacclaimeddramaMarcellastarringAnnaFrielOriginalmulti-layeredITVcrimedramaseriesMarcella,writtenbyinternationallyrenownedscreenwriterandnovelistHansRosenfeldt(TheBridge)andstarringAnnaFriel(Broken,AmericanOdyssey)returnsto roductionthismonth(July2017).ReturningalongsideAnnaFrielastheleadMarcella,inthehighly raiseddramaareRayPanthaki(OneCrazyThing),NicholasPinnock(Fortitude,Guerrilla),JamieBamber(Fearless,NCIS)andJackDoolan(WhiteGold).Newcastmembersarealsowelcomed;NigelPlaner(E isodes,ComicStri Presents,TheYoungOnes),KeithAllen(EddieTheEagle,MyMadFatDiary),So hiaBrown(Beauty&am ;TheBeast,Clique,Disobedience),PeterSullivan(Cuffs,Critical,TheBorgias),JasonHughes(ThreeGirls,MidsomerMurders),VictoriaSmurfit(OnceU onATime,Trial&am ;Retribution,TheBeach),YolandaKettle(TheCrown,LoveNina),JoshHerdman(HarryPotter)andHarrietCains(LineofDuty,SafeHouse).AnnaFrielcommented:“I’mthrilledtobere risingtheroleofMarcellaandwanttothankITVforrecommissioningthis owerfulLondonbasednoirdrama.Thereactionfromeveryonehasbeenamazing,althoughtherealquestionIkee beingaskediswhetherthegreen arkawillbemakingana earanceinseason2aswell?”Theeight- artseriesisonceagainsetincontem oraryLondonandthenewseriesunfoldsintheuniquestyleofRosenfeldt’sNordicstyle.Interweavingstorylinesandcharactersfromalldifferentwalksoflifeandbackgroundswillleadtheaudiencesonacom lexandemotionaljourneyandkee themguessinguntiltheveryend.Thestorybeginswiththediscoveryofabodyinsideawall.Thebodyissurroundedbytoysandsoftanimalsandaschoolblazer;adevastatedMarcellasoonworksoutthatthebodyisthatofschoolboyLeoPriestley,whowasabductedafewyearsbeforehandandafriendofMarcella’sson,Edward.Atask-forceisquickly ulledtogetherbynewly romotedDCI,Timandweareintroducedtoanewmemberoftheteam,LeAnn.Inoneofthefirstmeetings,shestandsu forMarcella–somethingthatsheisnotusedtowithinthework lace.Astheinvestigation rogresses,we’reintroducedtoanumberofnewcharacters–anold o starRegandhismanagerandfriendAlan;edgybusinessmanVinceWhitmanandhischaritybosswifeMaya;a reviouslyconvictedcriminalPhilDawkins;brotherandsisterGailandEric;andBecky,thenewfiancéeofMarcella’sex-husband.Whilstthestorylinesentwine,Marcellaisstillbattlingwithherongoings oradicfuguestateswhichshestrugglestocometotermswithandisgettingincreasinglyworriedabouttheeffectsitishavingonherandherfamilyaroundher.ThefirstseriesofMarcellawonmanyfans,achievedravereviewsandsentsocialmediaintomeltdownwhenitairedonITVin2016.Thelaunche isodewastheseriesbest erformerwith8millionviewersanda29%shareofviewing.Theseriesaverageof6.8millionviewers(25%share)firmly lacedMarcellaasoneofITV’sto rateddramaslastyear.Marcellahasbeenre-commissionedbyPollyHill,HeadofDramaandthe roductionwillbeoverseenforITVbySeniorCommissionerVictoriaFea.Marcellawillbeexecutive roducedbyRosenfeldt,NicolaLarderandBuccaneerMedia’sfounderTonyWoodwhocreatedthejointventure roductioncom anyin artnershi withglobalentertainmentcom any,CineflixMedia.AnnieHarrisonBaxter(InTheFlesh,TheSecretofCrickleyHall,WildatHeart)is roducingtheseriesandChrisBallantyne(Broadchurch,BornToKill,TheLevel)isco- roducing.Thefirstthreee isodeswillbedirectedbyCharlesMartin(Stonemouth,TheReturned,Skins)