Sharon D Clarke, Andrew Gower, and Charlotte McCurry are joined by guest stars from Poldark, Hollyoaks and The Responder in season 2 of Ellis

Ellis is back for season 2, and with the Channel 5 drama comes a new string of guest stars.

The popular detective series, which follows DCI Ellis and DS Harper as they crack cases across the north of England, is returning to Channel 5 on Tuesday, March 10.

Sharon D Clarke, known for Mr Loverman, Showtrial, Lost Boys & Fairies, and Rocketman, reprises her role as DCI Ellis, alongside Andrew Gower, who viewers will recognise from The Winter King, Carnival Row, and Outlander, who returns as her partner, DS Harper. Also returning for season two is Leonard and Hungry Paul star Charlotte McCurry in the role of DC Kate Trent and Allison Harding ACC Alison Leighton.

As usual, Sharon and Andrew will be joined by a number of guest stars in season 2, including Poldark and Doc Martin actor John Hollingworth and Hollyoaks and Waterloo Road actress Niamh Blackshaw for episodes one and two, which are called Ashenham and were filmed in Northern Ireland.

A synopsis for Ashenham reads: "When the body of Peter Barron, a respected local businessman is discovered in the tiny village of Ashenham, shock quickly turns to suspicion. The local force is out of their depth, and ACC Leighton wastes no time in parachuting in Ellis and Harper. With her forensic eye, Ellis recognises the situation for what it is: murder. Pushing past the limited resources of the local force and resistance in the community, she’s determined to unearth what really happened." Here's who guest stars in Ellis season 2, episodes 1 and 2.

John Hollingworth plays DS Malcolm Oliver

John is best known for playing Captain Henshawe in the popular BBC drama Poldark between 2015 to 2017. Additionally, John shared the screen with Martin Clunes in Doc Martin from 2011 to 2017, playing the character of Professor Sam Bradman.

His other television credits include appearances in Call The Midwife, Mr Bates vs The Post Office, Beyond Paradise and Vera. Venturing across the pond, John secured a role in the 2017 Hollywood blockbuster Transformers: The Last Knight, where he played Tristan. He recently made his Coronation Street debut as surgeon Dr Vincent Harper.

Sasha Desouza-Willock plays PC Suravi Kareem

Sasha is best known for the ITV comedy-drama, Deep Heat, where she played Mya. She has also had roles in Adult Material, Sparks, Inside Man and Doctors.

Joel Morris plays Joseph Ward

Joel is probably best known for playing William Hardcastle in Gentleman Jack and Gary in The Couple Next Door. He has also starred in Liverpool-based drama The Responder, The Long Shadow, Sherwood, Unforgotten and Des.

He also starred as Spike in Coronation Street in 2018 and Steve in Emmerdale the same year. Prior to his soap success, Joel played Kevin Grey in Lucky Man and D.S. Houghton in The Syndicate.

Niamh Blackshaw plays Jade Bell

Niamh is best known for her roles in soaps, including playing Lara Cutler in Coronation Street and Juliet in Hollyoaks, starring in over 300 episodes between 2018 and 2023.

In 2025, Niamh joined Waterloo Road as Agnes Eccleston. She also starred in the BBC drama Jetty as Rosie opposite Jenna Coleman.

Cariad Lloyd plays Pippa Ellerson

Cariad is known for Peep Show, Murder in Successville and Crims. She has also starred in Crackanory, Give Out Girls, I Want My Wife Back, Lee and Dean and Out of Her Mind.

More recently she starred as Miss Gideon in Alan Carr's series Changing Ends.

Keir Charles plays Chris Ellerson

Viewers will recognise Keir from playing Wayne Radford on The Bill and Oliver in Green Wing. He also starred as George in the television series, Flesh and Blood, Phil Scully in Stephen and Mark in Back to Life.

More recently, Keir has had roles in Shadow and Bone and Grace, and played Lord Ledger in Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story. Film credits include Love Actually and Man Up.

Sonny Walker plays Kelvin Jones

Viewers will recognise Sonny for playing Adam in Channel 4's The Gathering and Stevo Marsh in BBC's hit The Responder.

The up-and-coming actor will soon be in the movie Amazing Grace from director Ruth Carney and has been cast in the new British crime series Legends, which starts filming this year.

Episodes one and two also feature guest stars James Doran, Kirsty Bushell, Hannah Chinn, Elliot Douglas, Kyle Ndukuba, and Faolan Morgan.

Ellis S2 starts Tuesday, March 10 and Wednesday, March 11 at 9pm on 5.

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