The BBC has not confirmed a second season of The Rapture, the psychological thriller that concludes on Sunday, August 9, on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Adaptation of Liz Jensen's Novel
The Rapture is adapted from Liz Jensen's bestselling 2009 novel about a teenager accused of killing her mother, who claims she can predict disasters. The drama, filmed entirely in Wales, has been described by the broadcaster as a "high-stakes drama that crackles with wit and danger," exploring themes such as climate change and corruption.
With no sequel to the book, the thriller covers all the material in the source novel, making a second series unlikely. Like the book, the adaptation tackles climate change, corruption, and the bond between the two central women, but with a contemporary spin.
Cast and Characters
The star-studded cast includes Ruth Madeley, Sam Hazeldine, Jack Farthing, Stephen Campbell Moore, Ruth Jones, India Amarteifio, Iwan Rheon, Lisa Palfrey, Siena Kelly, Naby Dakhli, Richard Elis, Dean Rehman, and Robert Rhodes.
The story centres on Dr Gabrielle Fox, played by Ruth Madeley, a psychologist returning to work after a car accident that killed her husband and left her a wheelchair user. Her patient, Bethany Krall, played by India Amarteifio, is in a secure unit for allegedly committing matricide but insists she is wrongly accused.
Writer and Author Insights
Writer Bryony Kimmings said: "The book really spoke to me - the idea of two unlikely reluctant heroes. Two people with a lot of their own problems really not wanting to be called into action. That felt interesting, the fact they were women with huge mental loads that ALSO needed to help with the planet, that felt real and true to my own story. That is fresh. The hard not heroic fodder that’s reality. That’s honest."
Author Liz Jensen added: "The story feels far more timely now than when I wrote the book. The series foregrounds contemporary issues like climate anxiety, corruption, spiritual yearning and the deep bonds we form in times of crisis – to thrilling effect. Bryony Kimmings’ and Rebecca Manley’s scripts have huge charisma, with Ruth Madeley and India Amarteifio capturing the fraught relationship between two spirited but vulnerable characters with huge empathy, verve and nuance."
Character Dynamics
Viewers have enjoyed the chemistry between Ruth Madeley's Gabs and Iwan Rheon's Dick. Iwan described his character: "Dick is a journalist who’s a bit washed-up, and he’s lost everything. He was investigating the Faith Way and beginning to look at Bethany’s vision when Carys Krall dies. He was quite high-flying, but he’s lost everything. He feels very bitter about that, and he has developed a bit of an alcohol problem. When you meet him in the story, he’s at a low point in his life. But his passion for the story and telling the truth is reignited when Gabs arrives, and he starts to get a bit more meaning in his life. He’s good fun to play."
While no second series is confirmed, television series often extend beyond source material, so a spin-off or continuation could emerge in the future. The Rapture airs its final episode on BBC One at 9pm on Sunday, August 9.
