Sir Ian Rankin has confirmed that the second season of BBC One detective drama Rebus has finished filming and will air in early 2027. The author made the announcement during a live episode of BBC Breakfast on Tuesday, October 13, alongside hosts Jon Kay and Sally Nugent.
Rankin also revealed he will make a cameo appearance in one of the new episodes, after being left out of the first season. The gritty crime drama, set in Scotland, follows Detective John Rebus, played by Richard Rankin, as he deals with organised crime and corruption while managing personal struggles.
Season two details and cameo confirmation
Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Rankin said: "They have finished shooting season two, it will be on early next year, I think. They have just sent me episode one, which I haven't watched yet, as I'm on the road. It's all looking good, Richard Rankin is back playing Rebus, the same cast are back, same writer."
When host Jon Kay asked if Rankin would appear in the new series, the author explained that in the first season he was forgotten during filming. He said: "Yeah, they forgot about me, they left me in the back room of the Oxford barn and just forgot me, and by the time I looked out, they had all gone to the next scene."
Rankin confirmed his cameo this time, saying: "This time, yeah, we have definitely shot me, we have definitely filmed me getting dragged out of a patrol car in handcuffs and taken into a police station, as Rebus is running out to jump in his car."
Critical acclaim and fan reactions
The first season of Rebus, which aired in May 2024, received critical praise, including a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes. One reviewer said: "Richard Rankin is so perfectly believable in the role that you never tire of watching him and keep rooting for him even when he's being a complete and utter idiot."
Another viewer commented on IMDb: "Compelling new take on a Scottish crime classic. Gritty crime thrillers have long been one of Scotland's greatest art forms and most successful export industries, and this reimagining of Sir Ian Rankin's classic Inspector Rebus novels is a stroke of genius."
The second season is expected to air on BBC One, with Rankin's cameo featuring in a police station sequence.
