Sir Ian Rankin has confirmed that the BBC detective drama Rebus will return to screens early next year, with filming for the second season now complete. The author also revealed he will appear in a cameo role in the new episodes.
Appearing on Tuesday's episode of BBC Breakfast (October 13), Rankin told hosts Jon Kay and Sally Nugent: "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."
Author's cameo confirmed
In the forthcoming new season, viewers can expect to see Sir Ian Rankin in a cameo role during a police station scene involving Detective John Rebus. This follows his earlier tease about appearing in the first season, which did not materialise.
Jon asked: "And are you in it? Because last time you teased us, and said 'I'm going to be playing a cameo in the first season' and you weren't." Rankin replied: "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."
He added: "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." Rankin joked: "They were proper handcuffs and I kept a close eye on the person who had the key."
Critical acclaim for the series
Since Rebus aired on BBC One, the miniseries has captured critics' attention, securing a 100% rating on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. One critic wrote: "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 fan explained: "This is a very good series. Richard Raskin is much different from Ken Stott, but he's great in the role. I also liked Rebus' partner and ex-wife, too. This series reminded me of 'Crime', starring Dougray Scott."
One fan 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." Another added: "A gritty reimagining, still worth watching."
The first season comprised six episodes, initially broadcast in May 2024, with each episode written by Gregory Burke and directed by Niall MacCormick and Fiona Walton. A second series was greenlit in July 2025, with filming now confirmed complete. BBC Breakfast airs from 6am on BBC One and iPlayer.
