ITV is kicking off 2026 with a major television event, confirming the highly anticipated return of its original thriller, Red Eye, for a second series. The show will premiere on New Year's Day, Thursday 1st January 2026, at 9pm on ITV1, with all six episodes available to stream immediately on ITVX.
Returning Faces and a Major New Star
The core cast from the first series is back for another high-stakes adventure. Jing Lusi reprises her role as DC Hana Li, the tenacious detective who survived a deadly conspiracy on an international flight. Lesley Sharp also returns as Madeline Delaney, now the Director General of MI5, who finds her own life in peril this time around.
They are joined by a significant new lead, Martin Compston, best known for his role in Line of Duty. Compston steps into the series as US Embassy security chief Clay Brody, filling the void left by Richard Armitage's Dr Matthew Nolan. The full returning cast includes Jemma Moore as journalist Jess Li and Robert Gilbert as Superintendent Simon O'Brian.
A Gripping New Plot: Embassy Lockdown and a Doomed Flight
The action for Red Eye season 2 splits between two terrifying locations, flipping the dynamic of the first series. This time, Hana Li is on the ground, trapped inside a besieged US Embassy in London during a celebration for a new ambassador. The event turns into a nightmare when a threat is received: a British government jet will be blown out of the sky if anyone leaves the building, triggering an immediate lockdown.
As murders begin inside the embassy, Hana is thrust into a political minefield. She is forced to work with Clay Brody, a former colleague she deeply distrusts, to solve the case. The personal stakes couldn't be higher, because the plane targeted in the threat is carrying Madeline Delaney, who is now the one trapped thousands of feet in the air.
Everything You Need to Know
The creative team behind the first series, creator Peter A Dowling and director Kieron Moore, have reunited for this fresh chapter. The new story builds on the global political tensions established previously but introduces a completely new, contained crisis.
For fans eager to catch up or re-watch, the entire first series of Red Eye remains available to stream on ITVX ahead of the 1st January 2026 premiere.
