Cast of Karen Pirie: Full Actors List Seasons 1 & 2

ITV’s crime drama Karen Pirie gave Lauren Lyle a breakout role as a detective unearthing a cold case in Scotland, and fans have been hungry for more ever since. After a three-year wait, Season 2 finally arrives with its core cast intact—and a handful of intriguing new faces. This guide maps out every actor worth knowing across both seasons.

Lead Actress: Lauren Lyle as DS Karen Pirie · Key Co-Star: Chris Jenks as DC Jason Murray · Seasons Released: 2 · Network: ITV · Main Cast Size: Over 20 actors

Who stars in Karen Pirie series 2?

After a three-year hiatus since its inaugural season, Karen Pirie is returning with Lauren Lyle reprising her role as the detective from Fife. Radio Times confirmed the core cast from Season 1 walks straight into Season 2, with the addition of several high-profile new names. Lauren Lyle remains the series anchor as DS/DI Karen Pirie, while Chris Jenks continues as her partner DC/DS Jason Murray.

Lauren Lyle as DS Karen Pirie

Lauren Lyle landed the title role in Karen Pirie and held onto it through both seasons. Her character investigates the 1995 cold case of Rosie Duff, a barmaid whose murder sets the entire series in motion. Lyle’s performance in Season 1 earned attention for its emotional range, and she returned for Season 2 when filming wrapped in early 2024. Rotten Tomatoes lists her across both seasons under the same role designation.

Chris Jenks as DC Jason Murray

Chris Jenks plays DC Jason Murray, known as “Mint” to his colleagues. He works alongside Karen Pirie throughout both seasons of the ITV drama. Wikipedia confirms his role spans both seasons, making him the most consistent presence behind Lyle’s lead.

New additions in season 2

Season 2 brings notable newcomers to the cast. James Cosmo, a seasoned face from British film and television, enters the story as Sir Broderick Grant. Rotten Tomatoes lists him as a Season 2 character. Frances Tomelty joins as Lady Mary Grant, adding further weight to the Grant family storyline. New recurring roles include Saskia Ashdown as DC Isla Stark and Julia Brown as Catriona “Cat” Grant.

The pattern across both seasons holds steady: the core team of Lyle, Jenks, Zach Wyatt as DS Phil Parhatka, and Emer Kenny as Dr. River Wilde returns intact, while season-specific supporting casts are layered around them.

Who plays Mick Prentice Senior in Karen Pirie Season 2?

The character of Mick Prentice Senior appears in Season 2 of Karen Pirie, and according to multiple sources, this role is played by James Fleet. Radio Times confirms James Fleet’s involvement in the new season, while Wikipedia corroborates his casting. Mark Rowley appears separately in the cast list as Mick Prentice.

James Fleet’s role

James Fleet is a British character actor with decades of screen work behind him. In Karen Pirie Season 2, he plays Mick Prentice Senior — a character whose connection to the central mystery becomes apparent as the season unfolds. His casting adds established dramatic credibility to the ensemble.

Character background

Mick Prentice Senior’s relationship to the broader case is still unfolding for viewers, but the role places him within the Grant family orbit introduced in Season 2. The character’s exact position within the story is best discovered by watching, though multiple sources confirm his appearance in the new season.

Who plays the older Bonnie in Karen Pirie Season 2?

The character Bonnie Senior — specifically the older version — appears in Karen Pirie Season 2 played by Seylan Baxter. Rotten Tomatoes lists her under this role designation for the new season, and her casting fills a character gap from the earlier storyline.

Seylan Baxter’s portrayal

Seylan Baxter is a Scottish actress whose work connects her directly to the setting of Karen Pirie. Her character, Bonnie Senior, appears in a capacity that ties back to earlier events in the series. Her casting provides continuity to a storyline that began in Season 1.

Connection to main story

The connection between Bonnie Senior and the main storyline runs through events established in Season 1. Her appearance in the new season deepens an existing character thread rather than introducing an entirely separate narrative.

Who is the new actress for Karen Pirie?

The lead role of Karen Pirie is played by Lauren Lyle — the actress who originated the part and returns for Season 2. Her casting in Season 1 marked a significant step in her career, and her return ensures continuity for the series.

Lauren Lyle’s casting

Lauren Lyle was cast as DS Karen Pirie for the ITV series’ debut season in 2022. She was drawn to the role, she has said in interviews, because of the character’s emotional honesty and her exploration of what it means to pursue justice in a system that doesn’t always make it easy. Rotten Tomatoes verifies her cast listing under the lead role designation for both seasons.

Lauren Lyle has spoken in interviews about finding the role empowering, noting that the character allowed her to explore anger and determination in ways she found compelling for a female lead in crime drama.

Previous roles

Before Karen Pirie, Lauren Lyle appeared in several British television productions. Her casting as Karen Pirie represented a significant step into leading roles, and the success of Season 1 helped solidify her position in the industry.

Who is in the cast of Karen Pirie season 1?

Karen Pirie Season 1 introduced audiences to a tightly constructed ensemble rooted in a Scottish police investigation. The story centers on the 1995 cold case murder of Rosie Duff, a barmaid whose death drives the plot forward. Rotten Tomatoes provides the most complete listing of Season 1 cast members.

Core season 1 actors

• Lauren Lyle — DS Karen Pirie (lead)
• Chris Jenks — DC Jason Murray
• Zach Wyatt — DS Phil Parhatka
• Emer Kenny — Dr. River Wilde (also writer and executive producer)
• Steve John Shepherd — DI/DCS Simon Lees
• Rakhee Thakrar — Bel Richmond
• Stuart Bowman — Chief Superintendent Jimmy Lawson

Recurring roles

• Alec Newman — Ziggy Malkiewicz Snr
• Jack Hesketh — young Weird Mackie Jnr
• Buom Tihngang — young Alex Gilbey
• Ariyon Bakare — Alex Gilbey (returns in Season 2)
• Gemma McElhinney — PC Janice Hogg (returns in Season 2)

The production team behind the show includes Val McDermid, whose Inspector Karen Pirie novels inspired the series, serving as executive producer alongside Simon Heath. Gareth Bryn directed episodes across both seasons. Wikipedia documents this creative continuity.

Facts confirmed and unconfirmed

The cast information for Karen Pirie is solid in its core details, but a few specifics remain in flux or have caused confusion across sources.

What people involved have said

Radio Times noted that after a three-year wait, Karen Pirie returns with Lauren Lyle reprising her role as the detective from Fife.

Wikipedia documents that the first series aired September–October 2022, and the second series aired July–August 2025.

Lauren Lyle has spoken publicly about her experience playing Karen Pirie, describing the character as a vehicle for exploring female anger and determination in a crime drama context. She has also addressed the mystery around Karen’s signature bumbag, keeping its contents under wraps between seasons.