After battling water last time, for series two PC Joanna Marshall (Sophie Rundle) is now faced with a body on the moors following a wildfire. As she starts to unpick what happened, she opens a web of conspiracy and lies – with the climate activist undertones which made the first season so unique also prevalent throughout.
What is After The Flood about?
As we pick up after the events of series one, newly promoted Detective Jo and her former boyfriend and current colleague (awkward) Pat are separated but itching to investigate Sergeant Phil Mackie (Nicholas Gleaves) who threatened their lives and careers if they exposed him at the end of our last visit to Waterside.
‘On the surface, it seems like everything is fine, but we soon realise that she’s playing the long game and is working to bring Mackie down and build a case against him,’ says Sophie. ‘She’s still a dog with a bone, she’s not forgotten, and she’s just gearing up for the next attack.’ Go girl!
Meanwhile, the community of Waterside are pulling together following the flood and we see the long-term impact natural events like these can leave after the waters recede as well as encountering another mysterious death in their small town.
‘The show remains thrilling but grounded – exploring corruption, moral compromise and survival in a community under pressure,’ says writer and producer Mick Ford. ‘What makes it resonate globally is that these issues – climate, corruption, how we treat the planet – are universal. Everyone recognises the feeling of being caught between right and wrong, between wanting to act and feeling powerless.’
Who stars in After the Flood S2?
Sophie Rundle as Jo Marshall
Sophie Rundle as Joanna Marshall in After the Flood S2
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Life has been less than smooth sailing for Jo since we left her in series one. She’s split from Pat, is trying to juggle childcare with her new detective role and deal with the fact she was manipulated by Mackie from pretty much the moment they met. But to be fair, the exes are cracking on with co-parenting and could still be a good team.
Jo is living with her mum Molly who’s a total legend and super gran – happy to step in to help with little Eve at a moments notice – but this only adds to the pressure Jo feels as she shields Molly from the truth about Mackie and her dead dad, Bren.
‘They’re mother and daughter, but sometimes like sisters,’ says Sophie. ‘They bicker, get irritated, but completely love each other, those scenes really sing for me.’
Water is a theme in Sophie Rundle’s career as her first big miniseries was Titanic (2012). And she often steps back in time often with starring roles in Great Expectations (2012), The Bletchley Circle (2012), Jamestown (2017), Peaky Blinders (2013) and Call the Midwife (2014).
On screen she has also played a policewoman in Happy Valley (2014) and Princess Diana in Urban Myths (2019). More recently she received critical acclaim for her roles in The Nest (2020) and The Diplomat (2023).
Nicholas Gleaves as Phil Mackie
Nicholas Gleaves as Phil Mackie In After the Flood S2 ©QUAY STREET PRODUCTIONS FOR ITV
Sergeant Phil Mackie was absolutely the villain of series one as his corruption and need for power at any cost were revealed – along with the fact he was a murderer. While he has reached a truce with Jo and Pat and kept his job at the station, there’s enough tension for him to know he’s on shaky ground. He’s keeping a close eye on Jo, and not afraid to use his history with her mum to keep her quiet.
‘Mackie thinks his and Jo’s relationship is good,’ Nicholas says. ‘He feels she has come into his way of thinking and can normalise the difficulties she felt because of her dad and Mackie’s corruption. He thinks they have an understanding and can live with it.’
With his relationship with wife Sarah Mackie in tatters, Phil Mackie certainly has an air of desperation about him as he tries to salvage what power and influence he still has and hold onto it – even if he is outwardly confident.
Nicholas Gleaves – who is married to fellow acting icon Lesley Sharp and star of Red Eye – has established himself as a successful British actor with roles in Scott and Bailey (2011), Bodyguard (2018) and as Duncan for a year in Coronation Street.
He is an icon to younger TV fans too having played the titular role in The Demon Headmaster (2019).
Lorraine Ashbourne as Molly Marshall
Lorraine Ashbourne as Molly Marshall in After the Flood S2 ©QUAY STREET PRODUCTIONS FOR ITV
Molly Marshall is total Granny goals – she’s wild swimming with friends, has become a councillor for Waterside and loves doting on her first grandchild Eve. She is proud to help her community, perhaps more so than sticking to the rules.
‘Her sense of community and responsibility is so strong,’ says Lorraine Ashbourne. ‘She can tell a few white lies, but she’s not bent. She’s coming from a good place, much like Jo. We both try to do the right thing, serve the community, then obviously, along the way, because the scripts are so clever, they can take you down unexpected roads.’
And it looks like romance could be on the cards for Molly as Jack Radcliffe (Philip Glenister) returns to Waterside.
A familiar face on screen, Lorraine Ashbourne has starred in successful dramas including Unforgotten (2017), The Crown (2019) and of course, Riot Women (2025) as well as comedies like Alma’s Not Normal (2020) and I Hate Suzie (2022).
Plus, since 2020, Lorraine has starred as Mrs Varley in Netflix’s Bridgerton.
Philip Glenister as Jack Radcliffe
Philip Glenister as Jack Radcliffe in After the Flood S2 ©QUAY STREET PRODUCTIONS FOR ITV
The past year has been tumultuous to say the least for Jack Radcliffe who has struggled emotionally as well as financially. Not only did his company go bust, but he’s found the impact of his role covering up Daniel Eden’s (Arthur McBain) – the victim in series one – death has changed him. Jack has been forced to think about what really matters and reflect on the life he has led, the choices he has made. His partner Sarah Mackie (Jacqueline Botswain) is distancing herself, and after making money and casual flings his go-to, he’s now realised that all he can think about is Molly. Is it too late to get his girl?
‘They’ve got quite a tempestuous relationship, Jack and Molly,’ explains Philip. ‘She’s not the most forgiving of people, and Jack’s on the back foot trying to convince her about what he knows, why he left and what went on at the end of the last series. It’s hard for him because he knows Mackie is incredibly close to Molly’s family, and Jack knows all this stuff about Mackie that Molly has no idea about.’
Philip Glenister is a mainstay of the small screen, but particularly loved for his role as DSI Gene Hunt in Life on Mars (2006-2007) and its spin-off Ashes to Ashes (2008-2009).
You may also recognise Philip from Mad Dogs (2011-2013), and he caught some sun in Living the Dream (2017-2019).
Jill Halfpenny as Sam Bradley
Jill Halfpenny as Sam Bradley and Sophie Rundle as Joanna Marshall in After the Flood S2 ©QUAY STREET PRODUCTIONS FOR ITV
New Detective Sergeant Sam Bradley has arrived in Waterside from Newcastle and is an experienced murder detective impressed with Jo’s abilities. The mum of two boys at University, Sam is committed to her job and great with people. That said, she’s also one to toe the line so Jo’s willingness to break the rules to find the answers she needs won’t always go down well.
‘There’s a nice dynamic between Sam and Jo,’ reveals Jill Halfpenny. ‘Jo can be a bit like a dog with a bone, and Sam loves that about her because she recognises some of herself in Jo when she was younger. But she also knows Jo can get herself into trouble, so she reins her in sometimes. There’s also this generational difference between them. Sam is at the later stage of her journey, with her children grown up, while Jo is right at the beginning with her baby.’
Everyone’s fave Geordie since Byker Grove (1989), we’ve grown up with Jill Halfpenny – especially since she did the soap double playing both Rebecca Hopkins in Coronation Street (1999-2000) and then Kate Michell in EastEnders (2002-2005).
Jill has popped up everywhere over the years and most recently won acclaim for her roles in The Cuckoo (2024) and Everything I Know About Love (2022).
Plus won the second ever series of Strictly Come Dancing in 2004 which led to her being in demand on stage as well as screen, and she bagged an Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical for Legally Blonde (2011).
Tripti Tripuraneni as Deepa Das
Sophie Rundle as Joanna Marshall and Tripti Tripuraneni as Deepa Das in After the Flood S2 ©QUAY STREET PRODUCTIONS FOR ITV
We can see the confidence Deepa Das has gained over the year shine through, and it’s clear she loves being on the force and has a solid future in the police. But although she has kept in touch with Jo during her maternity leave, when she returns to work Deepa feels Jo is keeping her at arm’s length – why?
As well as winning praise for her stage work, Tripti Tripuraneni has also made waves on screen in House of the Dragon (2022) and Temple (2019).
Matt Stokoe as Pat Holman
Matt Stokoe as Pat Holman in After the Flood S2 ©QUAY STREET PRODUCTIONS FOR ITV
Pat Holman is living in the home he previously shared with Jo, but now his sister Kelly Kamali (Faye McKeever) and her daughter Sophie have moved in. It’s not what he wanted at all – he’s still in love with Jo and is filled with regret. He can’t come to terms with the fact he let Sergeant Mackie manipulate him and is determined to protect Jo and see justice served.
‘He’s still holding a candle for [Jo], doing everything he can to try and win her back, to rekindle their romance,’ says Matt. ‘At the same time, he’s doggedly pursuing some kind of comeuppance for Mackie. He wants closure.’
Matt Stokoe is best known for his roles in Misfits (2012), Bodyguard (2018) – alongside his After The Flood co-star Nicholas Gleaves – and Jamestown (2017-2019). Plus he played Raoul Moat in The Hunt for Raoul Moat (2023).
Gaming fans might also recognise his voice from Final Fantasy XIV where he has mainly played the voice of Elidibus.
Alun Armstrong as Alan Benson
Alun Armstrong as Alan Benson in After the Flood S2 ©QUAY STREET PRODUCTIONS FOR ITV
Alan Benson the Charlie-Big-Potatoes of Waterside – a business success who offered to build a £10m flood wall following the disaster last year. Alan knows what he is doing when it comes to money and is Lord of the Manor too with his sprawling estate and private moorland also monetised for posh grouse-shoots. He might seem only interested in cold, hard cash, but he is protective of his daughter Harriet Benson (Steph De Whalley) and granddaughter Libi.
And Alun Armstrong was thrilled to join After The Floor for series two. ‘I was really looking forward to working with Sophie, especially after my son, Joe Armstrong, had worked with her on Gentleman Jack and spoke so highly of her, and she didn’t disappoint,’ he explains. ‘I’d previously worked with Lorraine Ashbourne on Sherwood, and she’s a fantastic actress, so I was thrilled to reunite with her.
‘I’d also worked with Jill Halfpenny before. We’re both from the northeast, so there was an instant camaraderie as us Geordies tend to stick together!’
Alun Armstrong made his screen debut in Get Carter (1971) and continued to impress on film in The French Lieutenant’s Woman (1981) and Van Helsing (2004) as well as popping up all over TV in roles from General Hospital (1972) to New Tricks which he starred in 80 episodes of from 2003 onwards. You may also recognise him from his role as stern Stowell in Downton Abbey (2014).
Ian Puleston-Davies as Tony Rower
Ian Puleston-Davies as Tony Rower After the Flood S2 ©QUAY STREET PRODUCTIONS FOR ITV
A year after being flooded out of his home, which he shares with daughter Donna Rower (Jenny Platt) and her son Declan, Tony is returning but it is far from stress-free. Donna has acute trauma from the disaster and caring Tony is trying to keep everyone buoyant (ahem) but it’s not easy.
‘He’s a worrier, which I can certainly relate to, so no method needed,’ says Ian. ‘Tony’s main concern and storyline at the beginning is very much looking after Donna and trying to get her back to being stable. He’s very much being a dad in the beginning, and then of course, something happens, and his storyline develops from there.’
As a councillor he feels responsibility for the future of Waterside too – but his friendship with Molly is a ray of sunshine as they get on so well and share the same work ethic.
Best known as builder Owen Armstrong in Coronation Street from 2010 to 2015, Ian Puleston-Davies has also appeared in EastEnders (1998), Marcella (2016), Pennyworth (2019-2021), D.I. Ray (2022) and The Bay (2023).
What happened in After the Flood S1?
The first series of the drama combined a murder with the comment about the impact environmental disasters caused by climate change have on communities. After flash floods in the fictional small Derbyshire town, the body of an unidentified man – later discovered to be Daniel Eden – is found in a lift so it looks like he drowned. But it turns out he was killed before the flood.
PC Joanna Marshall (Sophie Rundle) is given the job of solving the case and along the way opens a total can of worms, changing how she feels about the familiar faces in the town – and even her own father.
Is the environment a big deal in After the Flood S2 like it was in S1?
In a word, yes!
After the Flood stood out as a drama as it didn’t stop at the story of the characters, but tried to provoke thought and focus attention on the environmental causes of the disaster. It was something which means a lot to writer Mick Ford – though he’s careful not to preach.
‘The scripts deal with the climate crisis subtly; it’s not about lecturing but showing how people are caught in its consequences,’ Mick says. ‘Molly, Jo’s mum, has become a councillor and is learning that holding office doesn’t always mean you can make changes. We’re also exploring new environmental threats, from wildfires to pollution and “forever chemicals”, all these hidden dangers we’ve stored up for ourselves. It’s rooted in the real world, but always seen through the human stories.’
And Sophie Rundle promises that this time we can expect the same passion to come through. ‘The climate conversation is enormous, and sometimes that can be quite isolating as a lot of people worry enormously about it, but don’t know where to begin,’ she notes. ‘But by manoeuvring that into the story of this small, relatable community, which could be anywhere, it has enabled people to explore these ideas and have these conversations, and I think that’s smart. When you have these huge themes, you must distil them down into something more manageable.’
Are Jo and Pat from After the Flood a couple in real life?
Matt Stokoe as Pat Holman and Sophie Rundle as Joanna Marshall in After the Flood S2 ©QUAY STREET PRODUCTIONS FOR ITV
Yes! Sophie Rundle and Matt Stokoe met on the set of Jamestown (2017) and have two sons together. They have been engaged for years and have a strategy for working together. ‘We’ve definitely got a shorthand and we’re not the kind of couple anyway that just goes around all over each other,’ explains Matt. ‘Since 2016, we’ve on and off worked together so we know each other as colleagues almost as well as we know each other as partners so we have a way of working. We have our work heads and we have our home heads and never the two shall meet and that just seems to be the way that it works for us.’
And Sophie says the pair are not rushing down the aisle. ‘I’m not a very good bride-to-be,’ she admits. ‘My parents have seen me in a wedding dress with big hair on screen so many times, they’re just not that interested.’
Where is After the Flood filmed?
While the fictional town of Waterside is in Yorkshire, After The Flood was mainly filmed in Glossop, Derbyshire. A former NatWest bank is the location for Waterside Police Station and in series one we saw water flood down the stone cottage-lined streets of Old Glossop.
In series two Tandle Hill Country Park in Royton, Oldham was used for filming with warnings that fire effects and quad bikes would be used so we assume that this was the background for the wildfire scenes. At the time some local residents took to social media to ask about the bright lights that had been spotted over the park, asking if they could be aliens!
When is After The Flood S2 set to air?
Tune in to ITV1 at 9pm on Sunday 18 January.
Where can I watch After the Flood?
If you need to catch up, ITVX has all episodes of After The Flood series one, with series two set to join on Sunday 18 January.
Caroline Blight has been interviewing famous TV faces for magazines and radio since she was a teenager and grown up with some of our faves on film sets and in posh hotels – safe to say they are doing better than her, but who’s having the most fun?
