The well-liked BBC drama, Granite Harbour, is set to make its return with a second three-part series, which will be filmed in Aberdeen and various locations across Scotland later this year. This drama, produced by LA Productions and co-commissioned by BBC Scotland, BBC One, and BBC iPlayer, will once again bring together the acting talents of Romario Simpson and Hannah Donaldson, along with other yet-to-be-announced cast members.
The focal point of the series is RMP Sergeant Davis Lindo (Romario Simpson), who arrives in Aberdeen as a fresh recruit to Police Scotland. Working alongside DS Lara ‘Bart’ Bartlett (Hannah Donaldson), the first series of Granite Harbour was a hit on BBC iPlayer in 2022, amassing 7.6 million streams. The upcoming second series will see Lindo and Bart summoned to the harbour to investigate the origins of a new crime wave sweeping the city. The writing duties for the series will be undertaken by Rob Fraser (known for River City and Tin Star), Ciara Conway (noted for River City and Holby City), and the award-winning Jillian Mannion from the Writers Guild of Great Britain (credited for her work on River City and Death in Paradise).
The filming for this three-part series is scheduled to commence in late 2023, encompassing locations across Aberdeenshire and Glasgow. Granite Harbour will debut on the BBC Scotland channel, followed by broadcasts on BBC One and iPlayer in 2024.
Romario Simpson, who plays Davis Lindo, is excited about filming in Aberdeen again: “I’m delighted to be returning to Scotland to film season 2 of Granite Harbour. I’m looking forward to reuniting with the original cast and collaborating with some new creatives. It’s another opportunity to learn more about Aberdeen, and take in some vital fresh air and open space.”
Hannah Donaldson is excited to reprise her role as DCI Lara ‘Bart’ Bartlett: “Growing up as an aspiring young actress in the northeast of Scotland, I seldom encountered landscapes that resonated as home, or heard accents akin to those of my friends and family on screen. I take immense pride in contributing to the realisation of Granite Harbour. Series 2 offers us a wonderful chance to explore Bart and Lindo’s relationship further, as well as the intricacies of the team dynamics. I’m eagerly anticipating donning my necktie again and getting back to work with the North East Murder Investigation Team.”
Co-commissioned by Louise Thornton, Head of Commissioning at BBC Scotland, and Dan McGolpin, Director of BBC iPlayer & Channels, Granite Harbour is under the executive production of Gavin Smith for BBC Scotland, Gaynor Holmes for BBC One, and Colin McKeown for LA Productions, known for their involvement in BBC dramas like Anthony and Broken.
Gavin Smith, Executive Producer, BBC Scotland says: “We’re delighted to have Granite Harbour return to BBC Scotland and can’t wait to see Aberdeen shining on the screen next year. Lindo and Bart are a great double-act detective duo and we’re excited to see what crime they come against this time around. The first series of Granite Harbour was an iPlayer success story for the North East and BBC Scotland will continue to develop and support scripted content representing different areas of Scotland.”
Colin McKeown, LA Productions says: “Our love of Aberdeen continues, it’s central to our drama, and along with seeing our characters develop I think series two of Granite Harbour will be something special.”
The new series will be produced by Donna Molloy (Compulsion, Anthony) and directed by Martin Smith (Seagulls) and Alex Browning (The Sunset Sleeps).
Granite Harbour joins a growing list of BBC dramas from Scotland, including Shetland, Guilt, Vigil and the forthcoming new series, Nightsleeper.
Granite Harbour will be distributed by Eccho Rights.
