Former New Tricks and The Ambassador actor Denis Lawson is to guest star in season two of Victoria which is currently filming in Scotland.
The BAFTA and Emmy-nominated star will play the Duke of Atholl who welcomes Victoria and Albert to the Scottish Highlands in scenes filmed at historic landmark, Blair Castle, in Perthshire this month.
Announcement of Lawson’s casting follows news that Martin Compston (Line Of Duty) will also guest star in the series, and that Dame Diana Rigg (Game Of Thrones) has joined the regular cast as the Duchess of Bucchleuch, the young Queen’s new Mistress of the Robes.
They join series leads Jenna Coleman (Doctor Who) and Tom Hughes (Paula) who reprise their roles as Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, as well series regulars Nell Hudson (Outlander), Nigel Lindsay (Unforgotten), Alex Jennings (The Lady In The Van), Peter Bowles (To The Manor Born), Ferdinand Kingsley (Borgia), David Oakes (The White Queen), Catherine Flemming (Tatort) and Daniela Holtz (Circle Of Life).
The second series has again been written by creator and executive producer Daisy Goodwin, and sees Queen Victoria face new challenges both at home and abroad.
Picking up six weeks after the first series ended, the new season establishes Victoria as a working mother, learning to balance her responsibilities as both parent and Queen. However, Prince Albert is still struggling to find a role for himself alongside his powerful wife as she returns to her duties.
The eight-part series and two-hour Christmas special has been commissioned by ITV’s Head of Drama, Polly Hill, and production is being overseen by Senior Drama Commissioner Victoria Fea for ITV.
It is being executive produced by Mammoth Screen Managing Director Damien Timmer, Kate McKerrell (Lost In Austen) and Daisy Goodwin for Mammoth Screen, and once again produced by Paul Frift (Room At The Top). Directors for the series are Lisa James Larsson (Striking Out), Geoffrey Sax (Tipping The Velvet), Jim Loach (Oranges And Sunshine) and Daniel O’Hara (The Game).