Alongside Jones and Leslie, there are only a couple of other returning actors, with the cast largely consisting of brand new faces.
Read on to find out who else appears in the six-part thriller...
Who's in the cast of Vigil season 2?
The full cast list for Vigil season 2 is as follows:
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- Suranne Jones as Amy Silva
- Rose Leslie as Kirsten Longacre
- Gary Lewis as Robertson
- Romola Garai as Eliza Russell
- Dougray Scott as Marcus Grainger
- Chris Jenks as Callum Barker
- Anders Hayward as Colin Dixon
- Shannon Hayes as Nicole Lawson
- Oscar Salem as Captain Sattam Abdul Kader
- Amir El-Masry as Daniel Ramsay
- Jonathan Ajayi as Wes Harper
- Nebras Jamali as Colonel Ali Bilali
- Alastair Mackenzie as Chapman
- Hiba Medina as Sabiha Chapman
- Noof Ousellam as DS Paul Townsend
- Tommy Sim'aan as Firas Zaman
- Steven Elder as Derek McCabe
- Orla Russell as Poppy
- Khalid Laith Nicole as Abdullah Ghazali
- Kamal Mustaffai as Mutaz
- David Elliot as Sutherland
Read on for more information about the cast of Vigil and who they play...
Suranne Jones plays Amy Silva
Who is DCI Amy Silva? The "brilliantly complex" DCI leads an investigation into numerous deaths following a military exercise that goes disastrously wrong.
"I was honestly quite surprised and excited about how they were going to do Vigil series two, because the first series was so specific and such a ride," said star Suranne Jones, who has reprised her role as DCI Amy Silva.
"Tom Edge and the writers have done a brilliant job at putting a new world together for the second series."
Jones added: "We left series one with Amy and Kirsten picking up Poppy after the trauma of the submarine and we saw that they decided to give their relationship a go. In this series, Kirsten is pregnant, they are very happy together and very much in love, and Poppy is now living with them, so we see Amy really happy and in a very secure place in her life."
Where have I seen Suranne Jones before? She played the title characters in acclaimed BBC dramas Gentleman Jack and Doctor Foster, and has previously starred in the likes of crime series Scott and Bailey, Coronation Street and more.
Rose Leslie plays Kirsten Longacre
Who is DS Kirsten Longacre? A tenacious DS who is in a relationship with Amy. Kirsten is pregnant with their first child.
"This time we see them more established, settled and embedded with each other," said Leslie. "They are very much in love and committed to one another, and have decided to raise a family together – not only to have Poppy in their fold, but to share a child together, as well. They are fully fledged in being that unit."
Where have I seen Rose Leslie before? The actress is best known internationally for playing Ygritte on Game of Thrones, and for starring in the likes of Downton Abbey (as Gwen), drama The Good Fight and BBC crime series Luther.
Romola Garai plays Eliza Russell
Who is Eliza Russell? An acting squadron leader. She's based in Wudyan, and Amy goes out to visit her as part of the investigation.
"Eliza is assigned to help Amy out, which no one wants to do as she's infiltrating their world and works in a different way to them," explained Jones. "Romola and I managed to have a laugh somehow, amongst the quite traumatic and full-on scenes."
Where have I seen Romola Garai before? You might know her from BBC series The Following Events are Based on a Pack of Lies, historical drama Becoming Elizabeth, BBC 2's The Miniaturist and Vanity Fair, among others.
Dougray Scott plays Marcus Grainger
Who is Marcus Grainger? An air vice-marshall who oversees the failed military test. He is a "very patriotic and proud member of the British military and the air force, and he's responsible for many of the arms sales to countries like Wudyan, our fictional middle-eastern country in the series", explained Scott.
"Grainger is a pragmatist and very geo-politically aware, so he sees the intricacies of selling arms to countries in precarious positions in the world."
Where have I seen Dougray Scott before? Most people will know him from Mission: Impossible 2, Irvine Welsh's Crime, romantic period drama Ever After, thriller Ripley's Game, Batwoman and Desperate Housewives.
Gary Lewis plays Robertson
Who is Robertson? A DSU who works alongside Amy and Kirsten. He's one of the few returning characters from season 1.
"Obviously, the hierarchy is there, but there's a mutual respect and equality between the two [Roberston and Kirsten]," said Leslie. "He's above her within the rungs of the ladder, but he will listen to her and she will take his advice."
Where have I seen Gary Lewis before? You might also know him from Billy Elliot, Scandi murder mystery Rig 45, time travel epic Outlander and ITV crime drama The Bay.
Anders Hayward plays Colin Dixon
Who is Colin Dixon? Another officer who is involved in the failed military test.
Where have I seen Anders Hayward before? His credits include Death in Paradise, BBC series Guilt and E4 comedy Gap Year.
Shannon Hayes plays Nicole Lawson
Who is Nicole lawson? She's involved in the military test when it goes wrong.
Where have I seen Shannon Hayes before? Her credits include Peter Moffat's Undercover and comedy Ted Lasso.
Oscar Salem plays Sattam Abdul Kader
Who is Abdul Kader? A captain who is caught up in the drone test when the situation spirals out of control.
Where have I seen Oscar Salem before? He's appeared in HBO's House of the Dragon, ITV crime drama Des and Doctors.
Chris Jenks plays Callum Barker
Who is Callum Barker? "Callum is troubled," said Jenks. "He's suffering from taking part in what he thinks is a morally questionable military operation. He isn't afraid to make his dissatisfaction known and rail against authority. As the series progresses, we see that he is trying to keep a secret from the world and we get to see a softer, more intimate Callum."
Where have I seen Chris Jenks before? Most people will know him from Netflix's Sex Education and Death in Paradise spinoff Beyond Paradise.
Amir El-Masry plays Daniel Ramsay
Who is Daniel Ramsay? He works for MI5 and spends a lot of time with Kirsten in season 2.
Where have I seen Amir El-Masry before? He played young Mohamed Al-Fayed in Netflix's The Crown, as well as appearing in high finance drama Industry, Prime Video's Jack Ryan and BBC drama Age Before Beauty.
Jonathan Ajayi plays Wes Harper
Who is Wes Harper? The technical lead on the remotely piloted aircraft system's development programme.
Where have I seen Jonathan Ajayi before? He's best known for the BBC adaptation of Noughts and Crosses.
Nebras Jamali plays Ali Bilali
Who is Ali Bilali? A colonel. He liaises between Grainger and the Wudyan military, and is present when the drone demonstration fails.
Where have I seen Nebras Jamali before? His CV includes Apple TV+ thriller Hijack, BBC's Our Girl and US miniseries The Looming Tower.
Alastair Mackenzie as Chapman
Who is Chapman? A wing commander who requests medical leave for cancer treatment.
Where have I seen Alastair Mackenzie before? He's best known for Scottish drama Monarch of the Glen.
Hiba Medina plays Sabiha Chapman
Who is Sabiha Chapman? Chapman's daughter. Her mother died when she was young.
Where have I seen Hiba Medina before? This is her first major role.
David Elliot plays Ross Sutherland
Who is Ross Sutherland? A war veteran.
Where have I seen David Elliot before? You might have watched him in Sky comedy-drama Bulletproof.
Additional cast includes:
- Noof Ousellam (Andor) as DS Paul Townsend
- Tommy Sim'aan (Doctors) as Firas Zaman - a journalist who's caught spying on the military test
- Steven Elder (Doctors) as Derek McCabe - he works closely with Grainger
- Orla Russell as Poppy - Amy’s daughter
- Khalid Laith Nicole (Deep State) as Abdullah Ghazali
- Kamal Mustaffai (Lilyhammer) as Mutaz
Vigil season 1 cast
Lauren Lyle plays Jade
Who is Jade? A strong-willed protestor with connections to HMS Vigil. As Lyle herself told RadioTimes.com, Jade is a dangerous character.
Where have I seen Lauren Lyle before? She's best known for playing Marsali in the time-travelling drama series Outlander, but she'll also take the title role in the upcoming ITV police procedural Karen Pirie.
Martin Compston plays Craig Burke
Who is Craig Burke? Burke works aboard HMS Vigil, monitoring the sonar.
Where have I seen Martin Compston before? Compston is best known for playing Londoner Steve Arnott in the BBC series Line of Duty. He's also starred in BBC One surrogacy thriller The Nest, Traces (as Danny), and projects including Mary Queen of Scots, Red Road, In Plain Sight, and his breakout role in Sweet Sixteen.
Shaun Evans plays Glover
Who is Glover? Elliot Glover is the coxswain on HMS Vigil. As Shaun Evans explained, "It’s a role that sits and liaises between the highest-ranking six officers on board and the rest of the crew, so Glover has to straddle both worlds on the submarine. At the beginning of the series someone aboard the ship - and I won’t say who – needs disciplining, which is a job for Glover, and then a couple of hours later that person is found dead." He also revealed that Glover has got a secret.
Where have I seen Shaun Evans before? The actor and director, who plays the title character in the Inspector Morse prequel Endeavour, is known for previous roles in Teachers, Silk, Ashes to Ashes and The Scandalous Lady W. He's also directed episodes of Casualty and Endeavour.
Paterson Joseph plays Newsome
Who is Newsome? Captain of HMS Vigil.
Where have I seen Paterson Joseph before? He played Kamal Hadley in Noughts and Crosses, and Alan Johnson in Peep Show. He's also starred in Timeless, Æon Flux, The Beach and Neverwhere.
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Connor Swindells plays Hadlow
Who is Hadlow? Hadlow is the chief engineering officer on HMS Vigil.
Where have I seen Connor Swindells before? His breakout role was as Adam Groff in Netflix teen drama Sex Education. He's also starred in the film Emma., Harlots, and Jamestown.
Daniel Portman plays Gary Walsh
Who is Gary Walsh? A foul-mouthed bunkmate of the late Craig Burke (played by Martin Compston).
Where have I seen Daniel Portman before? He's best known for playing squire and unexpected ladies' man Podrick Payne in the epic drama series Game of Thrones. He's also known for starring in Robert the Bruce.
Cal Macaninch plays Ben Oakley
Who is Ben Oakley? The mysterious peace camp leader.
Where have I seen Cal Macaninch before? He played Henry Lang in the acclaimed ITV period drama series Downton Abbey. He's also starred in the likes of Mr Selfridge, Banished, Vera, and more recently in Des and the BBC prison drama Time (as P.O. Galbraith).
Want more Vigil content? Find out who sings the Vigil theme song or discover where Vigil is filmed with our location guide.
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The six-part run will begin on Sunday 10th December at 9pm on BBC One, with the first three episodes available on BBC iPlayer from 6am that morning. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what else is on.
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