The Famous Five season 2: cast, plot, trailer and everything we know

The Famous Five season 2 cast
(Image credit: BBC)

The Famous Five season 2 will see Julian, Dick, George, Anne and Timmy the Dog go on two new 90 minute adventures.

The first series was a huge hit, so it's no surprise that it's returning and among the stars coming back is James Lance as grumpy Uncle Quentin.

"I am delighted to be back playing Uncle Quentin in The Famous Five. This series is a gem. It is a privilege to be working with our wonderful cast with the sweetest co-star, dear Kip who plays Timmy the dog as we follow him on these magical adventures."

In a nice touch, the new series will feature Jemima Rooper (Geek Girl), who played George in a 1990s version on ITV.

Nicolas Winding Refn, executive producer, says: "The excitement I feel for the return of The Famous Five fills my inner child with pure content. It is an adventure to manifest the youthful fantasies of my imagination and watch these characters, essentially my lifelong friends, continue to blossom and evolve. This second season is sure to inspire and elicit unadulterated elation!"

Here's everything we know…

The Famous Five season 2 release date

Wentworth (Jack Gleeson) Gabriela (Maria Pedraza) in The Famous Five season 2

Wentworth (Jack Gleeson) Gabriela (Maria Pedraza) in the new series (Image credit: BBC)

The Famous Five season 2 is likely to begin with the first adventure airing as part of the BBC's 2024 Christmas TV schedule, although that’s still to be confirmed. The second film will then air in 2025. Check out our Christmas TV guide 2024 for more shows.

The Famous Five season 2 cast

The Famous Five cast from the 1990s

Jemima Rooper, (top right) as George in the 1990s TV version, is guest starring in the new series (Image credit: Shutterstock)

Diaana Babnicova returns as George, alongside Elliott Rose as Julian, Kit Rakusen as Dick and Flora Jacoby Richardson as Anne. Making up the fifth member of The Famous Five and the gang's faithful furry friend, is Kip, the Bearded Collie Cross playing Timmy the dog. 

Ann Akinjirin returns as Fanny alongside James Lance as Quentin. Also back is Jack Gleeson as Wentworth. New cast includes Spanish actress Maria Pedraza (Money Heist, Elite), Amir Wilson (His Dark Materials), James Wilby (Poldark), Rita Tushingham (A Taste of Honey), Jonathan Aris (Sherlock) and Jamie Andrew Cutler (The Hurricane Heist). 

Meanwhile, Rooper plays the role of Angela Clutterbuck, a guest staying at a mysterious hotel.

Angela Clutterbuck (Jemima Rooper)

Angela Clutterbuck (Jemima Rooper) (Image credit: BBC)

What's the plot?

The titles of the two new adventures are "Mystery at the Prospect Hotel" and "Big Trouble on Billycock Hill". Famous Five readers will know that Billycock Hill featured in the title of the sixteenth of Enid Blyton's stories, "Five Go to Billycock Hill", so it's possible the plot will have similarities to that story which involved caves and spies.

Teasing Mystery at the Prospect Hotel, the BBC says: "It's summer 1940 and the Five are reunited at a grand hotel on Cragstone Ridge. An old foe, Thomas Wentworth, awaits them as he needs their help.

"Wentworth has seen into the future and foretells the murder of famous jazz singer Cab Vee, who is visiting the hotel. With a host of likely suspects, each with their own motive, can the Five figure out who is trying to kill him?"

Is there a trailer?

Yes, here you go...

The Famous Five | Coming Soon | CBBC - YouTube The Famous Five | Coming Soon | CBBC - YouTube
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Famous Five behind the scenes and more

The Famous Five is a Moonage Pictures and byNWR production for the BBC in the UK, in co-production with The Mediapro Studio.

"Mystery at the Prospect Hotel" is directed by Asim Abbasi. Executive Producers are Nicolas Winding Refn, Matthew Read, Will Gould, Frith Tiplady, Asim Abbasi and Laura Fdez.

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David Hollingsworth
Editor

David is the What To Watch Editor and has over 20 years of experience in television journalism. He is currently writing about the latest television and film news for What To Watch.

Before working for What To Watch, David spent many years working for TV Times magazine, interviewing some of television's most famous stars including Hollywood actor Kiefer Sutherland, singer Lionel Richie and wildlife legend Sir David Attenborough. 

David started out as a writer for TV Times before becoming the title's deputy features editor and then features editor. During his time on TV Times, David also helped run the annual TV Times Awards. David is a huge Death in Paradise fan, although he's still failed to solve a case before the show's detective! He also loves James Bond and controversially thinks that Timothy Dalton was an excellent 007.

Other than watching and writing about telly, David loves playing cricket, going to the cinema, trying to improve his tennis and chasing about after his kids!