Cast of Karen Pirie Seasons 1 & 2 Full Cast and Characters

Few things in TV drama spark as much curiosity as a character’s signature accessory. When Lauren Lyle reprises her role as DS Karen Pirie in the second season of the ITV crime drama, viewers will once again wonder what’s inside that infamous bumbag. This guide covers the full cast list for both seasons, the mystery behind the bumbag, and the inclusive representation that gives the show its edge.

Lead actress: Lauren Lyle (Rotten Tomatoes (review aggregator)) ·
Mick Prentice Snr: James Fleming (IMDb (film database)) ·
Actress in wheelchair: Amy Conachan (Radio Times (UK TV listings guide)) ·
Seasons: 2 (season 1 in 2022, season 2 in 2025) ·
Main cast members (Wikipedia listing): 5 (Wikipedia (encyclopedia))

Five key facts about Karen Pirie reveal the core of the show.

Who stars in Karen Pirie series 2?

Main cast members

• Lauren Lyle as DS/DI Karen Pirie (Rotten Tomatoes (review aggregator))
• Chris Jenks as DC Jason “Mint” Murray (Rotten Tomatoes)
• Zach Wyatt as DS Phil Parhatka (Rotten Tomatoes)
• Emer Kenny as Dr. River Wilde (also writer/executive producer) (Rotten Tomatoes)

The pattern: four core detectives form the central team, each bringing a distinct investigative style to the Historic Cases Unit.

Supporting cast

• Rakhee Thakrar as Bel Richmond (Rotten Tomatoes)
• James Fleming as Mick Prentice Snr (IMDb (film database))
• Amy Conachan as a wheelchair user (Radio Times (UK TV listings guide))
• Steve John Shepherd as DCS Simon Lees (Rotten Tomatoes)
• Saskia Ashdown as DC Isla Stark (Rotten Tomatoes)
• James Cosmo as Sir Broderick Grant (Rotten Tomatoes)
• Frances Tomelty as Lady Mary Grant (Rotten Tomatoes)
• John Michie as Fergus Sinclair Snr (Rotten Tomatoes)
• Julia Brown as Catriona “Cat” Grant (Rotten Tomatoes)
• Mark Rowley as Young Mick Prentice (Rotten Tomatoes)

The implication: season 2 expands the world beyond the core cold-case team, bringing in a large ensemble of suspects and authority figures that push Karen into a more complex investigation.

Who plays Mick Prentice Senior in Karen Pirie Season 2?

James Fleming portrays Mick Prentice Snr, the father of one of the young men involved in the 1995 cold case. The casting is confirmed by the IMDb (film database) full credits and Radio Times (UK TV listings guide). Fleming’s character is central to the mystery of the murdered barmaid that Karen reopens in season 2.

Where is ITV’s ‘Karen Pirie’ season 2 filmed?

Primary filming locations

• The series is filmed in Scotland, including St Andrews and Edinburgh (Radio Times mentions the Scottish setting)
• Season 2 uses the same Scottish locations as season 1, with the Historic Cases Unit based in a fictional police station in St Andrews

The trade-off: by staying in Scotland, the show maintains its atmospheric sense of place but limits the visual variety that a broader location shift might offer.

Specific sites used

Exact addresses for Karen Pirie’s home and the police station are not publicly identified in the available sources. Wikipedia (encyclopedia) notes that filming takes place across Fife and the Lothians, but no specific house has been named.

The catch: for fans hoping to visit the locations, the lack of precise geographical markers means you’ll have to settle for the broader Scottish backdrop.

Why does Karen Pirie wear a bumbag?

Character quirk

The bumbag serves no obvious practical purpose in the show — Karen never pulls anything from it. It functions purely as a visual signature, setting her apart from the suit-wearing detectives of most crime dramas.

Lauren Lyle’s comments

In interviews, Lyle has said she enjoys keeping the bumbag’s contents a mystery. “It’s more fun if no one knows,” she told Radio Times. The actress has hinted that even she isn’t entirely sure what’s in it, making the quirk a running joke on set.

The pattern: what starts as a costume choice becomes a branding tool — the bumbag is now synonymous with the character, much like Sherlock’s deerstalker.

What is Lauren Lyle famous for?

Career highlights

Lauren Lyle is best known for playing the title role in Karen Pirie since 2022. The ITV series has been renewed for a third season, confirming her as the face of the franchise. (Rotten Tomatoes lists her as the lead.)

Other notable roles

• Marsali Fraser in Outlander — a fan-favourite role across multiple seasons (Wikipedia)
• Appearances on Prime Video — including guest spots in The Rig and Vigil (IMDb)

Why this matters: Lyle’s transition from supporting player in a massive period drama to headlining her own crime series signals her rising status in UK television.

Timeline of Karen Pirie

• 2022 — Season 1 airs on ITV (Wikipedia (encyclopedia))
• 2025 — Season 2 premieres June 13 on ITV (Rotten Tomatoes (review aggregator))
• TBA — Season 3 announced; expected to follow the two-year production cycle (Wikipedia)

The pattern: each season arrives two years apart, suggesting a consistent production rhythm.

What we know and what remains uncertain

Confirmed facts

• Lauren Lyle leads the cast as Karen Pirie (Rotten Tomatoes)
• James Fleming plays Mick Prentice Snr (IMDb)
• Amy Conachan appears as a wheelchair user (Radio Times)
• Season 2 picks up after Karen’s promotion to the Historic Cases Unit (Rotten Tomatoes)
• Cast includes at least 15 named roles according to Rotten Tomatoes

What’s still unclear

• Exact filming locations beyond Scotland are not verified from primary sources
• The specific house used for Karen Pirie’s home is not identified
• Tom Mannion’s role is listed inconsistently (Gabriel Porteous vs Andy Kerr) across Radio Times and other secondary listings
• Full character names for some supporting actors are missing from provided data
• Season 3 release date has not been set (Wikipedia)

“Season 2 follows Karen Pirie after promotion to Scotland’s Historic Cases Unit, reopening a cold case involving a murdered barmaid.”

— Rotten Tomatoes (review aggregator)

“Karen Pirie is a cold-case review driven by a true-crime podcast.”

— TV Guide (programme guide)

For fans of British crime drama, the wait for season 3 will be a test of patience, but the return of the bumbag will keep the conversation alive. The show’s unique blend of character-driven quirks and tight mystery plotting gives it a loyal audience — one that will be watching closely for any hint of what’s inside that fanny pack, with lead actress Lauren Lyle leading the speculation.

Frequently asked questions

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