The much-anticipated second season of Boarders has landed, with all six episodes now streaming on iPlayer.
The show’s familiar faces, Jaheim Marsham (played by Josh Tedeku), Leah Dulverton (Jodie Campbell), Omar Palmer-Grace (Myles Kamwendo), Femi Adebeyo (Aruna Jalloh), and Toby Staithes (Sekou Diaby) return for another term filled with trials and tribulations at St Gilbert’s.
Having earned their places at the elite boarding school, their initial experiences were marred by everything from romantic entanglements to racial tensions, cementing the series as one of the most intricate new British dramas of the decade.
In season two, the stakes are raised as the formidable acting headmistress Carol Watlington-Geese (Niky Wardley) is hell-bent on making their lives increasingly difficult.
Show creator and writer Daniel Lawrence Taylor has hinted that the latest season will bring significant upheavals for the central characters. “You can expect to see quite a lot of substantial changes this series,” he revealed.
Boarders’ new series will be ‘weird and different’ as creator teases shake-up (Image: BBC)
“In series one, it was about them being fish out of water in this very new experience.
“In this new series, I feel like they understand the world more and if anything, they want to be part of that world now too.”
The first season saw the group navigating the complexities of new friendships and rivalries, with a dash of romance and the inevitable jealous exes thrown into the mix.
The second season of Boarders is set to see the school gang becoming more entrenched in student life, resulting in most of the conflict originating from the new head, who is stepping in for Bernard (Derek Riddell) post last term’s mayhem.
Season two introduces some fresh faces (Image: BBC)
Taylor said: “They’ve adapted to it and now you get to see them enjoy themselves more. We still have the clash of cultures shown but it is not as prevalent now.
“There is a nice transition to now see them embedded within the school a little bit more in series two.”
The forthcoming series is spicing things up with an array of fresh faces thrown into the mix at St Gilbert’s both on-campus and at home, including the likes of Wunmi Mosaku as Jaheim’s mum Grace, Cara Theobold playing writer Jude, along with star guests Alan Cumming and Natalie Cassidy lighting up the screen.
Studio Lambert’s creative director Madeleine Sinclair expressed her excitement: “Devonyé, played by Kendra Brown is fantastic and she brings a really different energy.
Special guest star Alan Cumming (Image: BBC)
“She’s very enthusiastic which some people can find a little annoying but it always comes from a good place! She’s a really fun character to have in the mix.”
Meanwhile, Josh Tedeku, the actor behind Jaheim, summed up the upcoming series in just one word: “Weird!”
With the brand-new season boasting six episodes ready for streaming at no charge, there’s truly no reason to miss out on the critically acclaimed comedy’s return.
Boarders season 2 is available to stream on iPlayer.