After the Flood has returned to ITV, and series 2 wastes absolutely no time raising the stakes — helped in no small part by the arrival of Jill Halfpenny as the intriguing DS Sam Bradley.
We won’t be giving anything away here, but it’s safe to say the new run matches the intensity of the 2024 debut and then pushes things further. The body count rises, the shocks land harder, and just when you think you’ve got your bearings, the drama pulls the rug out from under you again.
Jill Halfpenny joins the cast as Jo Marshall’s new colleague at Waterside police station. On the surface, DS Sam Bradley looks like a steady, experienced presence — but from her ongoing scenes, it’s hard not to wonder whether there’s more going on beneath that calm exterior. And yes, we’ve got our suspicions…
Sam and Jo investigate multiple murders in After the Flood series 2 (Credit: ITV)
Who is Jill Halfpenny’s character DS Sam Bradley in After the Flood series 2?
DS Sam Bradley arrives at Waterside just as Jo Marshall steps into her newly promoted role, and the two quickly find themselves paired on a challenging new case.
Sam explains that she’s recently transferred from Newcastle, keen for a fresh start now that she’s divorced and living alone, with both of her sons away at university. It all sounds perfectly reasonable — even relatable.
Introducing the character in After the Flood series 2, ITV describes Sam as: “A highly-qualified and experienced murder detective, Sam’s excellent at her job and immediately takes a liking to Jo, seeing something of herself in her. Perceptive and good with people, Sam also has a firm streak and believes the rules are there for a reason; it’s a trait that might just see her butting heads with Jo and her instincts for breaking the rules.”
By the end of episode 1, though, those neat details are pretty much all we’re given: Sam is divorced, has two grown-up sons, and plenty of experience. But the lack of background only fuels the question — is that really the full picture?
‘Who’s hiding something, and why?’
Speaking ahead of the new series, Jill Halfpenny hinted that murky motives are very much the theme this time around.
“This series is a potent mix of people who believe what they’re doing is right – even when it’s not. You’ve got characters acting from conviction, others behaving badly with full intent, and the law cutting through it all.
“When those forces collide, there’s an explosion. Sam and Jo are right in the middle, trying to work out who’s telling the truth, who’s hiding something, and why. And along the way, there are these juicy bits of information revealed that keep you hooked. Then at the very end? There’s a very unexpected occurrence that I think will really take people by surprise.”
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