No Offence Series 2: the plot, new characters, three other things to know as Paul Abbott’s comedy drama returns

Joanna Scanlan is back as the formidable DI Viv Deering
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Ben Travis4 January 2017

Last year saw the arrival of Channel 4’s No Offence, a brand new series from Shameless creator Paul Abbott.

Packed with memorable characters and toeing a careful line of drama and comedy, it was an instant attention-grabber.

Now it’s back for Series 2 with some intriguing new characters and a thrilling plot.

Here are five things you need to know.

1) DI Viv Deering is back

When the show first aired, it was Joanna Scanlan as the formidable DI Viv Deering who made the biggest impact – and she’s still a powerhouse in Series 2.

“Deering’s main drive in life is justice for life’s victims and her personal love and trust for her team,” Scanlan says. “But at the same time her desire to protect them pushes her into a very ineffectual place.

“They will end up scattering during the process of this series. We painfully watch them losing their close bond…”

2) There’s a new boss

Sarah Solemani – recently seen in Bridget Jones’s Baby – has joined the cast as Detective Superintendent Christine Lickberg, aka the new boss of the gang.

“She has a different way of working, a bit more formal, following protocol, doing things by ‘the book’,” Solemani explains.

“She observes how Deering not just thinks ‘outside the box’, but puts a grenade in the box, blows up the box then p***** on the box to destroy the evidence. They were a great ‘odd couple’ in that respect.”

Sarah Solemani in No Offence
Channel 4/Ian Derry

3) There’s a meaty plot at work

This series follows the bubbling tensions that may lead to a Manchester gang war – and there will be a lot of drama for the characters to deal with.

“[DI Deeringis] thrust into the epicentre of a major crisis,” says Joanna Scanlan. “She’s up for it. She instinctively knows how to handle such things and as always puts the job first.

“The only problem is that they then uncover something much more murky lying beneath.”

4) Deering has a new sparring partner

It seems Deering might meet her match in Series 2 in the form of new character Nora Attah – the head of a Mancunian crime family.

“Nora is a business woman,” says actor Rakie Ayola. “If you mix the less positive sides of Winnie Mandela and Lady Mary Crawley from Downton Abbey, you will start to see where Nora is coming from!

Rakie Ayola in No Offence
Channel 4/Ryan McNamara

5) We’ll learn more about Spike

Actor Will Mellor says Series 2 goes further into the history of his character, DC Spike Tanner.

“We delve into Spike’s past and where he comes from. When I read it, I was over the moon,” he says. “It’s really nice to have a storyline which is more personally emotional for Spike, as well as following the case - and not just Spike the detective.”

“Nora definitely plays Deering, though she wouldn’t bother if she didn’t have a great deal of respect for her. I think Nora genuinely likes Deering – but not the fact that they are on opposite sides of the law. In another life they could’ve been friends…”

Channel 4, 9pm

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