What to Expect in World on Fire Season 2

According to star Lesley Manville (Magpie Murders, Phantom Thread), viewers can expect “a timely story, and one we must never forget.” With what The Guardian calls “an immaculate grasp of tension and character,” World on Fire Season 2 will take viewers from the war-torn streets of Britain deep into Nazi Germany, the resistance within occupied France, and the brutal sands of the North African desert—all through the uniquely human characters whose lives are disrupted and shaped by the war.

Along with Harry, Kasia, Lois, Robina, and other Season 1 characters, the drama and action will feature a Jewish RAF pilot, sappers from the British Indian Army, a German teenager in the Lebensborn program, an MI5 spy, and more. Expect gripping action, heartbreak, intrigue, romance, and, says writer/creator Peter Bowker, “stories that demonstrate both human resilience and human folly—stories of ordinary lives in extraordinary times.”

Who's in the Cast of World on Fire Season 2?

World on Fire Season 2 features a dazzling international cast. Find out who’s new and who’s returning!

Returning Season 1 Cast
Returning to continue the drama are Lesley Manville (The Crown, Magpie Murders) as Robina, Jonah Hauer-King (The Little Mermaid, Little Women) as Harry, Blake Harrison (The Great, I Hate Suzie, A Very English Scandal) as Stan, Julia Brown (Shetland, The Last Kingdom) as Lois, Zofia Wichlacz (Receptura, Spoor) as Kasia, Parker Sawyers (Monsoon, A Discovery of Witches) as Albert, and Eugénie Derouand (Paris Police) as Henriette. Also returning are Eryk Biedunkiewicz as Jan, Yrsa Daley-Ward (Outer Range, The Collaboration) as Connie, Ewan Mitchell (House of the Dragon) as Tom, and Mateusz Wieclawek (The Trap) as Grzegorz.

New Season 2 Cast
Season 2 features an intriguing array of new characters, including Mark Bonnar (Guilt, Shetland, Unforgotten) as the mysterious Sir James Danemere, Gregg Sulkin (Runaways, Pretty Little Liars) as Jewish RAF pilot David, Ahad Raza Mir (Resident Evil, Hum Tum) as British Indian Army soldier Rajib, and Miriam Schiweck (Der Staatsanwalk, Fellweckselzeit) as German teenager Marga.

Check out images of Season 2’s cast in a slideshow!

World on Fire Season 2 Airdate & Episodes

Get ready for World on Fire Season 2’s six riveting episodes by watching Season 1 all over again with PBS Passport. Then tune for the Season 2 premiere on Sunday, October 15 at 9/8c, and watch Sundays through November 19 for a gripping season that will have you deeply invested the fate of each character.

Episode 1 (Sunday, October 15, 9/8c)
The war reaches the sands of the Egyptian desert while bombs fall on Manchester, and Harry introduces an explosive force into Robina’s household.

Episode 2 (Sunday, October 22, 9/8c)
Sunday, October 22, 2023; 9-10pm ET on PBS
Harry struggles to adapt to the realities of desert combat and Lois longs to leave home. In Paris, Henriette is in grave danger, and in Manchester, a mysterious stranger arrives at Robina’s door.

Episode 3 (Sunday, October 29, 9/8c)
As Stan and Rajib make a hasty retreat across the desert, Marga reasserts her commitment to the Fuhrer. Meanwhile, David is in peril in the skies over France.

Episode 4 (Sunday, November 5, 9/8c)
Kasia takes on her first new assignment, and Rajib’s military values are tested as he is torn between duty and ideals. Meanwhile, a familiar face comes to David’s aid.

Episode 5 (Sunday, November 12, 9/8c)
Tragedy strikes at the heart of Harry’s unit as the siege drags on in Tobruk. In Manchester, Kasia is confronted by the horror of war. In France, romance blossoms.

Episode 6 (Sunday, November 19, 9/8c)
Harry returns to Manchester, but Kasia is determined to leave. In Europe, Marga and Henriette must each make their escape, while North Africa remains brutal for Rajib.

How to Watch World on Fire Season 2

You can watch World on Fire Season 2 on air on MASTERPIECE on PBS, or stream full episodes online with the PBS app. Each episode will be available (in the U.S. only) for online streaming for 14 days starting at 9pm ET on the night of the national broadcast premiere. And you can binge all of Season 2 with PBS Passport, an added member benefit, starting the night of the season premiere!

Where is World on Fire Season 2 Filmed?

While the drama ranges from Manchester, England to a Bavarian castle to occupied France to the Egyptian desert, World on Fire Season 2 was actually filmed in Northern Ireland! Want to know how the Northern Ireland locations transformed into the drama on land and in the air? We’ll take you behind the scenes during the run of Season 2—sign up for MASTERPIECE newsletter so you won’t miss any World on Fire insights or content about our upcoming shows.

Watch the World on Fire Season 2 Trailer