ITV's gripping conspiracy thriller Red Eye has returned for a second series this January, introducing a major new star to its high-altitude drama. Martin Compston, best known for his role in Line of Duty, joins the cast, stepping into a tense partnership with returning lead Jing Lusi.
A New Dynamic Takes Flight
The new series, which launched on ITVX at the start of 2026, shifts the action from a transcontinental flight to a deadly lockdown within the US Embassy in London. Compston plays Agent Clay Brody, the Head of Embassy Security and a former police training colleague of Detective Hana Li, played by Jing Lusi.
Speaking about his role, Compston revealed that the relationship between Hana and Brody is defined by professional animosity rather than past romance. "They really don't like each other, but they just need to go on, and they need each other," he explained. "It's nice to actually have a past which wasn't romantic. It was the fact that it was a very professional dislike."
Compston's Praise for Co-star Jing Lusi
The Scottish actor was effusive in his praise for his co-star, highlighting her expertise in the genre. "Jing is so protective of the show, and she plays that character so well," Compston said. "She's a veteran of detective shows, she does all the forensic stuff so well. That stuff is not easy... she's wonderful."
He detailed how Lusi's performance in technical scenes helps define their characters' contrasting styles: "It highlights Hana's talents compared to Brody's, a brute-force kind of guy." The pair are forced to collaborate when a threat grounds a British government plane, with the UK's Director General Madeline Delaney onboard, triggering a murderous siege inside the embassy.
The High-Stakes Plot of Series Two
The official synopsis sets the scene for the new explosive chapter. Celebrations at the US Embassy in London are shattered by a threat to blow a British plane out of the sky, leading to an immediate lockdown. As guests and staff are trapped inside, the murders begin.
This lands Hana Li in a political and jurisdictional nightmare, compelling her to work with Brody, "a former colleague who once screwed her over." Despite their deep distrust, they must focus on the investigation as the threat becomes terrifyingly personal.
Red Eye series 2 is now available to stream in full on ITV's digital platform, ITVX, offering viewers a fresh batch of twists and tense drama following the successful first series which starred Richard Armitage.
