The highly anticipated second series of ITV's gripping drama After the Flood makes its return to screens on Sunday 18 January 2026, with star Sophie Rundle reprising her role as the determined Detective Jo Marshall. The new season promises more mystery and personal turmoil, while off-screen, Rundle's own life mirrors a supportive partnership with her co-star and real-life fiancé, Matt Stokoe.
New Threats in Waterside
The inaugural series centred on a mystery following a catastrophic flood, where PC Jo Marshall investigated a man's death in a submerged car park. Now promoted to detective, Jo faces a fresh and perplexing case. As the town of Waterside contends with the looming danger of moorland fires and potential further flooding, a body is discovered under strange circumstances.
Jo's pursuit of the killer brings her into direct conflict with the town's most powerful figures, pulling her into a deeply personal investigation. To uncover corruption that has infected the local police and her own family for years, she must operate in secret, risking everything in her quest for the truth.
Real-Life Partners On and Off Screen
In the series, Jo is married to detective Pat Holman, played by actor Matt Stokoe. Away from the cameras, this on-screen partnership is a genuine romance. Rundle and Stokoe, who have previously worked together on shows like Jamestown and Bodyguard, have been engaged since 2019 and are parents to two young sons, aged four and one.
Ahead of the new series, Stokoe shared insights into their working dynamic with HELLO! magazine. "This is the fourth thing we've done together," he said, explaining they have a professional shorthand. "We have our work heads and we have our home heads and never the two shall meet." He emphasised they maintain separation, retreating to their own trailers and avoiding shop talk at home to prevent work from engulfing their family life.
Juggling Motherhood with a Demanding Shoot
Speaking exclusively about the challenges of filming the new series, Sophie Rundle opened up about balancing a demanding production schedule with raising her two toddlers. The shoot, which lasted three to four months, coincided with her eldest son turning four and her youngest turning one.
"It was hard, it was hard going," Rundle admitted. "There's the huge juggle of trying to be mum and trying to be, you know, me as an actor. And that is always really, really hard for anybody, a parent who tries to work."
She praised the production team for their support, configuring her schedule to allow a better work-life balance. "They configured the schedule so that I could work four consecutive days a week and then I would get three days off," she explained. This arrangement allowed her to return home to be with her family, mirroring the themes of her character's struggle. "They allowed me to do that in my real life as well. It was such a lovely job."
After the Flood returns on Sunday 18 January 2026, airing weekly on Sundays and Mondays on ITV. All episodes will be available to stream on ITVX.
