‘Dodger’ returns: First look at Season 2 and new guest stars revealed

We’ve got some brand new details on the second season of Dodger.

Set in the world of Oliver Twist before the events of Charles Dickens’ classic novel, the BBC’s hit kids’ series premiered earlier this year.

The fun ten-part first season followed the exploits of the infamous pickpocket, the Artful Dodger and his gang as they find ingenious ways to survive the grim and exploitative conditions of early Victorian London in the 1830s.

The series was a hit with viewers and critics when it debuted in February, becoming the most watched CBBC commissioned programme in the last 12 months.

This summer the BBC announced that Dodger has been renewed for more episodes!

The bad news is that we won’t be treated to another full season of 10 episodes – instead we’re just getting three 45-minute specials, including a Christmas episode.

The good news is that Season 2 has already completed filming in Bristol, England.

We can now reveal that nearly all your favourite cast members will be back.

Billy Jenkins (The Crown) returns as Dodger, with Fagin once again played by Christopher Eccleston (Doctor Who).

They’ll be joined by James Fleet (The Vicar of Dibley), Alex Kingston (Doctor Who), David Threlfall (Shameless), Rhys Thomas (The Fast Show), Javone Prince (Horrible Histories), Lucy Montgomery (Disenchantment), Saira Choudhry (No Offence), Lenny Rush (The Dumping Ground), and Sam C Wilson (Hanna).

Young stars Ellie-May Sheridan, Aabay Ali, Connor Curren, and Mila Lieu will also be back to round out Dodger’s gang.

New special guests in the second season will include Jane Horrocks (Absolutely Fabulous), Robert Lindsay (My Family), Anita Dobson (EastEnders), Rufus Jones (Home), Matthew Holness (Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace), and Mark Benton (Shakespeare & Hathaway).

Season 1 ended with Dodger being deported to Australia in a ship filled with convicts, and the first new special will follow Dodger’s ingenious escape back to London, where the gang will be attempting to pull off their very own great train robbery!

The next episode is a Christmas special, in which Dodger embarks on a secret rescue mission and the gang organise a festive hijack of 200 turkeys, whilst also unwittingly crashing a Christmas party at none other than No. 10 Downing Street.

The final special sees some of the gang being rehabilitated through the power of education, after they’re caught red handed and sent to a very smart British public school.

Dodger will return in the UK on CBBC and streaming on BBC iPlayer on Sunday 27th November.

We’ve got our first look at Season 2 in this new image of Billy Jenkins as Dodger here:

Dodger writers Rhys Thomas and Lucy Montgomery commented: “We are thrilled to be back for three exciting specials and even more thrilled to assemble such an amazing cast.”

BBC Children’s Commissioning Editor Amy Buscombe added: “We’re delighted that Dodger’s first outing was enjoyed by so many children and their families, and can’t wait to see what rip-roaring adventures Dodger and the gang have in store for us next!”

Charles Dickens’ novel Oliver Twist is available on Amazon.