ITV commissions second series of BAFTA-nominated comedy The Dry for ITVX

ITV has today announced the commission of a second season of the critically acclaimed comedy-drama The Dry for ITVX, which will be produced by Element Pictures, in association with Fís Eireann/Screen Ireland and ITV Studios, in partnership with RTÉ.

Award-winning playwright and BAFTA-nominated screenwriter Nancy Harris (Dates) and acclaimed director Paddy Breathnach (Viva, Rosie) will return to helm the second season, which will stream exclusively on ITVX next year. The first season was made available to view for free on the streamer last month.

Roisin Gallagher will return as recovering alcoholic Shiv Sheridan, alongside regular cast members from the first series. Further casting details will be confirmed in due course.

The second series picks up seven months on from the events of the first, and we now meet the Sheridans in their new normal. To all outward appearances, it seems like the family is relatively content: Shiv’s been sober, celibate, and solvent for 6 months, Ant has hung onto his job at the estate agents and his relationship with Max, and Caroline’s making up for a lost time by shagging everyone she meets on Tinder. So far, so normal… Or is it? After all, how normal is it for 3 grown adults to still be living at home with their parents? And are the Sheridans really happy with this new status quo, or have they just rearranged their dysfunction and found another groove of denial to fit into?

Shiv is determined to get sobriety right this time, to cut the toxic influences out of her life for good. But what if the biggest threat to Shiv’s stability turns out to be closer to home? Giving up alcohol is one thing…but what about giving up your family?

Nana Hughes, Head of Scripted Comedy at ITV said: “We are thrilled to be collaborating once again with the extra talented and BAFTA nominated Nancy Harris, Element Pictures, Paddy and the team to return to the Sheridan household for the second season of The Dry, coming to ITVX in 2024.”

Executive Producer, Emma Norton at Element Pictures added: “We all fell in love with the Sheridan family in season one and it is such a treat to get to spend more time in their chaotic company. Nancy has a fantastic arc for this season and Paddy is returning, with our wonderful Irish cast and crew, to bring this next chapter to life.”

Screenwriter Nancy Harris said: “I’m so thrilled about this second season of The Dry and to be getting to bring more of the Sheridans back to the screen. It’s an absolute joy to be back working with this incredible ensemble cast, and director Paddy Breathnach and I’m excited about where the show is going to go this season. The characters are all deepening and developing and they all have challenges - it’s going to be quite the rollercoaster, and not just for those who are trying to stay sober…”

Dermot Horan, Director of Acquisitions & Co-Productions for RTÉ comments: “The first season of The Dry really resonated with our audiences. We always felt that there were loads more stories to tell about the various members of the Sheridan family. So, we are delighted that Nancy, Paddy and the Element team are back to bring us another series. We are also really pleased to be working with our local partners, Screen Ireland and the BAI Sound and Vision Scheme, and our international ones, ITVX and ITV Studios, who are bringing this very local Irish story to UK and global audiences.”

Emma Norton, Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe will serve as executive producers for Element Pictures, alongside Nancy Harris and Paddy Breathnach. ITV Studios is handling global distribution for THE DRY.