A decade after its acclaimed debut, the BBC's espionage drama The Night Manager has made a triumphant return to screens, with its second season premiere captivating millions of viewers.
A Decade-Long Wait Comes to an End
The hit series, which first aired in 2016, finally released its long-awaited follow-up on BBC One on Thursday night, January 1, 2026. Based on characters from the late John le Carré's bestselling novel, the show sees Tom Hiddleston reprising his enigmatic role as former soldier and hotel manager Jonathan Pine.
This time, Pine has adopted a new alias, Alex Goodwin, and is living a quieter life as a low-level MI6 officer in London. However, his peace is violently shattered by a clash with Colombian businessman Teddy Dos Santos, played by Diego Calva. With the help of a new ally, Roxana Bolaños (Camila Morrone), Pine is soon plunged back into the perilous world of international arms dealing.
Critical Acclaim and Viewer Reaction
The thrilling premiere of the six-episode season proved a major ratings success, drawing an audience of 3.3 million viewers, with a peak of 3.8 million. Many more are expected to stream the show on BBC iPlayer, where the second episode was also released.
Fans on social media were quick to praise the return, with many declaring the wait worthwhile. One viewer, vickster51, wrote on X: 'Well that was a blooming good start! Welcome back.' Another, Phantom, stated: 'The second season of The Night Manager was sure worth the decade-long wait, delivering once again a Bond-esque spy thriller.'
In a four-star review for Metro, TV Editor Sabrina Barr hailed the decision to continue the story, noting there was 'so much more of Pine’s story and his massive potential as a sleuthing secret agent to delve into.'
An Older, Wiser Pine
The significant gap between seasons was embraced by the production team and star Tom Hiddleston. Speaking at the red carpet premiere, the actor explained his approach: 'I told everyone involved... I said, it’s 10 years later. I’m 10 years older. A few more scars on the inside. A few more scars on the outside. Let’s lean into it. Let’s embrace it.'
The series also sees the return of Olivia Colman as intelligence operative Angela Burr, with the pair's chemistry receiving particular praise. The stacked cast features both returning faces and new additions, including Indira Varma, Paul Chahidi, and Hayley Squires.
The new season, which had the blessing of John le Carré before his death in 2020, continues the show's tradition of complex, intelligent storytelling. The Night Manager airs every Sunday at 9pm on BBC One, with all episodes available on iPlayer.
