A popular BBC crime drama filmed at breathtaking locations across Scotland is preparing for series 2 following its breakout 2025 debut
Filming has wrapped on a second season of BBC crime drama An t-Eilean/The Island(Image: BBC)
Filming has wrapped on the second series of a BBC crime drama set in Scotland.
An t-Eilean (The Island) is a Scottish-Gaelic drama that became one of the broadcaster’s most notable successes following its debut in 2025.
Praised for its atmospheric storytelling, breathtaking scenery and celebration of Scottish heritage, the series swiftly built a devoted following and earned widespread acclaim from viewers, who described it as “intriguing” and “compelling”.
Production on the new four-part series concluded this month, with cast and crew heading back to some of the same remote locations that helped shape the show’s distinctive character, reported Digital Spy.
Filming for the second series — which is anticipated to air in either late 2026 or early 2027 — took place across the Isles of Lewis and Harris in the Outer Hebrides, where dramatic coastlines, rugged moorland and isolated communities serve as the backdrop for a gripping new mystery.
If you can’t wait to catch the new storylines, the first series — starring Sorcha Groundsell as Detective Sergeant Kat Crichton — is available to stream now on BBC iPlayer, reports Glasgow Live.
Among the notable locations featured in the crime drama previously was Amhuinnsuidhe Castle, a Victorian estate nestled on Harris. The property served as the residence of the powerful Maclean family and may well feature once more as the storyline returns to the islands.
The village of Breasclete, which also featured prominently in the opening series, has likewise been utilised for filming the latest episodes.
An t-Eilean attracted widespread attention when it initially premiered in January 2025 as the BBC’s most costly Gaelic-language drama to date. On the IMDb website one fan highlighted the “compelling plot, good acting, stunning scenery” while another hailed the “beautiful scenery to match an intriguing series”.
The ambitious production was broadly regarded as a watershed moment for Gaelic television and received acclaim for introducing Scotland’s native language to a wider viewership.
Lead actress Sorcha told The Hollywood Reporter: “It is really an inspiring time and a necessary time to take ownership of our language and our culture and celebrate it for what it is, which is a source of incredible joy to so many people.”
Sorcha also acknowledged that performing in Gaelic on screen posed distinct difficulties, despite having acquired the language during childhood. “A lot of us were feeling some pressure about our levels of fluency,” she said.
“If anything, that makes it all the more important to participate in a show like this, because, if we maintain this feeling that our Gaelic is never good enough to use, no one will ever have a chance to use Gaelic.”
An t-Eilean/The Island series one is available to watch on BBC iPlayer
