Actor, rapper and comedian Michael Dapaah will join the cast as influential TV personality Mensah, who has a difficult relationship with his on-screen co-host Chidi Abara, played by presenter and comedian Judi Love.

The BBC drama follows the forbidden love story between Sephy (Masali Baduza) and Callum (Jack Rowan), based on Malorie Blackman’s bestselling novel of the same name.

The second series will see the aftermath of the dramatic series one finale, which saw Sephy and Callum run away together after discovering they are expecting a baby.  

Also joining the cast for series two are Mayuri Naidu (High Rollers) as Shashi Bandara MP, Morgan Watkins (A Very English Scandal) as Morgan Green, Iretiola Doyle (Tinsel, Madam President) as the Empress of Aprica, and Jasmine Jobson (Top Boy) as Cara.

Helen Baxendale, Paterson Joseph, Bonnie Mbuli, Jonathan Ajayi, Josh Dylan and Kiké Brimah will all reprise their roles.

Michael Dapaah said: “Joining the series was a honour, especially because of how renowned Malorie Blackman’s novels are and what they represent.

“I wanted to show people and myself that I can play a role which isn’t so heavily comedic and can do so much more, and I found this character Mensah really entertaining, which is always a bonus,” he added.

Noughts + Crosses will return to BBC One and BBC iPlayer this spring.