Whereas the first series saw the duo investigate the death of a crew member on board a Royal Navy submarine, the second six-parter will see them take on the British air force.

Following a number of unexplained fatalities at a Scottish military facility, DCI Silva and DI Longacre set out to reveal the cause. But standing in their way are the hostile and closed ranks of the air force.

Gary Lewis will also return to the series as DSU Robertson. Joining the cast are Romola Garai (Becoming Elizabeth), Dougray Scott (Crime), Amir El-Masry (SAS Rogue Heroes), David Elliot (The Liberator), Chris Jenks (Sex Education), Tommy Sim'aan (The Midwich Cuckoos), Oscar Salem (House of the Dragon), Jonathan Ajayi (Noughts + Crosses) and Hiba Medina in her first major TV role.

The first series of Vigil was the most-watched new drama in the UK since Bodyguard in 2018 with over 13 million viewers.

Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, said: “Vigil series one took the country by storm, and I could not be more excited for BBC viewers to find out what comes next.

"With a highly original mystery and a richly fascinating new world for Silva and Longacre to explore, this is blockbuster television with brains as well as brawn.”

Tom Edge created the series and has returned to write series two with Maryam Hamidi, James Smythe and Ryan O’Sullivan & Matilda Wnek. Of his ongoing collaboration with producers World Productions, he said: "World Productions have built a fantastic reputation for twisting, turning thrillers and this one corkscrews with the best of them.”

Andy De Emmony, who has worked on series of all genres, including The Nest, The Last Kingdom and the Spitting Image reboot, will direct.

Vigil series two will begin filming in Scotland and Morocco in Spring 2023.