BBC viewers praise new thriller series after waiting two years for new season

After what feels like months of anticipation, the second serious of smash-hit BBC thriller The Tourist has finally landed on our screens.

Starring Fifty Shades of Grey heartthrob Jamie Dornan and Aussie actor Danielle Macdonald, this BBC crime drama series became an instant 2022 favourite among telly-fans for its mind-bending plot twists and beguiling storylines.

And now, a year later, Dornan and Macdonald are reprising their widely-adored roles of 'The Man' - otherwise known as Elliot Stanley - and Probationary Constable Helen Chambers.

For those who can't stand a spoiler, I suggest you scroll away now. But if you fancy a recap of the ins and outs of the last series, continuing reading...

The series begins after a Northern Irish man wakes up in an Australian hospital with no memory of who he is, why he is there, or what has happened to him following, a car accident.

You might remember that after a never-ending collection of dramatic twists and turns as 'The Man' tries to figure out his identity.

BBC

However, the grand finale saw Luci (Shalom Brune-Franklin) call Kostas' (Alex Dimitriades) brother - who he believed was dead - telling him to lead a different life.

Instead, Kostas listens to the hallucination of his brother instead and tries to kill Luci, after which Elliot (Dornan) grabs Lachlan's (Damon Herriman) gun before a struggle.

Kostas is then fatally shot before Lachlan drives off in search of his wife, while Luci takes a shot to the stomach.

Elliot then puts her in his car, along with the bag of money, before attempting to drive her to a hospital, but Luci tragically dies during the journey.

BBC

He calls Helen (Macdonald) for help, who Lachlan blames for Rodney Lammon's (Kamil Ellis) death, showing officers footage of her with Elliot.

After taking customers of a restaurant hostage to buy time, Helen asks a friend of hers to find evidence of Lachlan's corruption, after which she finds a photo of Lachlan driving away after killing Lammon, with a hand-cuffed Elliot in the passenger seat.

After he is found to have been a human trafficker - who caused the deaths of two women who'd smuggled his drugs in their stomach - the series ended with a disgusted Elliot trying to kill himself.

BBC

Now, after months of waiting, the brand new series - based primarily in Elliot's home country of Northern Ireland - kicked off last night (1 January) and fans have been sent into a frenzy.

The latest instalment sees Elliot looking further into the mystery of his dark past, while travelling the world with with his now-girlfriend Helen, who has seemingly stuck by his side.

While some fans are loving it despite being just one episode in, others have admitted to racing through the series on iPlayer.

Taking to social media following the first episode, one viewer wrote: "Just watched the first episode of The Tourist. Another roller coaster of a ride begins! Brilliant!"

Someone else said: "The Tourist Season 2 - Absolutely the BEST thing on TV this Crimbo / New Year. On another level. Amazing mad, funny & quirky characters & acting (what a cast), FANTASTIC script… & filmed in Ireland… I am hooked."

Another wrote: "Just started on the second series of The Tourist. Addicted already, and the chemistry between Jamie Dornan and Danielle Macdonald is as brilliant as it was the first time around. So, so good!!"

Watch The Tourist on BBC one and BBC iPlayer now.