Outlander star addresses future of 'thrilling' ITV crime drama with tantalising hint
Karen Pirie is back on our screens in the hit crime drama and Lauren Lyle has said there's potential for more seasons to come.
Lauren Lyle speaks about future of Kare Pirie
Outlander actress Lauren Lyle has spoken out about the future of her other successful series, ITV crime drama Karen Pirie, after its praised second season.
Lyle, 32, renowned for playing Marsali Fraser alongside Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe in the popular Starz drama, debuted as the legendary detective conceived by Val McDermid in 2022.
Three years on, the successful crime drama has returned stronger than before, with Pirie elevated to Detective Inspector and discovering a haunting cold case from the 1980s.
Having drawn from McDermid's opening two novels in the collection, The Distant Echo and A Darker Domain, Lyle teased on Sunday Brunch whether the remaining books might eventually receive adaptations.
Host Tim Lovejoy enquired: "This could run forever, can't it?", reports the Scottish Daily Express.
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Lauren responded: "Yeah, well Val McDermid, who wrote the books, who's dubbed the Queen of Crime, I believe, she's written, I think, the eighth book or something?"
Currently, seven Karen Pirie novels have been published, with the most recent being Past Lying in 2023.
The eighth instalment in the collection, Silent Bones, is scheduled for release this October.
"I did the voiceover for the audiobook," Lyle revealed. "I mean, the production company has said 'Lauren could be doing this into her 40s', so maybe so.
"I think everyone wants to see it go."
Thus far, ITV has not announced whether Karen Pirie will be renewed for a third season, although robust viewing numbers and positive reviews indicate its appeal continues to grow.
The broadcaster took approximately four months following the first season's debut to greenlight the drama's return, meaning viewers will probably need to exercise patience before receiving official confirmation about a third series.
Simon Rimmer interjected, "Because it's such a great character..." with Lovejoy concurring: "It is really good, yeah."
"I think the humour and her, and the bumbag, sets her apart," Lauren elaborated.
"Whenever anyone says it's a crime detective show, I'm kind of like... everyone who watches it goes 'Oh my God, it's not that at all'.
"You sort of fall in love with this woman and her life, her boyfriend and her personal life.
"And then it's not just the case. And with the case you get such a deep insight into their lives, the 80s. You flash back and see the whole of the 80s."
After another gripping episode last Sunday, viewers have just one final instalment remaining this week before Pirie's current cold case reaches its conclusion.
Beyond that, there are hopes the ITV series will bring McDermid's third novel in the collection, The Skeleton Road, to the small screen.
Karen Pirie season 2 concludes Sunday, 3rd August on ITV and ITVX.
