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The Outlaws FIRST LOOK: New images of Stephen Merchant’s comedy thriller unveiled

The Outlaws FIRST LOOK: New images of Stephen Merchant's comedy thriller unveiled 2

First look images of The Outlaws from multi-award-winning writer and director Stephen Merchant have been released ahead of the return of the second series. 

The comedy thriller, known as The Offenders for last year’s season one, follows seven strangers from different walks of life forced together to complete a Community Payback sentence in Bristol.

October’s release of the first run was was the BBC’s biggest comedy launch of 2021 and has been streamed 11m times on BBC iPlayer.

First look: New images of The Outlaws from multi-award-winning writer and director Stephen Merchant have been released ahead of the return of the second series

First look: New images of The Outlaws from multi-award-winning writer and director Stephen Merchant have been released ahead of the return of the second series

The new instalment will follow the group as they still have time to serve on their sentences.

However, now they must face the fallout of their actions as it becomes clear the criminal underworld and the local police are not done with them yet.

The group will be seen working together with unlikely allies while depending on one another.

Screenplay: The comedy thriller, known as The Offenders for last year's season one, follows seven strangers forced together to complete a Community Payback sentence in Bristol (Eleanor Tomlinson pictured)

Screenplay: The comedy thriller, known as The Offenders for last year’s season one, follows seven strangers forced together to complete a Community Payback sentence in Bristol (Eleanor Tomlinson pictured)

Cast: Oscar Award winning legend Christopher Walken (right) stars in the series along with Rhianne Barreto, Gamba Cole, Darren Boyd, Clare Perkins and Eleanor Tomlinson

Cast: Oscar Award winning legend Christopher Walken (right) stars in the series along with Rhianne Barreto, Gamba Cole, Darren Boyd, Clare Perkins and Eleanor Tomlinson

Change: The Stephen Merchant-written production was formerly known as The Offenders however it was announced it would be known as The Outlaws in September last year (Stephen pictured left)

Change: The Stephen Merchant-written production was formerly known as The Offenders however it was announced it would be known as The Outlaws in September last year (Stephen pictured left)

Success: October's release of the first run was was the BBC¿s biggest comedy launch of 2021 and has been streamed 11m times on BBC iPlayer

Success: October’s release of the first run was was the BBC’s biggest comedy launch of 2021 and has been streamed 11m times on BBC iPlayer

The Stephen Merchant-written production was formerly known as The Offenders however it was announced it would be known as The Outlaws in September last year.

The show was new to the BBC and Amazon Prime, with season one airing last year.

Oscar Award winning legend Christopher Walken stars in the series along with Rhianne Barreto, Gamba Cole, Darren Boyd, Clare Perkins and Eleanor Tomlinson. Writer Stephen is also a cast member. 

Telling the tale: The new instalment will follow the group as they still have time to serve on their sentences

Telling the tale: The new instalment will follow the group as they still have time to serve on their sentences

Plot: However, now they must face the fallout of their actions as it becomes clear the criminal underworld and the local police are not done with them yet (Rhianne Barreto pictured)

Plot: However, now they must face the fallout of their actions as it becomes clear the criminal underworld and the local police are not done with them yet (Rhianne Barreto pictured)

Strength in numbers: The group will be seen working together with unlikely allies while depending on one another

Strength in numbers: The group will be seen working together with unlikely allies while depending on one another

On hold: Discussing the forthcoming series, writer Stephen - who comes from Bristol, where the show is based - admitted production was initially hampered by the spread of coronavirus in 2020 (Claes Bang pictured)

On hold: Discussing the forthcoming series, writer Stephen – who comes from Bristol, where the show is based – admitted production was initially hampered by the spread of coronavirus in 2020 (Claes Bang pictured)

Speaking out: He told The Sun : 'Like so many other productions, we'd just begun filming when COVID-19 struck and we had to shut-down'

Speaking out: He told The Sun : ‘Like so many other productions, we’d just begun filming when COVID-19 struck and we had to shut-down’

Eleanor plays Gabby, an ‘aristocratic celebutante whose glamour and life of leisure masks deep-rooted problems’.

In a recent interview, she said of her character: ‘Gabby is a social-media influencer with a drink and drug problem.  

‘She is wild and uncontrollable and, without being unkind, blissfully unaware of the lives of others around her, which makes her outrageously funny to play.’

TV magic: 'I'm delighted that we're now finally able to resume filming with this incredible cast and finish this long-standing passion project,' said Stephen (Christopher Walken pictured)

TV magic: ‘I’m delighted that we’re now finally able to resume filming with this incredible cast and finish this long-standing passion project,’ said Stephen (Christopher Walken pictured)

At home: 'This is the first series I've made in my hometown of Bristol and I'm so excited to showcase the city and utilise the amazing local talent,' he said (Christopher Walken pictured)

At home: ‘This is the first series I’ve made in my hometown of Bristol and I’m so excited to showcase the city and utilise the amazing local talent,’ he said (Christopher Walken pictured)

Filming began in 2020 but was postponed because of Covid.

Discussing the forthcoming series, Stephen – who comes from Bristol, where the show is based – admitted production was initially hampered by the spread of coronavirus in 2020.  

He told The Sun: ‘Like so many other productions, we’d just begun filming when COVID-19 struck and we had to shut-down.

Stop: Filming ground to a halt after just 12 days due to health concerns, but work continued in earnest as Britain's third national lockdown was lifted

Stop: Filming ground to a halt after just 12 days due to health concerns, but work continued in earnest as Britain’s third national lockdown was lifted

Offer: On BBC's decision to commission a second series before gauging the popularity of the first, Kenton Allen told Deadline: 'We said, "We'll write Season 2 if you commission Season 2"

Offer: On BBC’s decision to commission a second series before gauging the popularity of the first, Kenton Allen told Deadline: ‘We said, “We’ll write Season 2 if you commission Season 2”

Working hard: 'We were able to rewrite Season 1 to reflect what we know is going to happen to the characters in Season 2. We were able to deepen it and layer it,' he added

Working hard: ‘We were able to rewrite Season 1 to reflect what we know is going to happen to the characters in Season 2. We were able to deepen it and layer it,’ he added

New programming: The show was new to the BBC and Amazon Prime when season one aired last year

New programming: The show was new to the BBC and Amazon Prime when season one aired last year

‘I’m delighted that we’re now finally able to resume filming with this incredible cast and finish this long-standing passion project.

‘This is the first series I’ve made in my hometown of Bristol and I’m so excited to showcase the city and utilise the amazing local talent.’  

Filming ground to a halt after just 12 days due to health concerns, but work continued in earnest as Britain’s third national lockdown was lifted.

Reflecting on the BBC’s unorthodox decision to commission a second series before gauging the popularity of the first, producer Kenton Allen told Deadline: ‘We said, “We’ll write Season 2 if you commission Season 2”.

‘We were able to rewrite Season 1 to reflect what we know is going to happen to the characters in Season 2. We were able to deepen it and layer it.’

The Outlaws Series 2 returns to BBC One next month.

Ready to air: The Outlaws Series 2 returns to BBC One next month

Ready to air: The Outlaws Series 2 returns to BBC One next month

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