*Warning – contains major spoilers for all six episodes of Ludwig season 2.*
After six more thrilling, funny and intriguing episodes, the second season of Ludwig has now come to an end, with all episodes available to stream now on BBC iPlayer.
While the episodes are still airing weekly on BBC One, the Cambridge-based comedic detective drama starring David Mitchell brought season 2 to a close on iPlayer with its sixth episode containing a major cliffhanger, as the team gathered to assess their next move.
But when will we get to see that next move? Is there more Ludwig on the horizon? And what do we know about future plotlines and returning characters?
Read on for everything you need to know about Ludwig season 3.
Will there be a Ludwig season 3?
There will! It was confirmed ahead of season 2 starting to air that Ludwig would be returning for a third season, with Mitchell saying in a statement: “I am delighted that Ludwig will be returning to solve more of Mark Brotherhood’s brilliant mysteries. I can’t wait to get started and have renewed the subscription on my denouement-learning app.”
Meanwhile, Jon Petrie, outgoing BBC director of comedy commissioning, said: “Ludwig is exactly the kind of smart, distinctive, audience-pleasing show we love at BBC Comedy. Sharp writing, a compelling story, big laughs and, naturally, a generous helping of puzzles.
“The team at [producers] Big Talk have crafted something truly distinctive and much-loved, and we’re excited to see what mysteries Ludwig tackles next.”
It was also confirmed in September, mid-way through the run, that Ludwig will also be coming back for a 2026 Christmas special before that, helping to tide fans over.
When could Ludwig season 3 be released?
We don’t yet know for certain when Ludwig season 3 will arrive. Season 2 took almost two years to arrive after season 1 debuted, but thankfully, it seems we won’t have quite as long of a wait on our hands this time around.
In mid-August, Dipo Ola, who plays DI Russell Carter, told Radio Times that “we get to start” season 3 in “a couple of weeks”, suggesting production would begin in September 2026. This would be exactly a year after season 2 started filming in September 2025.
Given this, we could perhaps expect season 3 to arrive around a year after season 2, and debut in August 2027.
Of course, this is just speculation for now, and we will make sure to update this page with any more concrete news regarding season 3’s release date as and when we get it.
In the meantime, fans can expect a Ludwig Christmas special to arrive in the 2026 festive season.
What could Ludwig season 3 be about?
We don’t yet have confirmed plot details for Ludwig season 3, but given where season 2 left off, we expect to see John and Lucy continuing their investigation into Joanne Kemper’s plots and apparent murders, which seem to have led to James’s disappearance.
In comparison to previous seasons, it seems he will now have his full team on side, with Russell, Ethan and Caitlin all now also working the case. Henry, DCS Carol Shaw and Gareth Fisher are all now also all-in on bringing Kemper to justice.
Alongside this, we will also no doubt see John and the team investigating more cases each week, solving puzzles and unmasking murderers.
Who could return to star in Ludwig season 3?
We don’t yet have a full list of returning cast for Ludwig season 2, but we do know that David Mitchell and Dipo Ola will be back as John ‘Ludwig’ Taylor and DI Russell Carter respectively.
We are also expecting Anna Maxwell Martin, Ben Ashenden, Rumi Dutton, Dylan Hughes, Dorothy Atkinson and Mark Bonnar to be back, given the season 2 cliffhanger which saw all of their characters gathered around and vowing to take down Sian Clifford’s Joanne Kemper. In this same vein, we’re very much expecting Clifford to also return.
There’s a chance we could see more from Karl Pilkington’s DI Matt Neville too, but one major character from seasons 1 and 2 that we’re not expecting a return from is Ralph Ineson’s Chief Constable Ziegler.
Ziegler took his own life in the season 2 finale, in an attempt to frame Kemper and expose her for her crimes. His efforts were in vain, but unless he pops up in flashbacks, it seems he is gone for good.
Here are the central stars from Ludwig season 2 who we might expect to see back in season 3:
- David Mitchell as John ‘Ludwig’ Taylor and James Taylor
- Anna Maxwell Martin as Lucy Betts-Taylor
- Dipo Ola as DI Russell Carter
- Ben Ashenden as DC Ethan Cole
- Rumi Sutton as DC Caitlin Sullivan
- Dylan Hughes as Henry Betts-Taylor
- Dorothy Atkinson as DCS Carol Shaw
- Mark Bonnar as Gareth Fisher
- Sian Clifford as Joanne Kemper
- Karl Pilkington as DI Matt Neville
Is there a trailer for Ludwig season 3?
There isn’t a trailer available for season 3 just yet, but we’ll make sure to update this page with any new footage when it is released. For now, you can rewatch the trailer for season 3 below.
Ludwig season 2 is available to stream in full now on BBC iPlayer.
Add Ludwig to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.
Check out more of our Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what’s on. For more TV recommendations and reviews listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
