The Secrets She Keeps season 2 plot, release date, cast and everything we know about the return of the Australian drama

As The Secrets She Keeps season 2 draws nearer you might be wondering what lies in store in the thriller after *that* finale showdown...

The Secrets She Keeps season 2 starring Laura Carmichael and Jessica De Gouw
(Image credit: BBC/Lingo Pictures Pty Ltd/Create NSW/Screen Australia)

The Secrets She Keeps season 2 is almost here and after *that* dramatic showdown in the season 1 finale it seems the nightmare isn’t over for Meghan.

We all know that many of the best thriller books make for similarly successful shows and movies and The Secrets She Keeps is no exception. The Australian psychological thriller brought to life the story of Agatha - who desperately wanted the perfect life - and Meghan - who seemed to already have it. After meeting and becoming friends, things took a dangerous turn as their secrets rose to the surface. Now two years after the drama first landed, The Secrets She Keeps season 2 is just days away from returning to the BBC and things are set to get even darker.

But what is The Secrets She Keeps season 2 plot, what's the release date and how can you make sure you don't miss a single moment? 

*Warning: spoilers ahead!*

Agatha (LAURA CARMICHAEL), Meghan (JESSICA DE GOUW) in The Secrets She Keeps

(Image credit: BBC/Lingo Pictures Pty Ltd/Create NSW/Screen Australia)

The Secrets She Keeps season 2 plot summary

Unlike the upcoming Virgin River season 5 which is reportedly set to pick up straight after the shocking events of the previous season finale, The Secrets She Keeps season 2 plot will begin a full two years later. This means that the season 1 finale holds plenty of clues about what lies ahead. 

For anyone looking for a quick The Secrets She Keeps season 1 recap, prepare yourself for a rollercoaster ride of emotions as Agatha (played by Laura Carmichael, Downton Abbey’s Lady Edith, no less!) stole her new friend Meghan’s baby. 

Laura Carmichael as Agatha in The Secrets She Keeps

(Image credit: BBC/Lingo Pictures Pty Ltd/Create NSW/Screen Australia)

Desperate to be a mum, Agatha had got close to Meghan deliberately and pretended to be pregnant herself. She waited for the perfect opportunity to take newborn Ben, before promptly renaming him Rory. In the series finale, police attempted to track Agatha down and return the little boy safely to his traumatized parents. Even Agatha’s boyfriend Hayden attempted to persuade her over the phone to bring Ben back, but failed miserably. 

Meanwhile, things went from bad to worse for Meghan whose affair with friend Simon meant he could possibly have been Ben’s father. Though her husband Jack was hardly a saint himself as he also had an affair, putting additional strain on their marriage at this time of crisis. 

Meghan (JESSICA DE GOUW) in The Secrets She Keeps

(Image credit: BBC/Lingo Pictures Pty Ltd/Create NSW/Screen Australia)

Delving into Agatha’s past, it was revealed that she was linked to multiple baby abductions in the past and had lost a daughter. Having acquired a gun and seen her crimes being reported on the news, Agatha went into flight or fight mode and a plan was laid out involving a Meghan-double to try and rescue Ben before it was too late.

Ignoring the police’s orders, Meghan switched phones and whilst her double was tricked into going to an art gallery, she raced to the National Maritime Museum where Agatha really was. Prior to her arrival, Hayden had also met Agatha there and begged her to hide only for her to declare that she wasn’t going to keep running.

When a frantic Meghan finally arrived at the museum Agatha opened up to her about her past crimes and permitted her to feed Ben before appearing to turn her gun on them and then later on herself. It was then that a shot rang out...

Laura Carmichael as Agatha in The Secrets She Keeps

(Image credit: BBC/Lingo Pictures Pty Ltd/Create NSW/Screen Australia)

The first season ended with a flashforward which revealed that Agatha was very much alive and in prison with a sling suggesting the police marksman shot her in the arm. And though Meghan might not be able to completely forgive Jack for his adultery, she still hasn’t told him about Simon…

The Secrets She Keeps season 2 plot will still focus upon Meghan and Agatha and according to the BBC, will focus upon Agatha’s trial two years later. Whilst Meghan and Jack have tried to move on as a family, they have reportedly been “deeply affected by the trauma” of Ben’s kidnap. And Agatha isn’t without her allies as an investigative journalist determined to tell her side presses Meghan for information. 

In The Secrets She Keeps season 2 trailer, the opening scenes show the extent to which the media is involved in the case. The shots of Meghan and Jack being hounded outside the court reinforce a sense of scrutiny as Meghan declares, “We had a good life. It was good and then because of her it’s become this.”

It’s clear she’s not about to forgive Agatha easily as she furiously adds, “A deranged woman kidnapped my baby and nearly killed him.”

And whilst a police officer describes Agatha as “committed” and unlikely to ever stop, a young journalist boldly announces that her story on the events surrounding Agatha’s trial and crimes will “change everything”.

Jen (HEATHER MITCHELL), Meghan (JESSICA DE GOUW), Reg (LEWIS FITZ-GERALD), Jack (TODD LASANCE) in The Secrets She Keeps

(Image credit: BBC/Lingo Pictures Pty Ltd/Create NSW/Screen Australia)

It seems that whilst Agatha is facing a trial by jury, Meghan could be set to feel the full effects of a trial by public opinion depending on the outcome of the journalist’s piece. With bold performances and evocative story-telling, we can’t wait to see Meghan and Agatha’s stories continue in The Secrets She Keeps season 2. After all, Agatha might be the one in prison, but she's not the only one who’s been concealing devastating secrets…

When will The Secrets She Keeps season 2 be released?

The Secrets She Keeps season 2 is set to land on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on August 13th, 2022. This means there are now just a few days left before we see how the events of season 1 have changed things forever for Meghan, Jack and Agatha. And with six installments to come there’s no knowing what twists and turns lie ahead in the BBC psychological thriller series before the season 2 finale. Until then, there’s plenty of time to catch up on all your favorite moments from The Secrets She Keeps season 1 on BBC iPlayer. 

Lorelei in The Secrets She Keeps season 2

(Image credit: BBC/Lingo Pictures Pty Ltd/Create NSW/Screen Australia)

How to watch The Secrets She Keeps season 2?

For any The Secrets She Keeps fans living in the UK the second series of the hit drama will land on your screens at 9:15pm on BBC One on Saturday August 13th. The remaining five episodes of The Secrets She Keeps season 2 are then expected to be shown on a weekly basis in that scheduling slot. Though if you just can’t wait to see how Agatha’s trial plays out then never fear! As revealed by the exceptionally enigmatic season 2 trailer, the show will also be landing on BBC iPlayer for viewers to stream from August 13th. 

Meghan (JESSICA DE GOUW) in The Secrets She Keeps

(Image credit: BBC/Lingo Pictures Pty Ltd/Create NSW/Screen Australia)

Whilst not completely confirmed, this suggests that just like with BBC’s Chloe and The Control Room, the entirety of The Secrets She Keeps season 2 could be made available to binge-watch to your heart’s content at your own pace.  

If you’re a Paramount+ subscriber the drama’s second season was also made available to stream on the service from July 2022, meaning you’re a step ahead when it comes to all the biggest moments and emotional twists of The Secrets She Keeps season 2. 

Lorelei (MIRANDA FRANGOU) in The Secrets She Keeps

(Image credit: BBC/Lingo Pictures Pty Ltd/Create NSW/Screen Australia)

But if you’re abroad when the thriller airs then sadly you won't be able to watch the show as you normally would at home, thanks to regional restrictions. Luckily there’s an easy solution and you can use a VPN to continue watching this hit drama. This is a handy bit of software that changes your IP address so that you can access on-demand content or live TV just as if you were at home.

Our sister site, TechRadar, has tested all of the major VPN services and they rate ExpressVPN as the absolute best. They say, “It’s compatible with all of your devices, supports most streaming services, and ranks among the fastest. You can even install it on devices like an Amazon Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Xbox, and PlayStation. So for a one-stop-shop, you can’t go wrong with Express.”

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If you've never installed a VPN before, don't worry, it's quick and easy. Just follow these three steps:


  1. Download and install the VPN following ExpressVPN's easy-to-follow instructions.
  2. Once you've installed your VPN, open the app and select your server location as anywhere in the UK.
  3. With your VPN installed and server location set to UK, you can now watch The Secrets She Keeps online. 

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(Image credit: Future)

Who’s in The Secrets She Keeps season 2 cast?

The Secrets She Keeps season 2 cast:

  • Laura Carmichael as Agatha Fyfle
  • Jessica De Gouw as Meghan Shaughnessy
  • Todd Lasance as Jack Shaughnessy
  • Ryan Corr as Simon Beecher
  • Jenni Baird as Rhea Bowden
  • Cariba Heine as Grace
  • Miranda Frangou as Lorelei
  • Danielle McCormack as Vicky Michaelson

Anyone who found themselves transfixed by the emotional performances of the original The Secret She Keeps cast might well be thrilled to discover that pretty much everyone is back in action for season 2. The most prominent exception to this is Michael Dorman who is succeeded as Meghan's unfaithful husband Jack by newcomer Todd Lasance.  

Jack (TODD LASANCE) in The Secrets She Keeps

(Image credit: BBC/Lingo Pictures Pty Ltd/Create NSW/Screen Australia)

Is The Secrets She Keeps based on a book? 

Just like The Holiday on Netflix and The Essex Serpent, The Secrets She Keeps is based on a book of the same name. Written by Australian author Michael Robotham and published in 2017, The Secrets She Keeps book inspired the intense plotline of the first season. However, the book was itself reportedly based upon a terrifying true story and according to Express.co.uk, Michael’s psychological thriller was at least partly inspired by a real-life abduction case from 1994.

Agatha (LAURA CARMICHAEL), Meghan (JESSICA DE GOUW) in The Secrets She Keeps

(Image credit: BBC/Lingo Pictures Pty Ltd/Create NSW/Screen Australia)

The case saw newborn Abbie Sundgren taken from a hospital in Nottinghamshire before eventually being reunited with her family 17 days later after she was found in Wollaton. Michael is said to have been working as a journalist in London at the time when the news was widely covered, perhaps influencing the abduction aspect of his novel's story. However, there are several major changes with his The Secrets She Keeps novel set in Australia rather than the UK, and focusing on the completely fictional relationship and backstories of Agatha and Meghan. 

As the countdown to The Secrets She Keeps continues, if you haven't already delved into the dark details the original novel, then this is definitely worth a read as you anticipate Meghan and Agatha's return to our screens...

Emma Shacklock

Emma is a Royal Editor with eight years experience working in publishing. Her specialist areas include the British Royal Family, ranging from protocol to outfits. Alongside putting her royal knowledge to good use, Emma knows all there is to know about the latest TV shows on the BBC, ITV and more. When she’s not writing about the next unmissable show to add to your to-watch list or delving into royal protocol, Emma enjoys cooking, long walks and watching yet more crime dramas!