The 1992 murder of Rachel Nickell devastated not only Britain but the entire world. Now, a three-part series dramatises the aftermath, offering a revealing look at the hell Nickell’s family went through.
With 13.2 million views this week, The Witness is the second most-watched series on Netflix globally. It’s also the #1 show in 14 countries. Does that mean a sequel isn’t completely out of the question? Here’s what we know so far.
The Witness Season 2 Release Date
At the time of writing, there’s no official news about a potential The Witness season 2.
Given that the drama is inspired by true events, a follow-up is unlikely. The title is also listed as a limited series on Netflix. All in all, it looks like the three episodes currently streaming are it.
The Witness Cast
- Jordan Bolger as André Hanscombe
- Max Fincham as Alex Hanscombe
- Jahsaiah Williams as Young Alex
- Kerry Godliman as Grandma June
- Eleanor Williams as Rachel Nickell
- Neil Maskell as DI Keith Pedder
- Kevin Eldon as DCI Mick Wickerson
- Mark Stanley as DS Ivan Agnew
- Jon Pointing as DC Nick Sparshatt
What Is The Witness About?
The Witness begins in 1992, when 23-year-old Rachel Nickell is brutally attacked while walking on Wimbledon Common in London with her two-year-old son Alex and their dog. Alex survives physically unharmed. However, the trauma of witnessing his mother’s murder shapes the rest of his life.
At the same time, Rachel’s husband André goes from young father to grieving single parent responsible for protecting a deeply traumatised child overnight. Rather than closely following the police investigation, The Witness centres on André’s struggle to raise Alex under extraordinary circumstances.
The series explores how the pair become unwilling public figures as the murder dominates British headlines. Journalists and investigators repeatedly intrude, turning their personal tragedy into a national obsession. The murder continued to cast a shadow over their lives for years and years.
Both André Hanscombe and Alex served as consultants on the series.
“We’ve given interviews before, and there have been other programs that have been made, but with the best intentions, they were just scraping the surface. We believe that life is a battle between good and evil, and that while evil is real, the power for good is always greater, and something positive can come out of everyone’s pain and suffering. We wanted to pay tribute to the healing power of love, hope, and faith in our lives, and never giving up,” Alex told Tudum.
While The Witness season 2 is unlikely, the three episodes available make for a compelling and often heartbreaking watch. The kind that stays with you.
Are There Other Shows Like The Witness?
If you found The Witness moving, we recommend also checking out the accompanying documentary The Murder of Rachel Nickell.
Alternatively, catch up with the other trending Netflix shows. Like Michael Jackson: The Verdict, The Four Seasons, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, The Boroughs, or The WONDERfools.
