'Line Of Duty' Star Martin Compston Joins ITV's 'Victoria' In Guest Role – TVWise

Martin Compston, best known for his role as DS Steve Arnott on Line Of Duty, has signed of for a guest starring role in the second season of ITV’s royal drama Victoria. He will play Dr. Robert Traill, a key campaigner in the petition to gain awareness and support for those suffering from the potato famine in Ireland during the 1840s.
Alongside Compston, French actor Bruno Wolkowitch (Spin) has also been tapped to guest star this season as French King Louis Philippe, who Queen Victoria visits on her first outing to France. Emerald Fennell (Call The Midwife), Jo Stone-Fewings (The Hollow Crown), Leo Suter (Maleficent) and Michael Maloney (Paranoid) are also joining the cast.
The casting news comes several months after TVWise reported that Game Of Thrones star Diana Rigg was also joining the series as the Duchess of Bucchleuch, the young Queen’s new Mistress of the Robes. They join a plethora of returning cast members that includes Jenna Coleman (Doctor Who), Tom Hughes (The Game), Nigel Lindsay (Unforgotten), Alex Jennings (The Lady In The Van), Peter Bowles (To The Manor Born), David Oakes (The White Queen), Daniela Holtz (Circle Of Life). Catherine Flemming (Tatort), Nell Hudson (Outlander), Ferdinand Kingsley (Borgia) and Adrian Schiller (The Secret Agent).
The second season of Victoria picks up six weeks after season one and sees the Queen now as a working mother, learning to balance her responsibilities as both parent and monarch. However, with Prince Albert still struggling to find a role for himself there is an inevitable power struggle between husband and wife. As well as much drama in Buckingham Palace, the new season will include trips to France and Germany, touch on tragedy in Ireland and war in Afghanistan, and see Victoria and Albert discovering sanctuary in the Isle of Wight.
Daisy Goodwin penned the scripts for season two, which is being produced for ITV by independent production company Mammoth Screen. The eight episode second season and two-hour Christmas special was commissioned by ITV’s Head of Drama Polly Hill and Senior Drama Commissioner Victoria Fea. Paul Fritt is the series producer, while Damien Timmer, Kate McKerrell and Daisy Goodwin are executive producing. Production on season two is now underway, with ITV eyeing a late 2017 premiere.