Denis Lawson to guest star in Victoria

Acclaimed Scottish actor has landed a role in the popular drama Victoria.

With filming ongoing on the monarchical drama’s second series, it has been revealed that Lawson whose previous work includes Bleak House, New Tricks and the original Star Wars triology will appear in scenes set in Scotland. The BAFTA and Emmy-nominated star will appear as the Duke of Atholl who welcomes Victoria and Albert to the Scottish Highlands in scenes that were  filmed at historic landmark, Blair Castle, in Perthshire this month.

The announcement follows the news that Martin Compston will also guest in the series, while Dame Diana Rigg has joined the regular cast as the Duchess of Bucchleuch. The regular cast is headed up by Jenna Coleman and Tom Hughes as Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, alongside Nell Hudson, Nigel Lindsay, Alex Jennings, Peter Bowles, Ferdinand Kingsley, David Oakes, Catherine Flemming and Daniela Holtz.

The hotly-anticipated second series is set six weeks after the conclusion of the first and will explore Victoria as a working mother, learning to balance her responsibilities as both parent and Queen.

A Mammoth Screen production, the second series sees creator and executive producer Daisy Goodwin resume her writing duties. The eight-part run and two-hour Christmas special were commissioned by ITV drama chief Polly Hill after series one was ITV’s highest rating drama of 2016.

Victoria is a co-production with MASTERPIECE on PBS.