Sanditon, Season 2: Q&A With the Cast and Crew

Decider Deputy Editor Meghan O'Keefe moderated a Q&A with Season 2 crew and cast members including Rose Williams, Crystal Clarke, Ben Lloyd-Hughes, and more.
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[@franceshadden4062]

This most wonderful series hope it goes on and on and keeping Ben Lloyd Hughes.

[@moniquesylvestre8878]

Season 2 feels so much more like a true Jane Austen novel than the first season ever did.

[@architecturaldream1]

Only up to S2 Episode 5 in Australia and loving it - even better than season 1!!! Mr Colbourne over Sydney Parker all the way!! ❤️

[@RS-fo6vx]

Now rewatch the whole Q&A and just watch Ben's facial expressions😂 Gosh he is literally my new fav actor!!

[@madeleinemoyse1474]

I love S2 much much more than S1. The addition of the 'Colbourne team' was a great idea. I love Augusta's portrayal of a moody and petulant teenager. Leonora is adorable. And Mrs Wheately is like a mother hen to Xander, I love it. Talking of Xander, wow I love the dynamic between Charlotte and him, I feel they are much better suited compared to Charlotte and Sydney. I think it was a blessing in disguise that Theo James left after season 1. BLH played Alexander Colbourne extremely well, he's a great actor. Everything about S2 (the returning and new characters, the writing, the dances, etc.) is amazing. I can't wait for S3.

[@amberap2827]

I am in love with season 2 like more than season 1 even. I love Ben and Rose together. Can't wait for season 3 I hope we get #Heybourne endgame ❤❤

[@suzannecarroll2388]

Enjoying Season 2 even more than 1. Acting and writing quite good.

[@weemarionclm]

Ben Lloyd-Hughes' coquettish looks at the camera are adorablw

[@shahnazotanian6486]

Yes by the end of season 3, you will fall in love with him head over hills 🤓

[@MichelePJ]

I so much appreciate all those involved in bringing Season 2 and 3 to us! Loved Season 1, but love Season 2 just as much! I adore Charlotte Heywood's character, Rose Williams is a brilliant actress, she really brings this character to life. Really all the actors, story line, sets, and fashions are amazing! I must mention Leo(nora), what a fantastic young actress, she will definitely have a bright future! ❤❤❤

[@Catsarefab]

Leo has been a treat, lovely character ❤️

[@JesLovsu2]

I really enjoying Alex and Charlotte beginning relationship that’s growing. Ben is very good actor. Very good with his eyes, subtle desires. He seem to be holding his breathe around Charlotte! Looking forward to the rest of the 2nd season. I hope it isn’t drugged out like other series. Be Nice to see Charlotte end up with someone in her life. I hate too much anguish being played on and on. Nice to see good things happening! But I love PBS or BBC series. My favorite is North and South with Richard Armitage and Daniela Ashe Derby or Pride and Prejudice 1995. I’m enjoying Miss Scarlet and The Duke, too! Great talk.

[@juliegarnai7362]

I too loved North and South. Thornton was such a complex character and his relationship with Margaret was beautiful to watch develop. I am liking Season 2 Sanditon much more than Season 1.

[@jaimicottrill2831]

Yes, I love all those you mentioned! I regularly watch the 1995 Pride and Prejudice and I am eagerly awaiting season 2 of Miss Scarlet and the Duke to come out!

[@ccburro1]

You’ll love Ep 5!❤

[@juliegarnai7362]

I love seeing the actors, etc talk about their characters. I think the character Charlotte has grown so much from season 1. She seemed young and inexperienced in season 1. She was always screwing up her nose and seemed naive. Season 2 she seems much more mature and sure of herself. It’s lovely to watch her grow.

[@ontheclouds0123]

Definitely enjoyed season 2 more than the first one! It's quite interesting that I was so easily drawn to the new characters easily. Looking forward to seeing Ben Lloyd-Hughes in the next season! (And frankly rooting for Mr. Colbourne and Charlotte's romance)

[@Famous5821]

Thank you, I am so grateful for this show. I believe this show will "jump start" a lot of careers. The entire show is filled with wonderfully talented actors, writer(s), costume designers and set designers. I live the show, mystery, romance, flirty-banters, and sweet moments. I pray the show will include a baby for Esther.

[@rlavelleSLP]

The writing on season 2 has been extraordinary ❤️

[@rebeccab.5551]

Thank you for two more seasons! Enjoying the journey with Charlotte, Georgiana and Esther. Hoping they all find peace and happiness before series end.

[@renatagondekova2944]

I have watched this show several times since I saw it on Czech TV. Thank you for creating such a masterpiece. It had a healing effect on my soul. I loved S2 and 3 even more than S1. The performances of the actors were outstanding. I believed every word they said, particularly Charlotte and Xander.

[@lindaweaver6675]

We know that season 3 is all ready. Please, Please, Please do not make us wait until 2023. We need to see what happens with colburne and Charlotte Before the end of the year. We LOVE Colburne!!!!

[@ns2110theonly]

Am I the only one who likes Ben better than Theo in every way?

[@mevrouw]

Me too, his chemistry with Charlotte was such wonderful. I'm looking forward to next season

[@ns2110theonly]

@@mevrouwloved their chemistry so much, can’t wait for next season ❤️

[@franceshadden4062]

No, I believe Ben Lloyd Hughes is such a good actor, can bring out so many emotions without saying one word, and he’s so athletic makes it even better. Talented 100 percent.

[@rachels9598]

Yup. I like Charlotte better in season 2 also. Seems to go better with Alexander.

[@karenshurley4793]

Agreed! Alexander’s backstory makes it understandable about his personality so, we know why he’s defensive. I never figured out what Sydney’s problems were to have him treat Charlotte like he did.

[@simonecarey296]

I'm looking forward to seeing the 3rd season. If there's going to have the the 3rd season.👍💪🥳🥳🥳

[@gabby6121]

My favorite season of the two ❤️🥺🥰

[@toby986]

I have watched season 1,2 and 3. I love them all! I especially loved the relationship between Charlotte and her sister Allison. So beautiful! In season 2 the sets, costuming and comedy was amazing! Such a well-written script full of wit, drama and beautiful touching moments. Thank you to all involved in producing the last two seasons of this gorgeous story!

[@mayfirst1555]

I love season 2 more.

[@lisawilliamson3385]

Loving series 2 much better than series 1 at the moment. Hopeful for happy ending this time but fear that might be a series 3 event!! Thanks to everyone for 2 more seasons and making it available in UK/US at same time to avoid too many online spoilers! 👏

[@frogprincess8203]

Love it, thanks so much Masterpiece for making this available to everyone 💚

[@vickiduncan6082]

Love the show very much and I hope Charlotte ends up with Alex Colbourneb and there is a real spark between them. can't wait for season 3

[@msnovembertuesdayrhodes6813]

I'm really enjoying S2 so far. Talented cast. Beautiful cinematography and intriguing storylines. Can't wait to see the rest of this season and the next. Wonderful interview!

[@stephenmorse8811]

That was a great watch. There is absolutely no drop in quality from Season 1 to Season 2. The storylines are so clever, the script so well written and witty when required. Esther's lines and expressions are brilliant. I'm so pleased that Season 3 is already filmed though I presume we're going to have to wait 12 months to see it. Overall, following the 'cancellation' and great disappointment following Season 1, the 'rebirth' of the story is almost too good to be true.

[@claudiadc4682]

Thank you for continuing the story. You are correct in stating that an Austen novel is about the female character finding her way in the world. And this second season does that for Charlotte.

[@TropicalPassionFruit]

Love season 2! Great comeback with all the hurdles to deal with. Love the Colbourne family moments (Flora Mitchell is fantastic), and new additions Mrs. Wheatley and Miss Hankins. Like that Sydney is still mentioned throughout. Alexander Colbourne has become my favorite character. Love Esther’s and Clara’s storyline. The cliffhangers are suspenseful but why so overly painful? I literally felt like I was punched in the stomach for season 1 and assuming season 2 cliffhanger will do me in! Thank you so much for this wonderful show.

[@ccburro1]

Highly addictive. I love that this is an “ensemble” show-Charlotte is the key character, but Georgianna, Esther, and other beloved (or not beloved, but fascinating-Lennox-TWJ plays the complex Lennox manipulator brilliantly) characters have story arcs. So many beautiful/emotionally-touching/gratifying scenes to enjoy!

[@IrinaK84]

What a nice conversation, friendly atmosphere! Let's get together and have this meeting again after Sanditon season 3 comes out, please! 🙏

[@MsTazzie09]

I love this series I love that it is coming back for season 3

[@SvetlanaGromova]

Thank you, Sanditon Cast & Crew! Love season 2, so many twists, romance and Jane Austen's easter eggs! Excited and can not wait for Season 3!

[@nancyw1427]

Not just in the UK and America. We get Sanditon on PBS Masterpiece Theatre in Canada, too, simultaneously with the States.

[@patriciabarnes4301]

I enjoy it and wish we got season 3 right away!

[@amritawhitman8112]

I enjoyed every minute of this Q&A and I hope we see more interviews soon! Each episode has been a joy to watch, although I was surprised to learn they already filmed Season 3! Of course you know Episode 6 will end on a cliffhanger, which in turn will make waiting a full 12 months before we see the next season very difficult for us!! 😥

[@heatherpelletier8579]

Thanks to Masterpiece we get to see what happens to all these wonderful characters can’t wait for S3 thank you

[@maryhoelscher5465]

I don't appreciate the wait we are having to wait!!!! You have a hit season 3 is done Making us wait is heartless I love the show Besides the wait. Justin, Charolette and Alex belong together. I hope you realized this

[@loriemorse4031]

So Grateful, Sanditon continues w. S2 & 3! The renewal fan campaign was passionate & persevering. Look forward to seeing MORE beautiful dancing, at upcoming balls. Enjoying Charlotte & Georgiana's story continuation. Adore seeing returning Characters & intrigued by New ones!

[@bobvilcko5966]

Loving Season 2

[@jediwanderer]

Loved season 1 but loving season 2 even more. I truly appreciate the new dynamics and story lines. It breaks my heart, what Lady Babington is going through. That dastardly step-brother of hers needs to go away (I’m hoping for some serious karma for him). Excellent writing, acting, sets, clothing…I’m in awe and so grateful to Masterpiece for continuing our journey in Sanditon.

[@jediwanderer]

Just watched Episode 6. Grateful that Clara came clean. Being victimized as she was, this was incredibly brave of her. As for the rest of the storylines, I was surprised by some, but expected others. So grateful for this series!!!

[@rachels9598]

Thanks heavens Clara did the right thing for Esther & baby George. It will be amusing to see Lady Denham deal with that snake, Edward!!!

[@Midlife_Manical_Mayhem]

i love how this is based on jane austin, but since it was not finished, its so open ended! there is no known ending that can't be changed or a different road to be traveled with characters. we all miss sidney, but what a fantastic replacement with ben and tom. (i think i am team colbourne)

[@19WEEZ46]

I really hope they bring back the Lord Babbington character, if not the original actor, than another. Esther deserves to be happy with her husband and their baby!

[@AoibheannStateira]

As a fellow "left handed crab" as my mother still calls me, I feel Ben's pain over the quill writing. The struggle is real.

[@jaimicottrill2831]

Yes, I am a lefty here and could never write with a fountain pen because it would smudge terribly! You have to hold the pen weirdly to stop it.

[@AoibheannStateira]

@@jaimicottrill2831 See I have a fountain pen and I love it, but the paper has to absorb the ink instantly. When I find paper that does the thing I stock pile it like it's the apocalypse. Lol.

[@jaimicottrill2831]

@@AoibheannStateira good idea! i just find pens that dont live too much ink on the paper.

[@karenshurley4793]

Another lefty; the pain of using a quill(even a modern pen)leaves ink all over my hand. My handwriting is bad enough, I must keep my hand off the page - and I fail miserably 🤨

[@laurenthompson4321]

Thank you for continuing it!

[@be1icious]

So excited #SanditonIsSaved !!!!

[@amritawhitman8112]

I was glad to hear that they wrote the beginning of the first episode intentionally to dispel any ideas the audience may have that we will see Sidney return to the series! The short behind the scenes videos are wonderful to watch, but so much attention to detail by the incredibly talented production team really deserves an hour long special along the same lines as what they did with Downton Abbey. I hope we can look forward to that either after Season 2 or Season 3.

[@margaritamaximova4556]

I've only discovered Sanditon now and it's such a perfect antidote after seeing the horrible Persuasion adaptation on Netflix. I truly love Ben Lloyd Hughes and his character, thousand times more intriguing than the Sidney Parker character (in my opinion). All the emotional charge is in the silences, physicality, eyes...it's so romantic

[@whimsicalwoodsywriter8645]

Ready to see Augusta find love in season 4. Maybe a tiny time jump, so Mary (Mary and Tom's oldest daughter) and Leo can join in. Would love more, such a great show!

[@dawnjezowski8955]

I really disliked Esther in season one but have grown to love her in season two. I hope her husband returns to her in season 3 and her rotten step brother gets his due. Hoping the rest of the characters find their own happiness as I loved the developing relationship between Rose and Ben.

[@ccburro1]

Yes-Esther was pretty cold, insular, insecure in S1-Edward “encouraged” that. He wanted Esther to be emotionally dependent on him. And I think that, as with Charlotte and Sidney in S1, With Babbington, Esther is her “truest self, her best self” (I may have gotten the line backwards).

[@g.l9628]

Hope ben and rose works on anther project love this cast as well

[@veronicadeeang6599]

The best zoom chat I have seen ever!

[@SMaryG]

I'm really enjoying watching season 2. Incredibile cast, beautiful locations and photography, gripping storyline. I love both the comedy/romance and the drama in it 💞

[@MashaAugust]

Season 2 is better than season 1 ❤️

[@jenniferchu6029]

11:40 19:40 25:30 44:40 love, love, love BLH

[@karenshurley4793]

I love Ben’s sense of humor - he looks so somber and pained when he has to deal with someone or something.

[@roseschocolate1991]

For some reason I had no clue that Crystal who plays Miss Lamb is American until watching this. But I love how in this Q&A her voice is a bit hybrid like mid Atlantic or something. She’ll be saying something that sounds totally American, & then a word or 2 she says sound British. It sounded like this to my ear anyway.

[@barbdawson1850]

Thank you all, great work. Can we get a Season 4 please? BTW the music was awesome.

[@my_name_taken]

Jane Austen’s sister Cassandra was engaged to a man who went to the Caribbean to earn enough money to marry. Sadly, he died of yellow fever and Cassandra never married. I wonder if this tidbit inspired the writers when they had to decide how to seal Sidney’s fate? So tragic in real life and fiction. Thank goodness they filmed seasons 2 & 3 together so there would be no risk of being forced to write someone out again.

[@polinamarchenko1007]

I would like in S3 (hope it will be)) the competition between Sydney (hope he is somehow not dead for good)) and Colbourne for Charlotte. And as soon as I liked Ben's acting more than Theo's one - I would be for Colbourne))

[@rachelsmith5479]

The writers have said repeatedly (in this interview even) that they were very intentional in killing off Sidney so that Charlotte could make a clean break and the fans wouldn’t be waiting for him to come back. He’s dead. Besides, if he magically resurrected he’d still be married to Eliza...

[@adelairgobborodrigues6635]

Minha série preferida e perfeita. Eu amo Sanditon 😍🇧🇷❤️

[@Catsarefab]

Why Why Why do we have to wait for another 46 ish weeks for S3 😭😭😭😭😭

[@melbas07]

For some reasons, I felt Rose sadness in her eyes when it was mentioned by Suzanna and Belinda that Season 3 has been already completed? And also the mention of the main male character from Season 1. I felt it. I feel sad too and it sounds crazy but it seems like what I wish to happen in the final season will not come true. I am preparing myself to be heartbroken forever... I miss that magic :( I wish Jane Austen finished her novel.

[@rachellindsay2859]

Thank you for this interview of both some of the actors and behind the scenes folks. Sanditon is a wonderful, remarkable production. The moderator of the panel detracted a bit with her mispronunciation of Sanditon, too fast speech pattern, so many ums, and dropping volume at end of each sentence. Not the best choice.

[@AmberWaves-WA-State]

Season 2 is easier to watch since we know the characters now. Season 1 took awhile to get into the story

[@loganstumpm6217]

Yeah you're right But now we know the characters Where are you watching from?

[@marinap3966]

When can we see the show in Switzerland or Germany or Italy? Loved the first season and looking forward to season 2 and 3… must be great! By the way we can watch the british channels in Switzerland… Itv, bbc etc.

[@DorotheaSchmidt-Kettner]

Ich liebe Sanditon und seine sympathischen Schauspieler . Leider kann ich der Unterhaltung mit meinen englischen Kenntnissen( Schule)“ kaum folgen.Schade. 9:45

[@francescagillon2018]

I appreciated Season 1 very much but still it felt very much like a Scottish shower to me. Of course the script writer knows all about Jane Austen and her family as well as her novels and characters. Obviously he has read Claire Tomalin's biography which reads particularly well but still the plot is nevertheless a bit chaotic. Just to give you one example Eliza was Jane Austen's cousin who married a french aristocrat before getting married to Jane's brother Henry who was in love with her all along.

[@sradakovlovebird11]

not really sure I love it after my absolute astonishment with the season 1

[@heatherpelletier8579]

Hi Ben my left handed friend

[@jazminvirgilioescamilla6179]

Yo siento que Mr. Colbourne sí se casa con Charlotte, y viven felices por un rato, perooooo al final Colbourne muere.

[@sharonzulick5715]

Charlotte grew up. The country girl .

[@courtneydor2vintage632]

👍😃

[@user-bh8vo3pk7o]

Franchement la Saison 2 sans le Trio amoureux ne vaudrait rien ! Alex, Frank et Rosie sont les meilleurs ! Ben..Rose et Chrystal sont des acteurs 2ème zone ! Je ne regarderai pas la Saison3 !!!

[@TheBluesky58]

Love you all but I still miss Sidney ha lol

[@jenniferward5216]

Should Masterpiece ever end I will not have a life I am so involved with PBS that other channels are not pulling me anymore.

[@jamesb9562]

Just watched episode 6. another very disappointing season finale. I'm so annoyed!!!!!!!!!!!! Damn you Sanditon writers!!!

[@skiddledede8885]

Oh dear Rose...those fingernails! Just...why?

[@cheriecarson8100]

Why can we watch it in Australia? I love this story.

[@cheriecarson8100]

Why can't we watch it in Australia? I live this story.

[@ainsleycarland6071]

Foxtel and binge

[@muffpuff6604]

Characters are rich as usual. Really appreciate seeing Charlotte’s continual growth as a person. I can’t imagine her with any of the new potential love interests, however. Neither of them has the same or similar appeal as Sidney (Theo James) and there is no palpable chemistry with Charlotte. Please do everything you can to get Theo back so they can rekindle their relationship. Felt like the first season was just a teaser and very much would like to see the passion play out between them. The loss of Sidney has made the series less compelling to watch.

[@annydelbroucq2476]

Monsieur colbourne je vous est trouvé odieux avec Charlotte quant on ne veux pas s'acoquiner avec sa gouvernante on ne touche pas on ne regarde même pas cette dernière

[@sherilynwb]

I felt like I was watching modern day murder mystery series not Jane Austen. I wonder if Jane Austen would like her stories used as a modern-day propaganda device. Not a Colbourne fan!

[@halaroberts5343]

What bullshit...Producers, writers...you all stuffed it up and betrayed all of the Sanditon fans. You have turned it into a B grade Regency period drama, trying to compete with Bridgeton. It will fail miserably!!! All the new characters are crap and very lazy writing.

[@Famous5821]

Sorry you feel that way, I think they decided to not centre around one person/ character. Look what happened after all of us fans got invested in Theo James' character. Hope you keep watching though. The fact you watched Season 1 shows you love good period dramas. Us fans need to stick it out.

[@loiaconolaura]

Mi piace tantissimo la seconda stagione è molto più appassionante è credibile😍😍😍