RTÉ and ITVX have revealed a first look at the cast of the highly anticipated second series of The Dry, which will air on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player later in the spring.

The 8-part comedy drama is produced by Oscar nominated production company Element Pictures (Poor Things, Normal People, The Gallows Pole), a Fremantle company for RTÉ and ITVX, in association with Fís Eireann/Screen Ireland, Coimisiún na Meán and ITV Studios.

Written by BAFTA-nominated screenwriter Nancy Harris (Dates) and directed by Paddy Breathnach (Viva, Rosie), the images reveal a budding new romance brewing for Shiv (Roisin Gallagher) with newcomer Alex (Sam Keeley) and feature an anxious and forlorn Tom (Ciarán Hinds), as a man on the verge of losing everything. A new friendship arises for Bernie (Pom Boyd) with her sponsor Billy (Thommas Kane Byrne), and we see a return to home comforts for Ant (Adam Richardson) and Caroline (Siobhán Cullen).

The storyline picks up seven months on from the events of the first series, and we now meet the Sheridans in their new normal. To all outward appearances, it seems like the family is relatively content: Shiv’s been sober, celibate, and solvent for six months, Ant has hung onto his job at the estate agents and his relationship with Max, and Caroline’s making up for a lost time by shagging everyone she meets on Tinder. So far, so normal… Or is it? After all, how normal is it for three grown adults to still be living at home with their parents? Are the Sheridan’s really happy with this new status quo, or have they just rearranged their dysfunction and found another groove of denial to fit into?

Shiv is determined to get sobriety right this time, to cut the toxic influences out of her life for good. But what if the biggest threat to Shiv’s stability turns out to be closer to home? Giving up alcohol is one thing…but what about giving up your family?

The Dry series 2 is an 8 x 30 mins drama commissioned by Dermot Horan, Director of Acquisitions and Co-Productions for RTÉ and ITV’s Head of Scripted Comedy Nana Hughes for ITVX. Emma Norton, Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe are executive producers for Element Pictures, alongside Nancy Harris and Paddy Breathnach. Ingrid Goodwin is the series producer. Filming took place in and around Dublin. ITV Studios are responsible for the international distribution of The Dry series 2.

The second series will air on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player later in the spring, and will stream exclusively on ITVX in the UK from the 14th March. The first series is available to watch on RTÉ Player now.