Traces series 2, filmed in Bolton, will air on Alibi

The star-studded series Traces is back for another season, which will be shown on the Alibi Channel.

Starring Line of Duty star, Martin Compston, filming of one of the crucial scenes of the series caused drama and excitement in Bolton town centre in May.

It is the latest in a raft of productions filmed in and around the town, including Peaky Blinders, the latest season of which is to air soon on BBC One.

Cllr Hilary Fairclough said: "It is wonderful that Bolton is the place of choice for many dramas and of course Coronation Street.

"Bolton has a long history going back into the 1960s with films, including the Spring and Port Wine play, and of course The Family Way.

"We have such an interesting backdrop, and it certainly puts us on the map for all the right reasons."

Filming continues for Traces series 2 in Bolton

BBC drama Traces season 2: Crews film bomb scene outside Bolton Market Place

Corporation Street in the town was transformed into the aftermath of bomb explosion for Traces.

Traces, season 2 filming in Bolton

Emergency vehicles including fire engine, ambulance and police vehicles were on set as part of the shoot with police tape blocking off the area.

Laura Fraser, who plays Professor Sarah Gordon, and Michael Nardone, who stars as D.I. Neil McKinven, were both seen set wearing blue forensic suits.

The filming also sparked confusion with some local residents when 'emergency services' appeared to be taking over one Bolton street.

Film crews, as well as police cars, a bomb disposal unit and a fire engine were also opposite Derby Street.

REVEALED: Where in Bolton the hit drama Traces is filmed

Traces S2 - Episode 01 - BTS.Picture shows: Laura Fraser filming a scene.

Series one was aired on the BBC last  May and drewn in more than six million viewers.

In the official synopsis lab assistant Emma Hedges, played by Three Girls actress, Molly Windsor, is now training to be a forensic chemist and is on the cusp of seeing her mother’s murder case finally resolved in the eyes of the law.

Daniel, played by Martin, is to give evidence against his father in the High Court. Meanwhile, Emma’s friends and mentors at The Scottish Institute of Forensic Science and Anatomy are investigating a deadly bombing campaign in Dundee, which Bolton doubles up as.

In an interview with Alibi, Martin described Traces as 'a dark, twisty, crime drama'.

📺 #Traces returns to @alibi_channel on Tues 15 Feb!@MollyWindsor97, @martin_compston, Laura Fraser, @SpenceJen and @MrMikeNardone will star in the second series of @UKTV and @RedProductionCo’s suspense-fuelled thriller, distributed by @BBCStudios. pic.twitter.com/iTmmcqZF88

— BBC Studios (@bbcstudios) January 19, 2022

Speaking to Creative England, which facilitates filming, Assistant Location Manager, Laura Power said of the first series: "We found some fantastic places, especially in Bolton, where we used an old retail space and then also council buildings that were opposite each other."

The series, produced by RED production Company which also made the recent Channel 4 drama It’s A Sin - also filmed in Bolton — is based on an original idea by best-selling crime writer Val McDermid where forensic science takes centre stage.

Traces Season 2 will air at 9pm on Tuesday.