David Morrissey and Keeley Hawes have joined series two of 'The Missing'.

David Morrissey

David Morrissey

The 'Walking Dead' star and the 'Ashes to Ashes' actress are set to start in the BBC One crime drama as on-screen husband and wife Sam and Gemma as they in the hunt for their missing daughter Alice, played by Abigail Hardingham, who suddenly vanished in 2003.

The comeback series follows the same theme as its BAFTA-winning predecessor, split over two timelines again, tracing Abigail's shock return to her German hometown after her 11-year absence.

Newcomer David, 51, will replace 'Cold Feet's James Nesbitt in the lead role after it was announced he will not be returning for this year's series.

The Northern Ireland actor - who played devoted father Tony Hughes who was determined to find out what happened to his young son Olly - told The Radio Times: "I was talking to someone about the ending and I was saying it definitely wasn't Olly at the end. Tony is demented and Oliver is dead and the only place that Tony can find solace is in this demented world. And that was how I was playing it."

However, fans will be thrilled to learn Tchéky Karyom will reprise his role as French Detective Julien Baptiste in the second series, while original writers Harry and Jack Williams, who are brothers, are also on board.

Series two has is set to run an eight-part series of one hour episodes and is rumoured to return to screens early next year.