Viewers were upset when Theo James, who played Sidney, decided not to return to the show after it was picked up for second and third seasons almost two years after its premiere. The series was originally canceled before it even premiered in the U.S. but fan fervor and persistent social media campaigning caused PBS and BritBox to partner up to bring additional seasons to the show. Based on an unfinished novel from Jane Austen, the first season of Sanditon built up a grand love story between Charlotte and Sidney, but aside from a single kiss their love would be unrequited as Sidney agreed to marry another so his brother’s business dealings would not fall into ruin. In the second season opener, we learned Sidney had died from yellow fever while in Antigua. This opened up a mystery that will be explored throughout the season—why did Sidney go to Antigua and for what purpose? With Georgiana (Crystal Clarke) taking Sidney’s death much harder than she realizes, Tom and Mary Parker (Kris Marshall and Kate Ashfield) send for Charlotte to return to Sanditon to spend the summer there and hopefully lift Georgiana’s spirits. This time, Charlotte is joined by her sister, Alison (Rosie Graham). The season premiere introduced us to several new characters and potential love interests for both Charlotte and Alison as well as Georgiana. Joining the cast are Tom Weston-Jones as Colonel Francis Lennox, Ben Lloyd-Hughes as the reclusive Alexander Colbourne, Maxim Ays as Captain William Carter, Frank Blake as Captain Declan Fraser and Alexander Vlahos as artist Charles Lockhart. In the next episode of Sanditon, Charlotte starts her new job as a Governess for the mysterious Alexander Colbourne (Lloyd-Hughes). Alison (Graham) is determined to be reunited with her knight in shining armor, and Georgiana (Clarke) finds out some bad news from Antigua. Meanwhile, Lady Denham (Anne Reid) receives an unexpected and unwanted surprise while Tom (Marshall) and Colonel Lennox (Weston-Jones) make plans for Sanditon’s development. Check out the Parade.com exclusive sneak peek of the next episode of Sanditon below. New episodes of Sanditon premiere on Sunday nights at 9 p.m. ET on PBS. Next, Theo James On Playing a Jane Austen Romantic Hero in Sanditon
