Bernard Cornwell series The Last Kingdom returns to BBC 2 tonight.

We chatted to its cast about what to expect…

This interview contains spoilers forThe Last Kingdomseries one.

Its a year of inadvertent real-world relevance for escapist TV drama.

As right wing nationalism bleeds into European politics,SS-GBhappens to imagine an England occupied by Nazis.

None of it was intentional, but all of it makes for richer viewing.

The parallels betweenThe Last Kingdoms political questions and todays havent been lost on its cast.

Thats who we are.

Hes caught between two different cultures, explains Dawson.

Uhtred is a very modern character.

Even though he adheres to the Viking gods, he doesnt let himself be limited by that.

Other characters inThe Last Kingdomare more bound by their faith.

Christianity, says Eliza Butterworth of her character, Alfreds wife Aelswith, defines every action she takes.

If only [Uhtred] would accept God, then were all sorted!

And stop being such a c*** laughs Dreymon under his breath.

He means an arseling, surely?

Series two has changed Uhtred, Dreymon tells us.

In the second series his journey goes on and he becomes older and has more responsibility.

I think little parts of him keep dying, says Dreymon.

Those are hard blows to take and it gets tougher in season two.

Losing the love of my life… he starts, before correcting himself in light of Uhtreds wandering eye.

Well, the love of my life thats debatable I guess he laughs.

Nor could you accuse its laugh-happy lead of being a typical brooding hero.

As Dreymon says, Who wants to watch a series without humour?.

Uhtred of Bebbanburg isnt the only one changing in series two.

King Alfred of Wessex is also on his way to earning his epithet the Great Dawson tells us.

This time, youll see him determined to create an identity.

What does it mean culturally, morally to be English.

He believed hugely in education and that working class people should be literate.

Historically, Alfred did it all himself.

There was no Uhtred.

Its so funny, I felt like I was getting my back up then!

They cant stand each other, he says, but they need each other to achieve their goals.

If they both had a bit of what the other ones got, theyd both be sorted.

Haligs more of a servant than Leofric, says Kearns.

Hes on his right-hand side.

Travelling with Uhtred the godless does cause Halig some existential issues in series two, says Kearn.

I know in the first series, he would have followed the Christian code of the time.

Hes aware of that in the second series, he is stuck in a purgatory, a no-mans land.

She has a bit of a rough ride.

Its just good moisturiser!

Were aged down and up.

We can expect Aethelflaed to be much more than a subservient princess, Brady promises.

Shes taken on her dads fierce intelligence and her mums strong will.

She wont be the only warrior in series two.

Theres never enough time to shoot battle scenes or fight scenes.

It always feels rushed.

Anytime horses are involved, it eats up time like crazy.

Hasnt Netflix coming aboard for series two led to an influx of new resources?

Dreymon laughs, No!

I dont know about you guys but I havent seen any!

We have a drone!

Its the same drone they had in series one, it transpires.

The thick furs also make some everyday functions difficult, Dreymon goes on.

Peeing in the costumes is quite a challenge.

Its easier being a Mercian, says Regbo.

Were a more cloth-based race.

It only takes one Marilyn Monroe-style wind to…

Enough toilet talk, back to the politics.

Her marriage in series two is all about the political alliance explains Butterworth.

Generally, we thought men ruled, but she was a huge part of why England is now England.

Thats one of my favourite bits of this series.

She was a proto-Feminist so shed slip into the feminism movement.

Or the presenter onSongs Of Praise.

As for dad Alfred, hes riled by the accusation that today hed be a Tory politician.

Hes for the people!

Hes not a Tory!

And Uhtred son of Uhtred?

The leader of some sort of revolutionary group, probably, something underground, maybe Anonymous?

says Dreymon, before pondering for a second.

Or he might be a pot-head?

That would go better with the hairstyle.

The Last Kingdom series two starts tonight, Thursday the 16thof March at 9pm on BBC Two.