Outlander's Lauren Lyle reflects on ‘life-changing’ show, hints final season might not be 'a full goodbye'

Virgin Radio

4 Jul 2024, 10:20

As she prepares to say goodbye to Marsali in Outlander, actress Lauren Lyle has reflected on her time in the beloved historical drama. 

The Starz series, starring Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe, will come to an end in the upcoming eighth series, which is currently in production and expected to air next year. 

Lauren is making a comeback as Marsali MacKimmie Fraser after leaving in series six, and during an exclusive chat with virginradio.co.uk, the star revealed she was keen to close this chapter for good…or at least for right now. 

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“It's dead weird being back,” Lauren confessed. “It's cool. It's like nothing's changed, but everything's changed, it's really good. I really wanted to say goodbye to that character, for the fans and to sign it off.”

The Something in the Water actress then hinted that Outlander’s future might not be set in stone. 

“Whether or not it's a full goodbye, we don't know,” she teased. “But it's a sign off that it's like…it changed my life that show and the fans changed my life. I wanted to do it for that and just to culminate that story. 

“It’s been so important, and it's such a brilliant show, I'm really pleased to be back.”

When asked about what fans can expect from Outlander series eight, it seems there’s plenty of tension to come.

“As always, I can’t tell you anything, but it's very dramatic, like you'll be in tears. I think you'll be in tears a lot. And Marsali’s got so many kids again, it's ridiculous.”

Meanwhile, Lauren is heading back to some more familiar ground for series two of Karen Pirie. Based on the second of Val McDermid’s hugely popular crime novels, A Darker Domain, the hotly-anticipated new series of the ITV crime drama will see the return of Lauren as the titular Scottish investigator.

“It's so cool to be back,” Lauren said elated at her return to the Karen Pirie set. Regarding what we can expect from the next instalment, she said: “The story is very electric. It's mad! You'll never guess what happens!”

Series two will feature three brand new episodes, with the likes of DC Jason ‘Mint’ Murray (Chris Jenks), DS Phil Parhatka (Zach Wyatt) and DCS Lees (Steve John Shepherd) all making a comeback, along with River Wilde (played by writer Emer Kenny) and more.

“The gang are back with Phil and ‘Mint’ Murray, and we've got some new detectives as well,” Lauren told us. “And it's just good to see Karen on her march again, and out to get the bad guys. So it's been brilliant.”

She continued: “Scotland's landscapes, you just cannot, I guess, compare or match that. You couldn't do it somewhere else. You can’t replicate it elsewhere. I really think Scotland's kind of an unmatched landscape. Gareth [Bryn], our director, really loves a big, dramatic wide shot.

“So, to get all that going again and be back with the gang, it's been so fun. And it's funny. It's funnier than last season as well, like, darker and funnier. So I think we're just pushing it harder because it’s done so well.”

The second part of season seven of Outlander is expected to premiere in November 2024. Karen Pirie will air on ITV1 and be available for streaming on ITVX. Catch up on series one of Karen Pirie on ITVX now.