Filming on the BBC One Sunday night hit drama, The Musketeers, has got underway in Prague this week for a second series, with Marc Warren (Hustle, Mad Dogs) joining the cast to play the Comte De Rochefort, a dashing and persuasive aristocrat with a talent for sword fighting and a taste for adventure.

The first series premiered in January this year and proved a successful addition to the channel’s line-up, with a series average of 6.3 million across the 10 episodes, and the opening episode being the BBC’s third highest drama launch in the past decade. The Musketeers is also thrilling audiences across the globe, so far sold to 20 broadcasters who will transmit in 78 countries.

Returning for series two is Luke Pasqualino (Skins, The Borgias) as D’Artagnan, Tom Burke (Great Expectations, The Hour) as Athos, Santiago Cabrera (Merlin, Heroes) as Aramis and Howard Charles (Royal Shakespeare Company) as Porthos. Created by Adrian Hodges, this is his fresh and contemporary take on the classic characters in the much-loved novel by Alexandre Dumas.

Marc Warren’s character, Rochefort, is a man nursing many secrets and a very dark past. As the series progresses the true nature of his plotting is revealed and everyone around him is drawn into his sinister web. Ultimately, only the Musketeers and their loyal allies and friends stand between him and a desperate act that will change all their lives forever.

Marc Warren says: “I’m delighted to be part of the BBC’s stylish and exciting take on the Dumas classic. Once I’ve overcome my fear of horses I’m sure it’ll be a walk in the park.”

BBC executive producer Jessica Pope says: “Adrian and I were thrilled to welcome Marc to the cast. He’s a clever and mercurial actor who will bring danger and charm to the role of Rochefort in equal measure.”

Set on the streets of 17th-century Paris where law and order is more an idea than reality, the series follows The Musketeers who are far more than King Louis XIII’s personal bodyguards, but ultimately stand resolutely for social justice: for honour, for valour, for love and for the thrill of it.

Tamla Kari (Cuckoo, The Inbetweeners Movie), Maimie McCoy (Loving Miss Hatto), Hugo Speer (Bedlam), Ryan Gage (The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug) and Alexandra Dowling (Agatha Christie: Poirot) also return for another thrilling 10-part series (10×60), made by BBC Drama Production and co-produced by BBC WorldWide and BBC America.

Jessica Pope is the BBC executive producer, Adrian Hodges is an executive producer and lead writer, and Colin Wratten is producer.