Outlander sensation Sam Heughan is set to bow out from the sizzling romantic thriller The Couple Next Door, which had UK viewers on the edge of their seats last year.

As the show gears up for its highly anticipated US premiere on Starz, Channel 4 has excitedly announced that a second season is in the pipeline.

Yet, fans will be in for a twist as the original cast, including heartthrobs Heughan, Eleanor Tomlinson, Alfred Enoch, and Jessica De Gouw, won't be returning for the new instalment.

Season two promises fresh intrigue with a brand-new ensemble, spearheaded by The Split's Annabel Scholey.

Joining the tantalising drama are Sam Palladio of The Princess Switch fame, Aggy K Adams known for her role in The Witcher, and Sendhil Ramamurthy from One Piece, reports .

While new romances are set to ignite, Hugh Dennis from Outnumbered is slated to return as Alan, ensuring some continuity for fans.

Heughan has kept mum on his departure but recently teased fans with a clip featuring DeWanda Wise from Three Women, sparking excitement about the first season's imminent release on Starz.

Annabel Scholey expressed her enthusiasm, stating: "I am delighted to be joining the brilliant team behind Channel 4's The Couple Next Door."

She added, "I was a big fan of series one and I am excited to be delving into David Allison's gripping new script with a hugely talented cast and crew, whilst going back to my West Yorkshire roots, as heart surgeon Charlotte Roberts."

Filming has already kicked off in Belgium, with the new story unfolding in a setting reminiscent of a classic suburban cul-de-sac.

As Scholey divulged, she will be taking on the role of a heart surgeon, forming one half of an ambitious couple along with Palladio's character Jacob, who is a consultant anaesthetist.

A tantalising official synopsis reveals: "Working her way into Charlotte and Jacob's confidence and eventually their bed, Mia also quickly befriends cul-de-sac outcast Alan (Dennis) whilst Charlotte has to handle the reappearance of past flame Leo (Ramamurthy).

"However, it's not long before Mia's past comes back to haunt her, leading Charlotte and Jacob to question who she really is, especially when patients at the hospital mysteriously start dying."

The teaser continues: "But one thing is clear, giving into desires can have deadly consequences.."

While showrunner David Allison may yet have an ace up his sleeve by resurrecting Heughan's persona PC Danny Whitwell in a stunning comeback, current signs suggest he's sticking around 18th Century Scotland for now.

Heughan's portrayal as the stoic Highlander Jamie Fraser is set to resume shortly, with the eagerly awaited second instalment of Outlander season seven due to air just over a week from now.

The much-loved Starz series, transporting viewers through history, is slated for an eighth narrative chapter next year, promised to conclude the epic romance of Jamie and Claire (Caitriona Balfe).

The Couple Next Door is available to stream on Channel 4.

Outlander season seven part two premieres on Friday, November 22, on MGM+ via Prime Video in the UK and on Starz in the US.