Fun fact: the first season of The Bear was the most-watched comedy series in the history of FX, boasting that oh-so-rare 100% ‘fresh’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

All about an ailing Chicago sandwich shop, it told the story of Carmy Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White), a celebrated chef who returns home to save the family business after the suicide of his brother. A world away from the glitzy restaurants he’s used to, Carmy finds the reality of owning a small business to be… well, to be utterly soul-crushing, to be honest. Especially as everyone – from the rough-around-the-edges kitchen staff to his emotionally distant relatives – is still grappling with their own grief.

It was chaotic, compelling and incredibly tense, too. Overwhelmingly, though, this indie-feeling show was a wildly original workplace drama – and one that hammers home the importance of chosen family. So, yes, we lost our minds a little bit when the show’s second season was released in the US back in June (to overwhelmingly positive reviews, of course), while we here in the UK were forced to sit and twiddle our thumbs.

Now, at long last, our wait is over: The Bear season 2 will drop via Disney+ on 19 July.

Watch the trailer for The Bear season 2 below:

The Bear season 2: we finally have a UK release date, thank goodness