This City is Ours series two first look pictures released

The BBC has released first look pictures of the second series of award-winning hit drama This City is Ours, created and written by Stephen Butchard and produced by Left Bank Pictures. The series will be making its much-anticipated return to BBC iPlayer and BBC One this autumn.

Series one of This City is Ours launched on BBC iPlayer and BBC One in March 2025 to critical acclaim, and received BAFTA Television Award nominations for Best Drama and Leading Actor (James Nelson-Joyce). The series attracted an average of 6.1 million viewers to-date. The first episode has seen more than 8.2 million viewers to-date, more than quadrupling its initial overnight figure of 1.9 million. Almost three million people streamed the series finale ahead of its BBC One transmission that May.

James Nelson-Joyce, who won the Best Breakthrough Talent Award at the RTS North West Awards 2025 for his role in This City is Ours, is seen in the first look returning as Michael Kavanagh, alongside Hannah Onslow as Diana Williams, Michael’s partner.

Returning cast also seen in the first look are Jack McMullen as Jamie Phelan, Mike Noble as Banksey, Julie Graham as Elaine Phelan, widow of murdered gang leader Ronnie (Sean Bean), Laura Aikman as Rachel Duffy, Kevin Harvey as Bobby Duffy, Saoirse-Monica Jackson as Cheryl Crawford, Darci Shaw as Melissa Sullivan, Adam Abbou as Freddie, and Bobby Schofield as Bonehead.

Seen for the first time in the newly released pictures are new cast members Shaun Evans (Until I Kill You, Endeavour) as former gangster Ozzie Thompson, recently out of prison, and Álvaro Morte (Money Heist, Immaculate, The Wheel of Time) as Felipe Guzman, member of the Colombian cartel and younger brother of Ricardo, who was murdered at the end of the first series.

Picking up from where things were left at the end of series one, Michael and Diana have barely arrived in Spain when they are dragged back into the fold to answer questions around Ricardo’s death. Back in Liverpool, tensions continue to bubble amongst the remaining members of the gang. Meanwhile, an old school gangster from Ronnie's era, recently out of prison, wants compensation from the firm.

This City is Ours (8x60) is produced by Left Bank Pictures for BBC iPlayer and BBC One. It was commissioned for the BBC by Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama. It is created by Stephen Butchard, who serves as lead writer, with Robbie O'Neill writing a further episode. The executive producers are Andy Harries, Rebecca Hodgson and Sian McWilliams for Left Bank Pictures, Stephen Butchard, Saul Dibb, and Jo McClellan for the BBC. The directors are Saul Dibb, returning as lead director from series one, John Hayes (Dublin Murders, Nightsleeper) also returning from series one, and Chris Baugh (In Flight, Wreck). The series producer is Simon Maloney, and the block two producer is Nathan Juckes, both returning from series one. Sony Pictures Television will distribute the series internationally.

This City is Ours was filmed in and around Liverpool, with additional filming in Spain. Series two is coming to BBC iPlayer and BBC One in the Autumn. Watch series one in full on BBC iPlayer.

MB

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