In recent times, many dramas have been set against the backdrop of Liverpool, from Protection to The Gathering. One of the latest additions to the list is This City Is Ours, which is more than just another gritty crime drama; it’s a powerful exploration of love, loyalty and transformation in a city whose dark underworld is on the verge of change.
Michael (James Nelson-Joyce) is a long-time member of organised crime whose life is turned upside down when he falls in love with Diana (Hannah Onslow) as his gang begins to crumble. "For years, together with his friend Ronnie (Sean Bean), Michael has successfully been bringing cocaine into the City and beyond, directly from Columbia; but when a shipment goes missing, then he knows their Kingdom is under attack", the BBC teases.
As Michael grapples with his past, he’s forced to confront a future he never imagined.
Lead actor James Nelson-Joyce, who recently starred opposite Stephen Graham in A Thousand Blows, describes the show as "a love letter to Liverpool," reflecting on the city’s striking portrayal on screen. "The city looks absolutely stunning and I’m just really proud of it," he shared at the press screening.
"I hope the city watches it and it's something they're proud of. That's all I hope for."
This City Is Ours cast
Little Boy Blue and The Gold actor James Nelson-Joyce is Michael Kavanagh, a man who's been involved in organised crime for all of his adult life. His associate and close pal is Ronnie Phelan, portrayed by Game of Thrones and Time star Sean Bean.
Ronnie is a hardened crime boss who is fiercely loyal to his family and gang. Julie Graham (The Bletchley Circle, The Hardacres) plays his wife Elaine, the co-leader of the group and Jack McMullen plays their son Jamie, who is hoping to take over and modernise the business, while keeping Michael out of the picture.
Their niece Rachel Duffy is played by Laura Aikman, who many viewers will recognise as Sonia from Gavin & Stacey.
Hannah Onslow (best known for This Is Going To Hurt and Belgravia: The Next Chapter) is Diana, Michael's long-term girlfriend, for whom he’s considering leaving his criminal life to build a future and start a family.
Other supporting cast members of This City is Ours include Derry Girls actress Saoirse-Monica Jackson and Slow Horses actor Stephen Walters as Cheryl and Davey Crawford; Darci Shaw (The Bay, A Thousand Blows) as Melissa Phelan; Mike Noble (Boy Meets Girl) as Banksey; Bobby Schofield (The Suspect, The Walk-In as Bonehead and Kevin Harvey (The Inheritance, The Sandman) as Bobby Duffy.
The City Is Ours trailer
Here's your first-look at the cast in action for This City Is Ours, which shows Michael and Diana enjoying a holiday together, when she asks him the question "have you ever killed anyone?"
It's clear that they're planning for a family as in one clip they laugh over a baby toy and in another they're holding hands during a scan at the hospital, before Michael says "Are you sure about the family with me?".
Elsewhere, Ronnie looks like he's enjoying some family time at a party before Michael breaks the news that they're "no longer in possession of our recent container" of drugs. A seething Ronnie says "If it get out that we've got ought all in our supply lines.." as someone cuts in saying "then it's gonna be war".
The trailer then cuts to some intense-looking shots of gang members swarming around the docks, a close-up of gun being loaded and a van crashing into a car in a tunnel.
The City Is Ours release date
Good news! This City Is Ours will be released on BBC One and iPlayer at 9pm on Sunday 23rd March.
Will there be a series 2 of This City Is Ours?
While nothing has been confirmed, the cast would like the drama to return. "It’s a drama series with mileage and longevity. There are eight episodes, and I would bite their hands off to make more. We all felt like that, and we still do," says Julie Graham, who plays Elaine.
Arabella Horspool is a Commercial Content Writer for Yours at Bauer Media. She's a bookworm who is passionate about TV, film and theatre. She enjoys cooking, scrapbooking, playing board games and walking her three dogs.