BBC’s Liverpool Crime Saga ‘This City Is Ours’ Returns Tonight — With a Third Series Already Ordered

Series two of “This City Is Ours,” the BBC’s Liverpool crime saga, arrived in full on BBC iPlayer on Sunday, October 25, with BBC One beginning its run of the new episodes the same night. The BBC announced the launch in a press release carried by Explore Liverpool, TellyMix and Hello Rayo, confirming that BBC One will air the series on Sunday and Monday nights at 9pm.

All eight episodes of the second series were made available to stream at once. The new run picks up with Michael Kavanagh and Diana Williams having barely arrived in Spain before they are pulled back to Liverpool to answer questions surrounding the death of Ricardo, while tensions continue to bubble among the remaining members of the gang back home, according to the BBC’s description of the series.

Five days before the launch, on Tuesday, October 20, the BBC confirmed that a third series has already been commissioned — before a single episode of series two had been shown. The third series will consist of eight hour-long episodes, with the show’s creator, Stephen Butchard, returning as lead writer, and filming will take place mainly in Liverpool in 2027, the BBC said.

“We’re delighted to share that This City is Ours will return for a third series,” Lindsay Salt, the BBC’s director of drama, said in the announcement. “Stephen Butchard and the team at Left Bank have built a world filled with ambition, authenticity and heart that has been embraced by millions. With series two still to come this weekend, there’s so much for viewers to look forward to.”

Butchard, who created and writes the series, said: “Following the quite breathtaking response to series one, myself, the cast and our wonderful crew were all determined not to drop the ball and endeavour to deliver an even better series two. No spoilers, but I’m hoping this fantastic early commission from the BBC for a third series is an indication that we may have come close to doing just that.”

James Nelson-Joyce returns as Michael Kavanagh, with Hannah Onslow as Diana Williams, Michael’s partner. Joining the cast for series two are Shaun Evans, known for “Endeavour,” as Ozzie Thompson, a former gangster from Ronnie Phelan’s era who has recently come out of prison and is demanding his cut, and Álvaro Morte, of “Money Heist,” as Felipe, the BBC said. The returning ensemble includes Jack McMullen as Jamie Phelan, Julie Graham as Elaine Phelan, Mike Noble as Banksey, 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.

The first series, which launched in March 2025, starred Sean Bean as Ronnie Phelan, the gang leader whose murder set off the power struggle between his right-hand man, Michael, and his son Jamie that drives the show. The series is produced by Left Bank Pictures, with Sony Pictures Television distributing internationally, and lead director Saul Dibb returns for the second series.

The audience figures explain the early renewal. The first series drew 8.3 million viewers for its opening episode, according to Edinburgh Live, and averaged 6.3 million viewers across its run, and almost three million people streamed the finale ahead of its BBC One transmission. Nelson-Joyce won the Best Breakthrough Talent award at the RTS North West Awards 2025 for his performance, and the series earned BAFTA Television Award nominations, including for best drama and for Nelson-Joyce as leading actor.

Sources: BBC; Explore Liverpool; TellyMix; Hello Rayo; Televisual; Edinburgh Live.