The critically acclaimed crime drama This City is Ours is set to return for a second series on BBC iPlayer and BBC One.
The first series, consisting of eight episodes, debuted in full on BBC iPlayer in March and wraps up its weekly BBC One broadcast on Sunday 11 May. It has received widespread praise from both critics and audiences, even sparking a viral line-dancing trend inspired by the Phelan family’s theme song, “House of Bamboo.”
The first episode of This City is Ours has already been watched by over 6.6 million viewers, more than tripling its original overnight audience of 1.9 million. The series continues to gain momentum on BBC iPlayer, where it stands as the BBC’s most-watched new drama launch of the year to date. Nearly 3 million people have already streamed the finale ahead of its broadcast on BBC One this evening.
Created and written by Stephen Butchard and made by Left Bank Pictures, This City is Ours is filmed in Liverpool and tells the story of Michael (James Nelson-Joyce) and Diana’s (Hannah Onslow) love affair, set against the disintegration of Michael’s crime gang. For years, together with his friend Ronnie (Sean Bean), Michael has successfully been bringing cocaine into the City and beyond, using his close links with the Marbella underworld; but when a shipment goes missing, he knows their kingdom is under attack.
This City explores what happens when Ronnie’s son Jamie (Jack McMullen) decides he wants to inherit the kingdom over Michael, and the subsequent battle for control.
Series one also stars Laura Aikman, Julie Graham, Kevin Harvey, Saoirse-Monica Jackson, Mike Noble, Bobby Schofield, Darci Shaw, and Stephen Walters.
Stephen Butchard, This City is Ours creator, lead writer and executive producer says:
“We have all been blown away by the incredibly positive response to This City is Ours, I can’t thank the audience enough for their time and emotional investment. My heartfelt thanks also to Lindsay Salt and her wonderful team at BBC Drama for their unflinching support and continued belief in the show, our story and our characters – and not least for this opportunity to do it all over again! See you soon!”
Sian McWilliams, Creative Director at Left Bank Pictures and executive producer on This City is Ours says:
“We are so delighted to be diving back into Stephen Butchard’s brilliant underworld of Liverpool crime with our wonderful collaborators at the BBC. It’s been a joy to watch audiences fall in love with these fantastically complex characters. After the tumultuous events of the season one finale, the gang rivalries and betrayals have escalated to new levels, new ones have just begun, and there is a lot of unfinished business!”
Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama says:
“This City is Ours was one of our team’s first commissions when I joined the BBC, and I could not be happier with how Stephen, Saul and the Left Bank team have brought it to the screen so classily. The response from viewers has been a joy to see, with millions discovering its thrilling, character-driven drama for themselves to become gripped by the raging war of the Phelans. I’m delighted that we now get to build on this fantastic first run and show that things are only just getting started for this very special series.”
This City is Ours series two (8×60) will be 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 will be written by Stephen Butchard, and the executive producers are Andy Harries, Rebecca Hodgson and Sian McWilliams for Left Bank Pictures, Stephen Butchard, and Jo McClellan and Sami El Hadi for the BBC. Sony Pictures Television will distribute the series internationally.
This City is Ours series one is available to stream in full on BBC iPlayer. Sony Pictures Television are distributing the series internationally.
Further information about series two will be announced in due course.
Photo Credit: Image: BBC/Left Bank Pictures/James Stack
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