This City Is Ours Series 3 Has Been Confirmed
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4 hours ago
Here's everything we know about the third series of the hit BBC crime drama
Ahead of its series 2 release this Sunday (25 October), the BBC have already commissioned series 3 of This City Is Ours. The first installment, released back in 2025, was one of the BBC’s most-watched new dramas, with the second series confirmed just one day after its finale. And it seems the channel is quietly confident in the success of its second season too.
The first series attracted an average of 6.3 million viewers to-date, with the first episode seeing more than 8.4 million viewers – more than quadrupling its initial overnight figure of 1.9 million. The show went on to receive BAFTA Television Award nominations for Best Drama and Leading Actor (James Nelson-Joyce), alongside much critical acclaim.
Hannah Onslow (Diana) & James Nelson-Joyce (Michael) in This city is Ours series 2. (BBC)
Set and filmed in Liverpool, this BBC crime drama has been dubbed the ‘Scouse Sopranos’. ‘It feels like people are loving This City is Ours,’ lead star Nelson-Joyce told C&TH last year. The Liverpool native hinted how he was ‘apprehensive’ about the drama’s reception, what with all of the ‘drugs and criminality’. ‘You always want to show where you’re from in the best light, especially when you love where you’re from,’ he said. ‘And I think we’ve managed to do that. I think the city is quite proud of it, if I’m honest.’
The show was created, written and executive-produced by Stephen Butchard, best known for his work on Baghdad Central, The Good Mothers, The Last Kingdom and Shardlake. When his series was announced in 2024, Butchard said he was ‘so excited’. ‘Set in the very real, chilling, but mostly unseen universe of organised crime, This City is Ours is a story of love, greed, ambition and power – and what we will do to seize and hold on to that power,’ he summarised.
Diana Williams (HANNAH ONSLOW), Michael Kavanagh (JAMES NELSON-JOYCE) in This City Is Ours. (© BBC/Left Bank Pictures/James Stack)
Discussing the show’s renewal for a third series, Butchard 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! […] I hope you enjoy series two as much as we enjoyed making it – can’t wait to do it all over again!’
What is This City Is Ours About?
Whilst it is an organised crime drama, at its heart This City Is Ours is a love story. We centre on Michael (James Nelson-Joyce), a man who has, for his entire adulthood, led a life of organised crime. But now he’s fallen in love with Diana (Hannah Onslow), and for the first time, begins to look beyond the everyday, towards the future.
Bobby Duffy (KEVIN HARVEY), Banksey (MIKE NOBLE) & Michael Kavanagh (JAMES NELSON-JOYCE) in This City Is Ours. (© BBC/Left Bank Pictures/James Stack)
What Happened In Series 1? (Spoilers Ahead…)
In series 1, Michael and Diana’s love story is backdropped by the crumbling Phelan crime gang, headed up by leader Ronnie (Sean Bean). For years, Michael and Ronnie have successfully imported cocaine into Liverpool directly from Columbia, but when a shipment goes missing, they know they are under attack. Meanwhile, there’s ructions inside the house: Ronnie’s son Jamie (Jack McMullen) suddenly decides he wants to inherit his father’s kingdom, and he and Michael have different, bold ideas on how they want to modernise their operations. But Michael’s largest battle, of course, is for Diana – and the child he has always wanted.
As Michael prepares to depart his life of crime with a pregnant Diana, Jamie just can’t let go of his hatred for the illegitimate successor. Suspecting Michael killed Ronnie, Jamie kidnaps Diana and holds her for ransom. The price? Michael’s suicide. Desperate to save Diana – and their unborn child – Michael hatches a plan to kidnap Jamie’s infant son, enlisting Cheryl (Saoirse-Monica Jackson) for help. Hostages in tow, the nemeses meet on a rooftop for a final showdown. Diana is swapped for Jamie’s son, before the father pulls out a gun. Sure he’s about to shake Jamie’s resolve, Michael reveals he was the one who killed Ronnie.
Hannah Onslow (Diana) in This City Is Ours series 2. (BBC)
What Will Happen In Series 2?
Following series 1’s explosive finale, there’s plenty of ground to cover. Picking up where we left off, Michael and Diana have fled the drama of Liverpool’s ganglands for Spain, only to be immediately dragged back into the fold to answer questions about Colombia cocaine supplier Ricardo’s death. They can’t just wriggle out of this one: Colombian cartel member Felipe Guzman (Álvaro Morte), also Ricardo’s younger brother, is on the scene and hunting for answers.
Back in Liverpool, tensions continue to bubble away, with the rest of the clan reeling from recent revelations. And while Ronnie may be dead, his past is far from buried: former gangster Ozzie Thompson (Shaun Evans) is out of prison and seeking compensation from the firm.
Álvaro Morte (Felipe) in This City Is Ours series 2. (BBC)
Who Will Star In Series 3?
While we don’t yet know who will survive the second series, we can make some guesses as to who will star in series 3. We know that (most) of the key players will be returning for series 2, including James Nelson-Joyce and Hannah Onslow at the fore as star-crossed lovers Michael Kavanagh and Diana Williams. Elsewhere we have Jack McMullen as Jamie Phelan, Mike Noble as Banksey, Julie Graham as Elaine Phelan and Saoirse-Monica Jackson as Cheryl Crawford.
There are two key newcomers to know: Shaun Evans, who joins the cast as former gangster Ozzie Thompson, newly released from prison. And over in Spain we have Álvaro Morte as Felipe Guzman, the Columbian cartel member on the hunt for his brother’s murderer.
The full series 2 cast we know so far includes:
- James Nelson-Joyce as Michael Kavanagh
- Hannah Onslow as Diana Williams
- Jack McMullen as Jamie Phelan
- Mike Noble as Banksey
- Shaun Evans as Ozzie Thompson
- Álvaro Morte as Felipe Guzman
- Julie Graham as Elaine Phelan
- Saoirse-Monica Jackson as Cheryl Crawford
- Adam Abbou as Freddie
- Laura Aikman as Rachel Duffy
- Kevin Harvey as Bobby Duffy
- Darci Shaw as Melissa Sullivan
This City Is Ours Series 3 Release Date
We don’t yet have a release date for This City Is Ours series 3, but we do know that filming will begin in 2027 and will primarily take place in Liverpool. The much anticipated second series will be available on BBC iPlayer from Sunday 25 October, and will air Sunday and Monday nights at 9pm on BBC One from this same date. All eight episodes of This City Is Ours series 1 are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
