The BBC’s Biggest Drama Of 2025 Is Returning For Series 2

After the stonking success of series 1 (it’s the BBC’s most-watched new drama of 2025 so far), the BBC revealed it had renewed This City is Ours for a second series in May, just one day after the finale aired on BBC One.

Dubbed the ‘Scouse Sopranos‘, filming is officially underway. Here’s everything we know about This City Is Ours series 2. Spoilers ahead…

This City Is Ours Series 2: Plot, Cast, Release Date & More

The final episode of This City Is Ours was pretty explosive – but that isn’t the end of Michael (James Nelson-Joyce) and Diana’s (Hannah Onslow) story: series 2 is officially in the works. And after that final showdown, we know there’s plenty of ground: Elaine (Julie Graham) wants to avenge her husband’s death (Ronnie; Sean Bean), which Michael admitted to.

‘It feels like people are loving This City is Ours,’ lead star Nelson-Joyce told C&TH earlier this 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 says. ‘And I think we’ve managed to do that. I think the city is quite proud of it, if I’m honest.’

‘We have all been blown away by the incredibly positive response to This City is Ours,’ adds series creator, lead writer and executive producer Stephen Butchard. ‘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!’

Diana Williams (HANNAH ONSLOW), Michael Kavanagh (JAMES NELSON-JOYCE) in This City Is Ours. (© BBC/Left Bank Pictures/James Stack)

This City Is Ours Series 1 Finale Recap

Despite Michael preparing the ground for his departure from a life of crime with pregnant wife 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 –  ‘because it was necessary’.

Meanwhile, Colombia cocaine supplier Ricardo (Daniel Cerqueira) is dead, killed by Michael’s right-hand man Banksey (Mike Noble) in retaliation after the drug mogul planted a bomb in Banksey’s car. It joins the gang’s switch to an Albanian drug supplier, leaving the now-angry Columbians in the dust.

This is all to say there are plenty of plates spinning ahead of This City is Ours series 2. And while Michael was resolved to finally leave his life of crime behind him, it seems there are forces sucking him into the underworld than ever before, whether he likes it or not.

Bobby Duffy (KEVIN HARVEY), Banksey (MIKE NOBLE) & Michael Kavanagh (JAMES NELSON-JOYCE) in This City Is Ours. (© BBC/Left Bank Pictures/James Stack)

What Will Happen In Series 2?

The BBC has given us our first hint of the action we can expect in This City is Ours series 2. Picking up where we left off in that series 1 finale, Michael and Diana flee 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.

‘We are so delighted to be diving back into Stephen Butchard’s brilliant underworld of Liverpool crime with our wonderful collaborators at the BBC,’ says executive producer Sian McWilliams. ‘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!’

Jamie Phelan (JACK McMULLEN), Bobby Duffy (KEVIN HARVEY), Rachel Duffy (LAURA AIKMAN), Ronnie Phelan (SEAN BEAN), Elaine Phelan (JULIE GRAHAM), Banksey (MIKE NOBLE), Michael Kavanagh (JAMES NELSON-JOYCE) & Diana Williams (HANNAH ONSLOW) in This City Is Ours. (© BBC/Left Bank Pictures/James Stack)

Who Will Star In This City Is Ours Series 2?

Our key players are all returning for series 2 (aside from everyone who was murdered, of course). This includes James Nelson-Joyce and Hannah Onslow back 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

Stars Hannah Onslow and James Nelson-Joyce on set for This City Is Ours series 2. (BBC)

This City Is Ours Series 2 Release Date

No news just yet on when we will get to see This City Is Ours series 2, but we’re hoping it’ll air sometime in 2026. And with filming now underway in Spain and Liverpool, it seems like series 2 could debut around a year after series 1 which launched in March 2025.

Like the first, the second series will be made up of eight episodes.

All eight episodes of This City Is Ours series 1 are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

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