Blue Lights
BBC1, Monday 15 April, 9pm ★★★★★
Series one of this Belfastbased police drama was a proper word-of-mouth phenomenon, picking up more than seven million viewers, and now we’re getting the very welcome second series, with two more already commissioned. The BBC clearly knows it’s got a good thing going.
The show is co-created and written by former investigative journalists Declan Lawn and Adam Patterson (The Salisbury Poisonings), who were both brought up in Northern Ireland, and authenticity is at the heart of the series’ impressive success.
TIME JUMP
Series one left our hearts broken (if you haven’t seen it yet, catch up on iplayer now), but there’s no time to rest for the probationary recruits as, 12 months on from those devastating events, Tommy (Nathan Braniff) finds himself seduced by the risky world of intelligence policing, while Grace (Siân Brooke) struggles to deal with her feelings for fellow officer Stevie (Martin Mccann). Their will they/won’t they relationship is fascinating, as they continue to bond over home-made treats in their police car in what’s a bit like their own version of Masterchef. As for Sandra, played by Andi Osho, she’s coping with her role in the force, but is also looking to move on. There are also some intriguing newbies, like charismatic Constable Shane Bradley, played by Frank Blake – quite what his agenda is remains to be seen. Then there’s Casualty legend Derek Thompson starring as retired police officer Robin Graham from ep two onwards.
NEW DANGERS
Out on the streets, in the year since the fall of the Mcintyre crime gang, the vacuum has been filled by a number of rival operations. As a young loyalist threatens to take over the city, the officers must deal with a violent gangland feud – one that will end with devastating results. With tense set-pieces evident right from the start of this second run, this promises to be another incendiary hit.