James Nelson-Joyce, Hannah Onslow back to claim This City is Ours

James Nelson-Joyce and Hannah Onslow head the returning cast of BBC drama This City is Ours, which will be back for its second season this autumn.

Created and written by Stephen Butchard, Nelson-Joyce plays Michael Kavanagh with Onslow as Diana Williams, Michael’s partner.

Other returning cast members include Jack McMullen as Jamie Phelan, Mike Noble as Banksey, Julie Graham as Elaine Phelan, widow of murdered gang leader Ronnie (Sean Bean), 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.

New cast members include Shaun Evans as former gangster Ozzie Thompson, recently out of prison, and Álvaro Morte as Felipe Guzman, member of the Colombian cartel and younger brother of Ricardo, who was murdered at the end of season one.

Picking up the story from the end of season one, Michael and Diana have barely arrived in Spain when they are dragged back into the fold to answer questions around Ricardo’s death. Back in Liverpool, tensions continue to bubble amongst the remaining members of the gang, while an old school gangster from Ronnie’s era, recently out of prison, wants compensation from the firm.

The eight-part series is produced by Left Bank Pictures for BBC iPlayer and BBC One. Butchard is lead writer, with Robbie O’Neill writing a further episode. The executive producers are Andy Harries, Rebecca Hodgson and Sian McWilliams for Left Bank Pictures, Stephen Butchard, Saul Dibb, and Jo McClellan for the BBC.

The directors are Saul Dibb, returning as lead director from season one, John Hayes (Dublin Murders, Nightsleeper) also returning from season one, and Chris Baugh (In Flight, Wreck). The series producer is Simon Maloney, and the block two producer is Nathan Juckes, both returning from season one. Sony Pictures Television distributes the series internationally.

This City is Ours was filmed in and around Liverpool, with additional filming in Spain. Season two comes to BBC One and BBC iPlayer this autumn.