Casualty’s Derek Thompson is going to be back on the BBC, and his Belfast roots, as the broadcaster reveals he has joined the cast of hit drama ‘Blue Lights‘ Season 2.
‘Blue Lights’ is an authentic, gripping and darkly funny drama about ordinary people doing an extraordinary job. Season one follows three new PSNI probationary recruits as they navigate their way through their first few months in a uniquely dangerous place to be a response police officer.
Thompson will play retired officer Robin Graham, whose past and conscience catch up with him when trainee solicitor Jen Robinson (Hannah McClean) investigates a decades-old case that has dangerous implications for the present.
“I loved the first series of Blue Lights and thought, as did the majority of my friends and colleagues, that it was the best new TV series of last year,” said Thompson. “I was thrilled and excited {star jumps in the living room} when I got the invitation to take part in series two. I was born in Belfast and was equally excited {more star jumps} to travel over to work on the show and pleased to report, having read the scripts, that I’m sure the fans will love the second series every bit as much as the first. Greatly looking forward to it myself as I’m one of them.”
In season two, Grace, Annie and Tommy are growing up fast as police officers, but nothing can prepare them for the turmoil they face every day. It’s a year since the fall of the McIntyre crime gang and the vacuum has been filled by rival gangs, all competing for dominance. Constable Shane Bradley is drafted in to help, but his motivations are unclear. Tommy is dangerously seduced by the world of intelligence policing, while Grace struggles to deal with her son’s absence, and growing feelings for fellow officer Stevie. As a young loyalist threatens to take over the city, the officers face a major gangland feud – culminating in a violent and devastating confrontation.
Reprising their roles in the forthcoming second series are Siân Brooke (Grace Ellis), Martin McCann (Stevie Neil), Katherine Devlin (Annie Conlon), Nathan Braniff (Tommy Foster), Joanne Crawford (Helen McNally), Andi Osho (Sandra Cliff), and Hannah McClean (Jen Robinson). Also set to return are Paddy Jenkins (Happy Kelly), Desmond Eastwood (Murray Canning), Jonathan Harden (Jonty) and Andrea Irvine (Nicola Robinson). Joining them for the second series is Frank Blake as new Constable Shane Bradley, along with Seamus O’Hara as Lee Thompson and Seána Kerslake as his sister Mags.
“We are delighted to have Derek Thompson back working with us in his native Belfast, it is an honour to have him as part of the Blue Lights family,” commented the team from production company Two Cities Television.
‘Blue Lights’ launched to more than 7 million viewers (28-day figure). It was within the UK’s top ten new drama series of 2023 across all broadcasters and streamers (all individuals) and the biggest drama series in Northern Ireland in 2023. More than half of the 28-day audience (56%) came from BBC iPlayer. The BBC recently announced the drama had been renewed for two more seasons in addition to the second season.
‘Blue Lights’ is co-created, written and directed by Declan Lawn and Adam Patterson, co-created and produced by Stephen Wright of Two Cities Television and co-created and co-produced by Louise Gallagher of Gallagher Films with support from Northern Ireland Screen. ‘Blue Lights’ was commissioned by Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama and Charlotte Moore, BBC Chief Content Officer. The executive producers are Stephen Wright (Two Cities Television), Louise Gallagher (Gallagher Films), Declan Lawn and Adam Patterson and the BBC executive producer is Nick Lambon.
‘Blue Lights‘ Season 2 does not yet have a premiere date but is set to air in Spring 2024. If you want to keep track of this show you can add the show via our Never Miss system and you’ll be notified when it gets a UK premiere date.
