The BBC clearly isn’t waiting around to see how the next chapter of ‘This City Is Ours‘ performs. With the Liverpool-set crime drama due to return for its second series later this October, the broadcaster has already commissioned Series 3, giving creator Stephen Butchard and his gangland saga another eight episodes to play with.
The award-winning drama, produced by Left Bank Pictures, will begin filming its third series primarily in Liverpool in 2027. Butchard will once again serve as creator and lead writer, although the BBC is keeping quiet about the story and cast for now. Given the show’s fondness for putting its characters in fairly dangerous situations, that’s probably wise. We wouldn’t want to assume who’s making it out of Series 2 alive!
A Big Vote Of Confidence From The BBC
It’s not particularly surprising that the BBC wants more. The first series, which arrived in March 2025, has now attracted an average audience of 6.3 million viewers, while its opening episode has passed 8.4 million, more than four times its original overnight audience of 1.9 million. Almost three million people also watched the finale on BBC iPlayer before its BBC One broadcast, suggesting patience wasn’t high on viewers’ list of priorities.
The drama also earned BAFTA Television Award nominations for Best Drama and Leading Actor for James Nelson-Joyce (A Thousand Blows), who plays Michael Kavanagh. Nelson-Joyce subsequently picked up Best Breakthrough Talent at the 2025 RTS North West Awards for his performance.
Creator Stephen Butchard is understandably pleased with the early renewal, particularly as viewers haven’t yet had the chance to see whether the second run matches the first.
“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!” he said, referring to the team’s ambition to deliver an even better second series.
Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, added: “We’re delighted to share that This City is Ours will return for a third series. Stephen Butchard and the team at Left Bank have built a world filled with ambition, authenticity and heart that has been embraced by millions. With series two still to come this weekend, there’s so much for viewers to look forward to.”
First, There’s The Small Matter Of Series 2…
Before we start worrying about what Series 3 might bring, Michael and Diana have plenty to deal with in the immediate future. The second series picks up with Michael Kavanagh and Diana Williams barely having arrived in Spain before they’re pulled back into trouble over the death of Ricardo, while the criminal organisation they left behind continues to fracture in Liverpool.
Hannah Onslow (The Doll Factory) returns as Diana alongside Nelson-Joyce, with Jack McMullen (Time) back as Jamie Phelan, Julie Graham (Shetland) as Elaine Phelan and Mike Noble (The Capture) as Banksey.
There are also two potentially significant new arrivals. Shaun Evans (Endeavour, Until I Kill You) plays Ozzie Thompson, an old-school gangster from Ronnie Phelan’s era who has just been released from prison and wants compensation from the firm. Meanwhile, Álvaro Morte (Money Heist, The Wheel of Time) joins as Felipe, adding another complication to an already rather messy situation.
The second series will arrive as a complete eight-episode box set on BBC iPlayer, while BBC One will air episodes on Sunday and Monday evenings. We’ve already covered the new trailer, returning cast and what to expect from Series 2 if you need a refresher before everything kicks off again.
As for Series 3, its early commission is great news, but there is no confirmed premiere window or cast list yet. We’ll have to see who is still in a position to answer the phone when filming starts next year. Given what happened the last time someone tried to get out of the business, we wouldn’t necessarily bet on a peaceful retirement.
‘This City Is Ours‘ Series 2 premieres Sunday, 25th October 2026 on BBC iPlayer and BBC One. All eight episodes will be available on BBC iPlayer from launch, with BBC One airing episodes on Sundays and Mondays at 9pm.
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