Scripted

The BBC has unveiled the first look at This City is Ours, a new crime drama from acclaimed writer Stephen Butchard (The Good Mothers, The Last Kingdom, Five Daughters). Set and filmed in Liverpool, the eight-part series is produced by Left Bank Pictures for BBC iPlayer and BBC One, with worldwide distribution managed by Sony Pictures Television.
Leading the cast is two-time BAFTA award-winner Sean Bean (Marriage, Time), who takes on the role of ruthless gang leader Ronnie Phelan. Joining him is James Nelson-Joyce (Bird, A Thousand Blows) as Michael Kavanagh, a loyal enforcer grappling with the possibility of a life beyond crime. Hannah Onslow (Empire of Light, This Is Going to Hurt) plays Diana Williams, Michael’s love interest and a key figure in his potential escape from the criminal underworld. Jack McMullen (Hijack, Ford V Ferrari) stars as Ronnie’s ambitious son, Jamie Phelan, while Julie Graham (Shetland, Time) portrays Elaine, the formidable matriarch of the Phelan family.

The series also features Laura Aikman (Gavin & Stacey, Archie) as Rachel Duffy, Kevin Harvey (Treason, Time) as Bobby Duffy, Saoirse-Monica Jackson (Derry Girls, Upgraded) as Cheryl Crawford, Mike Noble (Shardlake, The Long Shadow) as Banksey, Bobby Schofield (SAS Rogue Heroes, The Suspect) as Bonehead, Darci Shaw (Judy, A Thousand Blows) as Melissa Sullivan, and Stephen Walters (Slow Horses, Anne) as Davy Crawford

This City is Ours follows Michael Kavanagh, a longtime player in Liverpool’s organized crime scene, who begins to dream of a life away from the underworld when his boss, Ronnie, hints at retirement. For the first time, Michael has a future worth fighting for: love, stability, and a new beginning with Diana. However, his plans are thrown into turmoil when a high-stakes drug shipment goes missing, threatening the gang’s empire.
As tensions rise, Ronnie’s son Jamie stakes his claim to the throne, determined to take control of the family business at any cost. A power struggle erupts between Michael and Jamie, each with their own vision for the future of the gang. Caught in the crossfire, Michael must make an impossible choice—loyalty to the criminal empire he helped build or the chance at a new life with Diana.

At its core, This City is Ours is a story of family, power, and the devastating consequences of ambition. As Michael and Jamie clash over the gang’s future, the series delves into themes of loyalty, greed, and the lengths one will go to secure their place in a kingdom built on violence.

Commissioned by Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, This City is Ours is produced by Simon Maloney (Peaky Blinders, I May Destroy You) and executive produced by Andy Harries, Rebecca Hodgson, and Sian McWilliams for Left Bank Pictures, along with Stephen Butchard and Saul Dibb. BBC’s Jo McClellan and Sami El Hadi also serve as executive producers. The production received support from the Liverpool Film Office through the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s LCR Production Fund.