This City is Ours fans, we have some news! The BBC's 6-star crime drama is gearing up for an explosive second series with a surprise new cast and it's coming sooner than expected. Endeavour’s Shaun Evans and Money Heist’s Álvaro Morte are joining the pack and the two new arrivals mean there are new gang rivalries in store, which we've been given a sneak peek at in a new trailer (you can watch it below).
If you're new to the drama, series 1 followed a crime boss in Liverpool known as Ronnie Phelan (Sean Bean) who, after announcing his retirement from the criminal underworld, triggered a power struggle between his son (Jack McMullen) and second-in-command (James Nelson-Joyce). The follow-up will introduce an old-school gangster, Ozzie Thompson (Shaun Evans), who’s fresh out of prison and wants compensation from the firm, plus Colombian cartel member Felipe Guzman (Álvaro Morte), the brother of a man murdered by the gang.
With the second series due to arrive on our screens this October, here’s everything you need to know about the series, including the plot, trailer and what the arrival of the new cast members means for the next instalment.
What is This City is Ours about?
The first eight-part series introduces us to the Phelan family, headed up by gang leader Ronnie Phelan (Sean Bean), who's spent a career dominating Liverpool’s drug trade with his wife Elaine (Julie Graham). As Ronnie starts to eye up retirement, a tense power struggle brews between Michael Kavanagh (James Nelson-Joyce), who seems a shoo-in for the job, and Ronnie’s son Jamie (Jack McMullen).
Both Michael and Jamie have big ideas to modernise the gang and they're prepared to battle it out for control of it. Michael's biggest challenge, however, is protecting the woman he's fallen in love with - Diana Williams (Hannah Onslow), who urges him to leave his life of crime behind - but is he really willing to walk away?
What will happen in This City is Ours series 2?
We’ll be picking up where we left off for the second eight-part series - albeit with some new cast members, as Shaun Evans is joining as former gangster Ozzie Thompson, while Álvaro Morte is playing Felipe Guzman, a member of the Colombian cartel and younger brother of Ricardo, who was murdered at the end of series 1.
What to read next
According to the BBC's official synopsis, "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. Meanwhile, an old school gangster from Ronnie's era, recently out of prison, wants compensation from the firm.”
Sian McWilliams, Creative Director at Left Bank Pictures, has said of the new series: “We are so delighted to be diving back into Stephen Butchard’s brilliant underworld of Liverpool crime with our wonderful collaborators at the BBC. It’s been a joy to watch audiences fall in love with these fantastically complex characters. After the tumultuous events of the season one finale, the gang rivalries and betrayals have escalated to new levels, new ones have just begun, and there is a lot of unfinished business!”
Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, added: “This City is Ours was one of our team’s first commissions when I joined the BBC, and I could not be happier with how Stephen, Saul and the Left Bank team have brought it to the screen so classily. The response from viewers has been a joy to see, with millions discovering its thrilling, character-driven drama for themselves to become gripped by the raging war of the Phelans. I'm delighted that we now get to build on this fantastic first run and show that things are only just getting started for this very special series.”
Who’s in the cast of This City is Ours series 2?
The new stars joining the cast of This City is Ours series 2 are:
- Shaun Evans (Until I Kill You, Endeavour) as Ozzie Thompson
- Álvaro Morte (Money Heist, Immaculate) as Felipe Guzman
They will join the returning cast, which includes:
- James Nelson-Joyce as Michael Kavanagh
- Hannah Onslow as Diana Williams
- Jack McMullen as Jamie Phelan
- Mike Noble as Banksey
- Julie Graham as Elaine Phelan
- Saoirse-Monica Jackson as Cheryl Crawford
- Adam Abbou as Freddie
- Laura Aikman as Rachel Duffy
- Kevin Harvey as Bobby Duffy
- Darci Shaw as Melissa Sullivan
What do the new cast members mean for This City is Ours series 2?
As we mentioned, Shaun Evans is playing Ozzie Thompson, an old school gangster from Ronnie’s past who’s just been released from prison. He’s got his sights set on compensation from the firm - but how will they react to his arrival, and his demands? Then there’s Felipe Guzman (Álvaro Morte, pictured above), the brother of Colombian drug supplier Ricardo, who was executed by Michael’s right-hand man Banksey (Mike Noble). Felipe will likely want to avenge the death of his sibling - so we’d expect both figures to cause some serious problems for the criminal enterprise.
Is there a trailer for This City is Ours series 2?
Excitingly, the BBC has just released a trailer for the new series, which you can watch below.
Is This City is Ours any good?
Yes - it's better than good! When it first aired in March last year, This City is Ours became the BBC’s most watched new drama launch of the year and it's easy to see why. Yes, it's a gangster drama, but you can't help but feel really quite invested in the family at the heart of it and how the decisions they make will ultimately play out. The real star of the show is James Nelson-Joyce who is absolutely superb as Michael Kavanagh.
How can I watch This City is Ours series 2?
This City is Ours series 2 will premiere on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 9pm on Sunday 25th October. In the meantime, you can catch up on - or revisit - This City is Ours series 1 on BBC iPlayer.
