23 hours Ago By Katie Palmer
The BBC's gangland hit This City Is Ours has mesmerised audiences with its gritty Liverpool setting and heavyweight cast, including the likes of Sean Bean and Julie Graham. This crime drama shadows mob kingpin Ronnie Phelan (played by Sean Bean) as he looks towards retirement. The narrative heats up with a contentious battle for power between Ronnie's second-in-command Michael Kavanagh (portrayed by James Nelson-Joyce), and his determined son Jamie (Jack McMullen).
Met with critical acclaim, the eight-part series earned itself a shiny five stars from The Daily Telegraph, particularly highlighting Nelson-Joyce's standout performance. Applauding its sharp humour and brilliance, The New Statesman called it "marvellous and witty", and with The Times bestowing four stars in appreciation of its "modern, witty and authentic" banter, viewers are eagerly debating the possibility of a follow-up season. Sean Bean himself has spoken about the potential longevity of the series before its initial release, remarking to the BBC : "There has not been anything like it before and I'm very pleased that I have been a part of it.
I want it to have a long future - everyone involved in it deserves success." Despite no formal announcement for a second season renewal, Sean harbours optimism for the saga's continuation. Julie Graham, the actress behind Elaine Phelan, lauded the show as "addictive", impressed by the varied ways it's been described, and shared: "I have been impressed at how everyone has a description for it.
Someone said it's 'a roller coaster ride' and I like that. "Someone else said it's a 'Scouse Sopranos'. It becomes quite addictive, and if you watch episode one you will want to see it through to episode eight.
You will soon become addicted to these characters, there are no weak links." But the show's creator Stephen Butchard approached his work with a no-nonsense attitude, focusing squarely on the task at hand. He detailed: "I was commissioned to do eight episodes.
I did not call it 'Series One'. This City is Ours could never have been, say, a film because I would not have had the chance to develop the characters, and they are all important to me. "I don't sit there saying, 'Oh this plot will be developed further in series two or three and so on'.
Describing his vision for the series, he said: "In This City is Ours I set out to write a fantastic story from episode one to episode eight – a tale of real life and real emotions where families are dragged deeper and deeper into confrontation. "I have set it in a real world, a chilling, mostly unseen universe of organised crime. It is a love story.
A story of love and what people will do to seize and hold on to power." After ending its first run on a high-stakes note with Michael firmly entrenched in the gangland hierarchy yet leaving several mysteries unsolved, viewers are left in suspense, unsure if the BBC will opt to bring back the gripping drama for a second season. This City Is Ours is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
