BBC Sets October 25 Premiere for This City Is Ours Season 2

The BBC will premiere the second season of This City Is Ours on October 25, 2026, bringing James Nelson-Joyce and Hannah Onslow back as Michael Kavanagh and Diana Williams. Created by Stephen Butchard, the eight-episode crime drama follows the couple as they face renewed threats in Spain and Liverpool after attempting to leave their criminal past behind.

According to TellyMix and Digital Spy, all eight episodes will become available on BBC iPlayer on October 25, while BBC One will broadcast episodes on Sunday and Monday nights at 9 p.m. The series continues the story of Liverpool's Phelan crime family, whose internal disputes and dangerous external connections threaten to undermine its remaining members.

The first season averaged 6.2 million viewers and received two BAFTA Television Award nominations, according to TellyMix. Its successor introduces new characters while expanding the consequences of the violence and rivalries established in the original story.

At the end of the first season, Michael and Diana left Liverpool for Spain, hoping to build a new life together. Their plans quickly unravel when questions surrounding Ricardo's death pull them back into criminal affairs, while Felipe Guzman, Ricardo's younger brother, enters the story with his own reasons for becoming involved.

Shaun Evans joins the cast as Ozzie Thompson, an old-school gangster released from prison who has unresolved business with Ronnie Phelan's circle. His arrival coincides with a power struggle inside the Phelan organization and the emergence of new commercial relationships that create further uncertainty for the family.

James Nelson-Joyce told Radio Times that the drama's appeal extends beyond its criminal storylines to its relationships and community. The actor, who plays Michael, also highlighted the production's role in providing opportunities for young people entering the creative industries in Liverpool.

He said, "One of the things I’m happiest about with this show is that it’s given a lot of young people opportunities to explore creative industries. Whether that’s with costume, make-up, set design or sound, you see lots of young people on the crew." Nelson-Joyce also praised the city's architecture, waterfront and parks as important elements of the production's visual identity.

The actor described the series as a drama that combines crime with emotional relationships and family conflict. In an interview with Radio Times, he said, "It isn’t your ordinary crime drama." He added that audiences had responded to the love story between Michael and Diana, the family dynamics and the sense of community.

Nelson-Joyce also defended the series' portrayal of Liverpool against criticism that crime-focused television can present the city unfairly. He argued that drug-related crime exists in urban areas across the country and said the program prioritizes storytelling rather than depicting continuous violence.

Hannah Onslow, who plays Diana, said the new season examines the consequences of decisions made in the first series. Diana begins the story pregnant and determined to establish a different life, but the return of criminal pressures challenges her plans and her relationship with Michael.

Onslow said, "For me, series two is all about consequences." She explained that the characters must confront their previous actions rather than assume they can escape their past. The actress also described the new scripts as surprising, noting that the cast's predictions about the story frequently proved incorrect.

According to YMLiverpool, Diana's role develops as the balance of power changes. Characters who previously controlled events face greater vulnerability, while Diana increasingly takes responsibility for decisions affecting her future.

The returning cast includes Jack McMullen as Jamie Phelan, Julie Graham as Elaine Phelan, Saoirse-Monica Jackson as Cheryl Crawford and Laura Aikman as Rachel Duffy. Mike Noble, Kevin Harvey, Darci Shaw, Adam Abbou and Bobby Schofield are also among the returning performers identified by Digital Spy.

Production continued in Liverpool and across Merseyside, with filming for the second season running from October through May, according to YMLiverpool. The city's locations remain central to the story, which contrasts the couple's hoped-for escape in Spain with the criminal conflicts awaiting them at home.

Butchard told Radio Times that the fallout from the first season's confrontation with a Colombian criminal organization would extend across both locations. The new episodes continue the conflict surrounding the Phelan family while examining how its members respond when established power relationships begin to shift.