That’s our autumn viewing sorted, then: BBC One drama Blue Lights is back on our screens once more.
That means more crime, more drama and more following the lives of the police officers working the beat on Belfast’s streets. It’s a demanding job – previous seasons have seen officers killed in the line of duty, and others placed in mortal danger. The result, of course, is television gold: the series won a BAFTA for best drama this year, and the new season is hotly anticipated.
But who’s returning to the show? Here’s what we know, and what might be in store for their characters.
Grace Ellis (Siân Brooke)
A social worker turned police officer, who’s now struggling with the impact of the job two years in.
“When Declan (Lawn) was researching this series he said the police referenced the ‘two-year fade’ where the officers are hit by the reality of the job in terms of their hopes, dreams and the practical side of what they do,” Brooke told the BBC.
“This is especially pertinent for Grace who wants to bring about change and is frustrated by the machinations of the organisation.” At the start of season three, she says, she’s lost some of her “spark”, and wonders if she can make a difference in the job.
Tommy Foster (Nathan Braniff)
Another former newbie who’s now three years on the job. According to Braniff, the series focusses a lot on Tommy’s relationship with Annie and Aisling (Dearbháile McKinney), with whom he’s still living.
“The three of them are going through this journey together, dealing with all the things the police force throws at them in Northern Ireland, and the strain that puts on the relationships, both inside and outside of the job,” Braniff says.
He’s also still partnered with cop Shane. “Shane is a very different person to Tommy and they’re still butting heads but sometimes it works really well as they balance each other out,” he told the BBC.
“We get a sense that they will have each other’s backs in the job but they have to work hard for their partnership to keep it professional.”
Annie Conlon (Katherine Devlin)
Still on the job. Back in season one, Annie had to move in with her colleagues after facing death threats due to her Catholic religion – something that season three is set to revisit.
“The death threat is constantly in the background,” Devlin has explained. “There’s also a lot of stuff going on back home for Annie. She’s constantly juggling the idea of, is the job worth it? Is the sacrifice worth it?”
“There’s some really, really heavy topics this season and some really, really heavy scenes for Annie that are very emotionally-driven, but I’m well-supported, and it’s been my favourite season.”
Stevie Neill (Martin McCann)
Police officer and love interest of Grace. Last season, the pair finally admitted their feelings for each other – the fallout of which will be examined in season three.
McCann has described it as “quite a grown-up, realistic, not very Hollywood approach to a workplace romance,” while Brooke told Radio Times that “this series, you see them navigating this crazy profession together, and how their old lives impact where they are now.”
This season, Stevie also has his eye on a promotion, which, Neill says, “brings a bit of added anxiety because he's never really seen himself there.”
Helen McNally (Joanne Crawford)
The inspector has a lot to deal with. Not only is she trying to cope with an increase in crime – domestic violence, driving offences and cocaine use – she’s also got to deal with the reappearance of mentor Paul Collins.
“He’s offering Helen an opportunity to step back into intelligence,” Crawford told the BBC. “Not a world Helen wants to be embroiled in but with the well-being of her officers always at the forefront of her mind, she has some difficult decisions to make.”
Sandra Cliff (Andi Osho)
In the last season, Sandra had been released from her spot behind the custody desk.” She’s replaced Helen as the section skipper for the response team and that brings with it a different level of responsibility,” Osho told the Beyond the Joke website.
Sandra’s husband, of course, was Gerry, who died tragically in season one – something she’s still struggling with the fallout of.
New arrivals
Dana Morgan (Cathy Tyson)
A mysterious new underworld boss. Speaking ahead of the show, co-creator Declan Lawn says that she’s “a new powerful figure on the criminal side.” She has all the drug dealers under her thumb, and also owns the private members club, The Deanery.
“I haven’t played a character like this ever,” Tyson told Radio Times. “She is at the top of an illegal trade and has a double life. She’s very intelligent and a sociopath – I did a bit of homework on that!”
Paul Collins (Michael Smiley)
Otherwise known as Colly, Paul works in the Intelligence Department, who worked with the late Gerry Cliff (Richard Dormer) before he was killed back in season one.
He’s been described as Dana’s “nemesis” – does that mean it’s personal? We’ll find out soon.
Blue Lights season three returns to BBC One from September 29
