BBC's Liverpool-set crime drama announces Sean Bean as lead star

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Sean Bean to lead new BBC Liverpool-set dramaJC Olivera - Getty Images

Sean Bean has been cast in the BBC's new Liverpool-set crime drama This City is Ours.

The new series focuses on a man called Michael Kavanagh (Bird's James Nelson-Joyce) who works for gang leader Ronnie Phelan (Bean).

However, "when Ronnie begins to hint at retirement, Michael too begins to imagine another life" as "for the first time in his life, Michael is in love".

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"For the first time in his life, he sees beyond the day-to-day, he sees a future: something to win and something to lose – Diana," the synopsis adds.

The series "is the story of Michael and Diana's love affair, set against the disintegration of Michael’s crime gang".

The show is also set to star Empire of Light's Hannah Onslow as Diana Williams, Hijack's Jack McMullen as Ronnie’s son Jamie, Derry Girls' Saoirse-Monica Jackson as Cheryl Crawford, and Gavin & Stacey's Laura Aikman as Rachel Duffy.

Also on board are Time's Kevin Harvey as Bobby Duffy, Shardlake's Mike Noble as Banksey, The Suspect's Bobby Schofield as Bonehead, Judy's Darci Shaw as Melissa Phelan, and Slow Horses' Stephen Walters as Davy Crawford.

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The City is Ours has started filming in Liverpool and Spain, and comes from creator Stephen Butchard (The Last Kingdom), with The Salisbury Poisonings' Saul Dibb set to direct.

“It’s a joy to see cameras rolling on This City is Ours with a glorious cast who have made Stephen Butchard’s sublime scripts even more exciting,” BBC drama director Lindsay Salt said.

Star Nelson-Joyce added: "It's an absolute honour to be a part of this exciting show. I knew from reading the first episode that I had to take on this compelling story of crime, loyalty and above all, love."

This City is Ours will air on BBC One.

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