Blue Lights on BBC: When it's on, what it's about, how many episodes and cast for series two

A BBC police drama fans hailed 'easily the best thing on TV' is returning for a second series on Monday night (April 15). Blue Lights launched to more than seven million viewers when it debuted last March.

The Belfast-based series centres around three new Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) recruits as they navigate their first few months of the job. Created by Declan Lawn and Adam Patterson, it fast became one of the top ten new drama series of 2023 across all broadcasters and streamers.

It stars Siân Brooke Katherine Devlin and Nathan Braniff, who all reprise their roles as Grace, Annie and Tommy respectively for the upcoming series. Better yet, the drama has been renewed for a further two seasons at the BBC, with a third and fourth series already greenlit.

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Co-creator Adam admitted the success of the first series 'caught him off guard.' He explained: "Even though we had high hopes for it, you never know how people are going to react. We wanted to make a show that we were proud of, that people in Northern Ireland loved and a show they felt represented the place we all love. We invested a lot of ourselves in the first series."

Declan added: "The success of series one has at times been overwhelming and that’s because the show is our hearts on the screen. When other people reacted emotionally to it, that really struck us."

Here's everything you need to know about Blue Lights season two, including what time it starts and who's in the cast.

What time is Blue Lights on?

The much-anticipated second series will be available in full on BBC iPlayer from 6am on Monday 15 April. The first episode will air the same day at 9pm on BBC One.

It's assumed the second series will be made up of six episodes, just like the first.

All six episodes of series one on are available to catch up with on BBC iPlayer now.

Who is the cast of Blue Lights series 2?

Reprising their roles in the forthcoming second series are:

• Siân Brooke as Grace Ellis

• Martin McCann as Stevie Neil

• Katherine Devlin as Annie Conlon

• Nathan Braniff as Tommy Foster

• Joanne Crawford as Helen McNally

• Andi Osho as Sandra Cliff

• Hannah McClean as Jen Robinson

• Paddy Jenkins as Happy Kelly

• Desmond Eastwood as Murray Canning

• Jonathan Harden as Jonty

• Andrea Irvine as Nicola Robinson

Joining them for the second series is Frank Blake as new Constable Shane Bradley, along with Seamus O’Hara as Lee Thompson and Seána Kerslake as his sister Mags. Derek Thompson makes a return to his hometown of Belfast to guest star as retired police officer Robin Graham.

What happens in season two?

Naturally, this next section contains season one spoilers. The new series sees Grace, Annie and Tommy growing up fast as police officers, but nothing can prepare them for the turmoil they face every day. A year on from the McIntyre crime gang crumbling, their space has now been filled by rival gangs.

Constable Shane Bradley is drafted in to help with the growing crime, but his motivations are unclear. Tommy is tempted by the world of intelligence policing, while Grace struggles to deal with her son’s absence, and growing feelings for fellow officer Stevie.

As a young loyalist threatens to take over the city, the officers face a major gangland feud – culminating in a violent and devastating confrontation.

On returning for another instalment, Declan said: "Coming back for series two was like coming back to meet old friends and then devising new ways to put your old friends through torture. It was a joy to be back filming again."

Adam agreed: "Coming back for series two was a dream come true for us; to be working like this in our home town and to be able to make a show about the place that we love is something quite special that comes around really rarely."

What have fans said?

Fans of Blue Lights' first season are eagerly awaiting the next instalment. Responding to the second season's announcement on X, formerly Twitter, @jensim2000 cheered: "Hurrah! Easily best thing on TV last year."

@GaryWoolton added: "It has a lot to live up to. The first season was brilliant and I have to admit there is no programme return I have looked forward to more than this one" as @TheBlackGate wrote: "Loved the first season of #BlueLights - this sounds great."

Blue Lights season two begins on Monday April 15 at 9pm on BBC One.