On March 23, 2025, BBC One premiered a stunning new crime drama titled This City Is Ours, featuring acclaimed actor Sean Bean as Ronnie Phelan, the patriarch of an organized crime family. The show, penned by Liverpudlian Stephen Butchard, delves into a world where ambition, love, and the desire to maintain power clash amid chaotic circumstances.
The story revolves around Michael Kavanagh (played by James Nelson-Joyce), a man deeply entrenched in crime who finds himself in love for the first time with Diana Williams (Hannah Onslow). As Michael begins to envision a future beyond his criminal past, the stakes rise significantly. For the first time, he sees something precious to win and something just as precious to lose. The series intricately intertwines their budding romance with the various challenges posed by Michael's connections to the criminal underworld.
This City Is Ours sets the stage with Michael and Ronnie, who have made a lucrative living smuggling cocaine into Liverpool from Colombia. Yet, their empire faces disruption when a significant shipment goes missing. This spurs a warning that their operation may be under attack, putting everyone's lives in jeopardy.
The cast of This City Is Ours showcases a blend of talent including Jack McMullen, who plays Jamie Phelan, Ronnie's ambitious son eager to inherit the family crime empire. The younger Phelan seeks to modernize the operation but threatens Michael’s position, igniting potential power struggles within the family dynamic that complicate the narrative even further.
As tension escalates, Michael's foremost priority becomes protecting his partner Diana, setting the stage for intricate emotional conflicts that intertwine with the crime saga. The show adequately encapsulates moments of familial loyalty, ambition, and fierce romantic devotion, which are disrupted by conflicting aspirations.
The series comprises eight episodes, all of which were made available immediately on iPlayer alongside the premiere. It was filmed over 14 weeks across various locations in Liverpool and even parts of Spain, giving viewers an immersive experience of the gritty Liverpool atmosphere.
In summary, This City Is Ours invites viewers into a world where love and organized crime intertwine, showcasing not just the romantic inner workings of its characters, but also the gripping reality of their illicit dealings. Stephen Butchard’s narrative provides a thorough backdrop for the characters' struggles against systemic issues, such as ambition and the erosion of morality within a dangerously alluring criminal lifestyle.
The complete cast includes: Sean Bean as Ronnie Phelan, James Nelson-Joyce as Michael Kavanagh, Hannah Onslow as Diana Williams, Jack McMullen as Jamie Phelan, Julie Graham as Elaine Phelan, Saoirse-Monica Jackson as Cheryl Crawford, Darci Shaw as Melissa Sullivan, Stephen Walters as Davy Crawford, and Laura Aikman as Rachel Duffy, among others.
With its robust storyline and stellar performances, This City Is Ours is set to play a critical role in captivating audiences far and wide, making a mark in the world of television drama.
