First look at Sean Bean as Liverpool mobster in new BBC drama

The much-anticipated series is due to be released in spring.

This City is Ours is a brand-new show created by Stephen Butchard (The Last Kingdom, Five Daughters) and directed by a trio including BAFTA award-winning Saul Dibb (The Salisbury Poisonings, The Sixth Commandment), John Hayes (Nightsleeper, Dublin Murders), and Eshref Reybrouck (Undercover).

Here's your first look at This City is Ours, the epic new crime drama starring Sean Bean

Set and filmed in Liverpool, its premieres on the BBC this spring

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— BBC Press Office (@bbcpress) January 28, 2025

According to BBC Press Office, the series tells the story of Michael - a man who for all of his adult life has been involved in organised crime - working for his friend and the gang leader Ronnie.

When Ronnie begins to hint at retirement, Michael too begins to imagine another life. Because, for the first time in his life, Michael is in love.

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.

Bean plays Liverpudlian gang leader Ronnie Phelan, while James Nelson-Joyce (The Trap, A Thousand Blows) plays Ronnie’s friend, Michael Kavanagh.

Hannah Onslow (Empire of Light, This Is Going to Hurt) plays Diana Williams, Michael’s partner. Jack McMullen (Hijack, Ford V Ferrari) plays Ronnie’s son, Jamie Phelan, and Julie Graham (Shetland, Time) plays Elaine, head of the Phelan family alongside her husband Ronnie.

Set and filmed in Liverpool, the eight-part series is made by Left Bank Pictures for BBC iPlayer and BBC One. Worldwide distribution is handled by Sony Pictures Television.

The drama also features Saoirse Monica-Jackson from Derry Girls and Laura Aikman from Gavin and Stacey.

This City is Ours is the story of Michael and Diana's love affair, set against the disintegration of Michael’s crime gang. For years, together with Ronnie, Michael has successfully been bringing cocaine into the city and beyond, directly from Columbia; but when a shipment goes missing, he knows their kingdom is under attack.

This City is Ours explores what happens when Ronnie’s son Jamie decides he wants to inherit their kingdom and that there is no longer a place for Michael at the table.

Both Michael and Jamie have bold ideas to modernise the gang and they will battle for control of it. But Michael’s biggest battle will be to save the woman he loves and the child he has always wanted.

This is a story about family, and love destroyed and corrupted by ambition, pride and greed. It’s a story about power: what we will do to secure and keep it.