Cathy Tyson and Michael Smiley join Blue Lights cast as filming begins on series 3
Date Posted: February 7, 2025
Cathy Tyson (Boiling Point, Dune: Prophecy) and Michael Smiley (Bad Sisters, Censor) have joined the cast of Blue Lights as filming begins on the third series of the multi award-winning Belfast-based drama.
Produced by Two Cities Television and co-produced by Gallagher Films for BBC iPlayer and BBC One, the critically acclaimed show also stars returning cast Siân Brooke (Grace), Martin McCann (Stevie), Katherine Devlin (Annie), Nathan Braniff (Tommy), Joanne Crawford (Helen), Andi Osho (Sandra), Frank Blake (Shane), Abigail McGibbon, (Tina) Dearbháile McKinney (Aisling) and Andrea Irvine (Nicola).
The first three episodes will be directed by Jack Casey while actor/director Angela Griffin (Waterloo Road) will direct the last three episodes of the six part series.
Two years into their jobs as response officers, Grace, Annie and Tommy are accustomed to life under the blue lights. But their work will take them into a sinister world hidden behind the veneer of middle-class life, the world of the accountants and lawyers who facilitate organised crime. The old political and criminal order has gone and a new global gang rule Belfast, bringing danger closer to home for our officers than ever before.
Declan Lawn and Adam Patterson, co-creators and executive producers: “For us, the joy of making Blue Lights is spending time with the characters and watching them grow, learn, and deal with the daily adversity of response policing in Belfast. At its heart, this is a show about personal, institutional and social change, and we want each series to reflect that in its own way. We can’t imagine better custodians of our creative vision than our brilliant series three directors Jack Casey and Angela Griffin. It’s a privilege, as ever, to be back in Blackthorn.”
Stephen Wright and Louise Gallagher, co-creators and executive producers, said: “Declan and Adam continue to develop rich characters in a complex world with stories that will shock and move the audience. We are delighted to have Jack Casey back and are thrilled to welcome Angela Griffin to the Blue Lights family.”
Nick Lambon, BBC Drama Commissioning Editor, UK & Northern Ireland, adds: “It is a delight to watch Cathy and Michael seamlessly join our talented cast. The arrival of both characters marks the start of the most ambitious Blue Lights series yet, which will leave fans questioning everything they think they know about the response officers they have come to love…”
The 6 x 60’ series, for BBC iPlayer and BBC One is co-created, written and executive produced by Declan Lawn and Adam Patterson, co-created and produced by Stephen Wright of Two Cities Television and co-created and co-produced by Louise Gallagher of Gallagher Films with support from Northern Ireland Screen. The producer for series three is Amanda Black (World on Fire, Marcella, Blue Lights S2), Episodes 1-3 are directed by Jack Casey and episodes 4-6 will be directed by Angela Griffin. The series was commissioned by Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama. The executive producers are Stephen Wright (Two Cities Television), Louise Gallagher (Gallagher Films), Declan Lawn and Adam Patterson and the executive producer for the BBC is Nick Lambon.
Blue Lights series two averaged 5.6M viewers across the series, while episode one’s 7M made it the BBC’s fourth biggest drama launch last year. In Northern Ireland, it was the biggest drama across the whole market (broadcasters and streamers), across 2023 and 2024.
BBC Studios will distribute series three internationally in addition to series one and two. Series one and two of Blue Lights has sold to over 160 territories.
Two Cities Television is part of the STV Studios family of production labels.
