Where was Blue Lights season 2 filmed?
The hit police show is back for round two.
Blue Lights season 2 has landed, transporting fans back to the tumultuous streets of Belfast.
The second season kicks off one year after we last saw the PSNI team, with Grace (Siân Brooke), Tommy (Nathan Braniff) and Annie (Katherine Devlin) now more senior in their roles.
However, drugs and street crime are on the rise in season 2, and our law enforcers soon come under plenty of pressure.
Wondering where the Belfast-set police drama was filmed? Read on for everything you need to know.
Where was Blue Lights filmed?
As with season 1, the entirety of Blue Lights season 2 was shot in Belfast, Northern Ireland, with specific areas being used this time around including the Monkstown area of Newtownabbey and the Granton Park housing estate.
Other areas used for filming on season 2 included the city centre and the High Street, as well as Dundonald, which is east of the city.
The show's creators have consistently praised the crew in Northern Ireland who help put the show together and, when asked what new steps they have taken for season 2, Patterson said they have "taken more risks in the way we’ve represented the areas we are filming in... whilst still retaining that authenticity and acceptability that pertains to representing a contemporary place like Belfast".
He explained: "Some of what we’ve filmed has not been easy to show, because it requires us to look at ourselves deeply as a society, which is difficult because there are no easy answers.
"We are shining a light without giving the answers, which creatively is quite difficult, but if you have great characters at the heart of it you can accept that we don’t always need definitive answers. You just need to see how people react when they try to do something in the moment."
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Meanwhile, Lawn explained that Belfast is "more of a character in this series" than the first, and that "you see the full spectrum of the city" throughout the episodes.
Patterson continued: "Stylistically, in series two we wanted to evolve and show more of Belfast, and I don’t just mean having more shots of officers in Belfast, but standalone shots of the city that mean something to the storyline.
"We really worked hard to find the tapestry and the blanket imagery that would lead into our worlds and people, and that led to it feeling more visceral and real. We wanted to show more of this place that we love but that is still in many ways troubled."
Where is Blue Lights set?
Blue Lights is set entirely in Belfast, following the day to day lives of officers working there for the PSNI (Police Service of Northern Ireland).
Co-creator Adam Patterson said of the series: "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."
Meanwhile, co-creator Declan Lawn added: "Blue Lights is set in a very specific place. It’s hyper local, yet universal in its themes. Everyone has started a new job, has felt under pressure, and to some extent, everyone has found a family that’s not their own family.
"These things affect all of us, regardless of where we are from, so perhaps that had something to do with why it seemed to resonate so much."
What year is Blue Lights set in?
Blue Lights is set in contemporary Belfast and chronicles fictional events set in the present day.
Speaking about the show's timeless quality, co-creator Adam Patterson previously told RadioTimes.com: "I think I speak for everyone who I know in the world and say it really felt like a horrible flashback from a time that we all thought we'd left behind. But a reminder as to why the show is so important."
Patterson continued: "We can't just ignore the fact that there is still a lingering threat for these people that literally lay themselves on the line to uphold our civic duty. That's amazing, and we just love the police for that. Of course, they’re a flawed machine; like many machines, they have their issues."
Blue Lights is available to watch in full on BBC iPlayer.
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Authors
James Hibbs is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering programmes across both streaming platforms and linear channels. He previously worked in PR, first for a B2B agency and subsequently for international TV production company Fremantle. He possesses a BA in English and Theatre Studies and an NCTJ Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.