Brand new police drama Blue Lights is now available to watch in full on BBC iPlayer, helping viewers looking for that crime series fix after the end of both Happy Valley and The Gold.

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The new drama is set in Belfast and focuses on a group of rookie recruits working in the Police Service of Northern Ireland, with creators Declan Lawn and Adam Patterson previously saying its exploration of the political unrest in the area is "so important" following the real-life shooting of an off-duty police officer.

The six-part series stars Siân Brooke, Katherine Devlin, Nathan Braniff and Richard Dormer amongst others, with Brooke having taken on the role in part because her father was a police officer for a long time.

But when will episodes from the series be airing on BBC One, what is it about and who else is in the cast? Read on for everything you need to know about Blue Lights.

When will Blue Lights be released?

Tommy (Nathan Braniff) in Blue Lights
Nathan Braniff as Tommy in Blue Lights. BBC/Gallagher Films/Two Cities Television

Blue Lights is now available in full on BBC iPlayer, while the series will start airing on BBC One from 9pm on Monday 27th March.

The series started filming in Belfast back in February 2022 and has been created by Declan Lawn and Adam Patterson, whose previous work includes The Salisbury Poisonings and The Undeclared War.

What is Blue Lights about?

Annie Conlon (Katherine Devlin), Grace Ellis (Siân Brooke) and Tommy Foster (Nathan Braniff) in Blue Lights wearing police uniforms.
Katherine Devlin as Annie Conlon, Sian Brooke as Grace Ellis and Nathan Braniff as Tommy Foster in Blue Lights. BBC

The official synopsis for Blue Lights says: "Grace, a mother of a teenage boy, has made the decision in her 40’s to leave her steady job as a social worker to join the Police Service of Northern Ireland. Having previously worked in social care she straddles a fine line between the personal and professional.

"It’s the biggest gamble of her life, and just a few weeks into the job, she’s making so many mistakes that her decision no longer looks like a winning bet.

"Her fellow rookies are Annie, who struggles with the fact that her chosen path may mean having to leave everything she’s ever known behind, and Tommy, who is desperate to prove himself, despite being disastrously inept at the practical side of frontline response policing.

"All three are new police officers in their probation period with the PSNI, the odds are at least one of them isn’t going to last. The pressure is immense, but if they succumb to it, they won’t survive. Often the rookie officers don’t know the extent of the peril they are in, or who they can trust.

"What’s it like to have to hide your job from neighbours, friends and even family? How do you distinguish between who needs your help and who wants you dead simply because of the uniform you wear?"

Blue Lights cast: who stars in the police drama?

Siân Brooke as Grace in Blue Lights.
Siân Brooke as Grace in Blue Lights BBC/Gallagher Films/Two Cities Television

The cast of Blue Lights is led by Siân Brooke, who viewers may know for her roles in Sherlock, House of the Dragon, Good Omens and Trying.

She is joined in the series by established stars such as Richard Dormer (Game of Thrones) and Andi Osho (Line of Duty), as well as newcomers and up-and-coming actors such as Katherine Devlin and Nathan Braniff.

  • Siân Brooke as Grace Ellis
  • Katherine Devlin as Annie Conlon
  • Nathan Braniff as Tommy Foster
  • Martin McCann as Stevie Neil
  • Richard Dormer as Gerald ‘Gerry’ Cliff
  • Joanne Crawford as Helen McNally
  • Hannah McClean as Jen Robinson
  • Valene Kane as Angela Mackle
  • Jonathan Harden as David ‘Jonty’ Jonson
  • John Lynch as James McIntyre
  • Andi Osho as Sandra Cliff

Blue Lights trailer

You can watch the full trailer for Blue Lights right here now.

Blue Lights is available to watch in full now on BBC iPlayer and will premiere on BBC One at 9pm on Monday 27th March. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to see what's on tonight.

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Authors

James HibbsDrama Writer

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.

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