Everything you need to know about BBC crime drama Blue Lights

If you're a fan of TV crime dramas such as Line of Duty, Happy Valley, and Better, then let us introduce you to a series called Blue Lights. The show, was filmed in Belfast and created by the writers of The Salisbury Poisonings, first aired in March 2023, following three rookie police officers working in Belfast.

After series two was equally as popular, the show was renewed for two further series, with the third series also now available to binge. Here's everything you need to know about Blue Lights as series four is due at the end of September!

Will there be more series?

Before series two had even landed, BBC bosses confirmed a third and fourth series of Blue Lights has been commissioned!

Sharing the news online in February 2024, bosses wrote: '🚨 Blue Lights series 3 and 4 CONFIRMED! The BBC has ordered two more six-part series of the critically acclaimed Belfast-based police drama'. (sic)

Lindsay Salt, BBC Director of Drama said: “We were bowled over by the reaction to Blue Lights and I’m really pleased to be confirming our commitment to bring two more series of our beloved Belfast drama to air. Adam and Declan have brilliant ideas about where to take the characters next and I can’t wait for viewers to see what’s in store.”

Series three arrived in September 2025, with series four dropping on Tuesday 29th September.

READ MORE: Start date confirmed for Blue Lights series four

What is Blue Lights about?

Series one of Blue Lights follows three rookie police officers (Siân Brooke, Katherine Devlin, and Nathan Braniff) working in Belfast, attempting to fight crime and navigate life in a uniquely dangerous place to be a police officer.

Main character Grace, portrayed by Doctor Foster actress Siân Brooke, decides to leave her stable job as a social worker to join the police force, whilst being a mum to her teenage boy in her 40s.

The BBC say of the series one plot: '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 (Katherine Devlin), who struggles with the fact that her chosen path may mean having to leave everything she’s ever known behind, and Tommy (Nathan Braniff), 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?'

Trailers:

Check out the trailer for Blue Lights series one below:

Check out the trailer for Blue Lights series two below:

Check out the trailer for Blue Lights series three below:

Check out the teaser trailer for Blue Lights series four below:

When was it on TV?

Series one of Blue Lights started on 27th March 2023, with episodes airing every Monday night for six weeks. Following the first episode, all eps were available to watch on iPlayer.

Series two started on Monday 15th April 2024. All episodes from series two became available on BBC iPlayer from 6am on 15th April.

Series three started on Monday 29th September 2025 and aired weekly until Monday 3rd November.

Series four will begin on Tuesday 29th September 2026.

Who is in the cast?

The hit drama has a stellar cast, with Siân Brooke, Katherine Devlin, and Nathan Braniff playing the three lead roles.

Siân Brooke

Martin McCann

Richard Dormer

Katherine Devlin

Nathan Braniff

John Lynch

Jonathan Harden

Valene Kane

Nabil Elouahabi

Andi Osho

Michael Shea

Dane Whyte O'Hara

Hannah McClean

Joanne Crawford

Desmond Eastwood

Matthew Forsythe

How can I watch it?

All episodes of Blue Lights are available on the BBC iPlayer.

How many episodes?

The first three series are made up of six, one hour long episodes.

Series four will also follow the same format.

Where is it filmed?

Blue Lights was filmed in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and the surrounding areas.

Check out all of the filming locations below from series one-three:

Who wrote Blue Lights?

Blue Lights was created and written by Declan Lawn and Adam Patterson, the duo behind BBC drama The Salisbury Poisonings.

The pair said: "Every writer wants to explore their own place, and their own society as authentically and as honestly as they can. We feel enormously grateful to BBC drama for letting us do that with Blue Lights. And to do it with a cast boasting so much new and established talent makes it even more exciting."

The show has been made by Two Cities Television and produced with support from Northern Ireland Screen as part of their continued partnership with the BBC. Carol Moorhead, who worked on the The Fall.

Author: Alex Ross

Alex Ross is a Digital Content Editor across Rayo brands, including the Hits Radio Network, Greatest Hits Radio, KISS, Cool FM and Magic Radio. After beginning her career as a Marketing Intern with Bauer Media in 2016, she transitioned into digital editorial and has spent the past decade creating engaging content for millions of readers. Whether it’s reality shows, sitcoms, gritty crime dramas or hard-hitting documentaries, Alex is an expert in all things TV, as well as knowing the ins and outs of celebrities.

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