The gang is back, and Michael Kavanagh has more problems to deal with. BBC crime drama This City Is Ours returns for its second season with familiar faces, two major new cast members, and unfinished business following the shocking events of the first series.
Created by Stephen Butchard, the drama follows rival crime families fighting for control of Liverpool’s drug trade. The new season brings back the characters viewers know while introducing new threats that could make it even harder for Michael to escape his criminal past.
All eight episodes are on BBC iPlayer now, with BBC One airing them on Sundays and Mondays at 9pm. This City Is Ours season 3 is also confirmed, with filming starting in Liverpool in 2027, though there's no release date yet.
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James Nelson-Joyce and Hannah Onslow Return as Michael and Diana
James Nelson-Joyce returns as Michael Kavanagh, a trusted member of the Phelan crime organisation who wants to build a different life with Diana Williams, played by Hannah Onslow.
Their plans to start over in Spain do not last long. The couple are pulled back into the fallout from the murder of Ricardo Guzman, a Colombian cartel figure whose death could put Michael in serious trouble.
Onslow returns as Diana, whose relationship with Michael faces fresh pressure as his criminal life continues to interfere with their future. Michael must find a way to deal with the questions surrounding Ricardo’s death without putting Diana or their family at risk.
Nelson-Joyce has also appeared in Time, Little Boy Blue and Reputation, while Onslow is known for The Doll Factory and This Is Going to Hurt.
Shaun Evans and Álvaro Morte Join the Season 2 Cast
Two major additions bring fresh trouble to the story. Shaun Evans joins the cast as Ozzie Thompson, an old-school gangster recently released from prison who has unfinished business with the Phelan organisation. He wants compensation or revenge, putting the group under pressure as it tries to maintain control.
Evans is best known for playing the young detective Endeavour Morse in Endeavour. He has also appeared in Vigil and Until I Kill You. His role as Ozzie gives him a different kind of character to play, with the newly released gangster threatening to upset the balance of power in Liverpool.
Spanish actor Álvaro Morte also joins the series as Felipe Guzman, a member of the Colombian cartel and the younger brother of Ricardo. Following Ricardo’s death, Felipe has reasons to investigate what happened, bringing Michael’s problems beyond Liverpool and into the world of the cartel.
Morte is widely known for playing the Professor in Netflix’s Money Heist. He has also appeared in The Wheel of Time and Immaculate. His casting adds an international link to a story that began with rivalries inside Liverpool’s criminal underworld.
Jack McMullen, Mike Noble and Julie Graham Return
Jack McMullen is back as Jamie Phelan, the son of former crime boss Ronnie Phelan. Jamie’s position in the family business remains uncertain after the first season’s power struggle, and the fight over who controls the organisation is far from over.
Mike Noble also returns as Banksey, Michael’s former right-hand man, whose decision to kill Ricardo helped set the new story in motion. With the cartel looking for answers, Banksey’s actions could have serious consequences for the people around him.
Julie Graham reprises her role as Elaine Phelan, Ronnie’s widow, who was involved in the agreement to settle the family’s earlier power struggle. Her position within the organisation will be tested as new threats and old rivalries put the family under pressure.
Other returning cast members include Laura Aikman as Rachel Duffy, Kevin Harvey as Bobby Duffy, Saoirse-Monica Jackson as Cheryl Crawford, Darci Shaw as Melissa Sullivan, Adam Abbou as Freddie and Bobby Schofield as Bonehead.
This City Is Ours Season 1 Recap: What Happened
The first season followed Ronnie Phelan, played by Sean Bean, as he prepared to leave the criminal business behind. His decision sparked a fight for control between Michael and his son Jamie, setting off a chain of betrayals that changed the family.
Ronnie was killed early in the series, leaving the organisation without its main leader. Michael and Jamie continued their battle, while Michael tried to build a future with Diana. Their relationship became caught up in the violence, threats and difficult choices surrounding the gang.
The conflict reached a breaking point when Jamie kidnapped Diana and demanded that Michael take his own life in exchange for her safety. Michael later admitted to killing Ronnie, which pushed him further away from the Phelan family. The season ended with Banksey killing Ricardo, leaving the group exposed to possible retaliation from the Colombian cartel.
That final murder sets up much of the second season, as Michael tries to protect his future while dealing with the consequences of decisions made inside the gang.
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Why This City Is Ours Season 2 Could Be Bigger
The new season expands the story beyond the struggle for control inside the Phelan family. Ozzie brings back the threat of an older criminal generation, while Felipe connects Ricardo’s death to the wider cartel network. Michael now faces pressure from several directions, making it harder to keep his personal life separate from the business.
The drama also returns with a strong audience behind it. According to production company Left Bank Pictures, the first season attracted an average of more than six million viewers, with its opening episode reaching more than eight million after catch-up viewing. It also earned BAFTA Television Award nominations for Best Drama and Leading Actor for Nelson-Joyce.
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