The Daily Star Ireland
The acclaimed Belfast-set police drama Blue Lights is officially returning for a third season on BBC One, with the broadcaster unveiling first-look photos from the upcoming episodes. While the exact release date is still to be confirmed, anticipation is already building for the latest chapter of the hit crime series.
Returning Cast and New Faces
The new season will once again feature the ensemble cast that has helped make Blue Lights a critical and audience favorite. Leading the lineup are Siân Brooke as Grace, Martin McCann as Stevie, Katherine Devlin as Annie, Nathan Braniff as Tommy, Joanne Crawford as Helen, Andi Osho as Sandra, Frank Blake as Shane, Abigail McGibbon as Tina, Dearbháile McKinney as Aisling, and Andrea Irvine as Nicola.
Season three also welcomes notable new additions. Cathy Tyson (Boiling Point, Dune: Prophecy) joins as Dana Morgan, the owner of a private members’ club with secrets of her own, while Michael Smiley (Bad Sisters, Censor) takes on the role of intelligence officer Paul “Colly” Collins. Their arrival hints at fresh intrigue and deeper entanglements for the officers at the heart of the story.
What to Expect in Season Three
According to the BBC, the upcoming season picks up two years into Grace, Annie, and Tommy’s careers as response officers. By now, they’ve grown accustomed to life on the front line, but the dangers of policing Belfast are far from routine.
This time, the narrative shifts beyond street crime into a more hidden and insidious world: the professional enablers of organized crime. Accountants, lawyers, and other figures who operate behind polished façades are revealed to be key players in a new, globalized criminal order. With old power structures collapsing, international gangs begin to exert their influence over Belfast, pulling the officers into cases that blur the lines between local policing and international crime.
The BBC teased: “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.”
A Northern Irish Production Success
Produced by Belfast-based Two Cities Television and co-produced with Gallagher Films, the show continues to receive strong backing from Northern Ireland Screen. Its authentic portrayal of the city and its challenges has been praised not only for dramatic storytelling but also for highlighting Belfast as a hub for high-quality television production.
The series has already earned major recognition, winning both BAFTA and Royal Television Society Awards. Its mix of gripping storylines, grounded characters, and the tense reality of frontline policing has resonated strongly with audiences across the UK and Ireland.
For fans eager to catch up before season three, the first two seasons of Blue Lights remain available to stream on the RTÉ Player.
