Latest news with #LindsaySalt
Wales Online
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
BBC This City Is Ours season 2 update confirmed after 'phenomenal' ratings
BBC This City Is Ours season 2 update confirmed after 'phenomenal' ratings The BBC drama has been a huge hit with viewers and the broadcaster has now confirmed it will be back for a second series The BBC has confirmed the return of This City Is Ours for an eagerly anticipated second season. Set in Liverpool, the crime drama features James Nelson-Joyce as the lead character Michael Kavanagh, who is torn between maintaining his criminal empire and experiencing love for the very first time. Since its premiere on March 23, the series has garnered a large following with fans quickly devouring all eight episodes made available on iPlayer from the release date. For those who've shown restraint and followed the weekly schedule, the climax of series one aired on Sunday night. Recognised as the BBC's most popular new drama launch this year, the series has enjoyed both critical acclaim and social media buzz, with many calls from viewers for a second season even before today's official confirmation. BBC Drama's director, Lindsay Salt, expressed her delight at the audience reactions and hinted at more surprises in the developing warfare for control of Ronnie Phelan's criminal organisation. This City Is Ours is returning with a second series Stacey Solomon explains why her BAFTA TV awards dress is so special to her READ MORE: Lindsay Salt commented: "This City is Ours was one of our team's first commissions when I joined the BBC, and I could not be happier with how Stephen [Butchard], Saul [Dibb] and the Left Bank team have brought it to the screen so classily. Article continues below "The response from viewers has been a joy to see, with millions discovering its thrilling, character-driven drama for themselves to become gripped by the raging war of the Phelans. "I'm delighted that we now get to build on this fantastic first run and show that things are only just getting started for this very special series." The creator of the programme, Kirkby's own Stephen Butchard, is eager to continue the saga of Michael Kavanagh and Jamie Phelan (portrayed by Jack McMullen), reports the Liverpool Echo. Butchard shared his enthusiasm: "We have all been blown away by the incredibly positive response to This City is Ours, I can't thank the audience enough for their time and emotional investment." He also expressed gratitude towards the BBC Drama team: "My heartfelt thanks also to Lindsay Salt and her wonderful team at BBC Drama for their unflinching support and continued belief in the show, our story and our characters - and not least for this opportunity to do it all over again! See you soon!". Filmed within the Liverpool city region, This City Is Ours is set to return to Merseyside for its next instalment, much to the excitement of its production company, Left Bank Pictures. Sian McWilliams, Creative Director at Left Bank Pictures and executive producer of the series, commented: "We are so delighted to be diving back into Stephen Butchard's brilliant underworld of Liverpool crime with our wonderful collaborators at the BBC. The show proved to be hugely popular (Image: BBC/Left Bank Pictures/James Stack ) "It's been a joy to watch audiences fall in love with these fantastically complex characters. After the tumultuous events of the season one finale, the gang rivalries and betrayals have escalated to new levels, new ones have just begun, and there is a lot of unfinished business!". In anticipation of the season premiere, Walton-born star James Nelson-Joyce shared his aspirations for the series to honour his city. The 36 year old actor, who also featured in this year's A Thousand Blows alongside Stephen Graham, remarked: "It's a love letter to Liverpool, in a way. Article continues below "The city looks absolutely stunning and I'm just really proud of it" he continued. He concluded: "I hope the city watches it and it's something they're proud of. That's all I hope for." All eight episodes of season one are now available to watch on iPlayer. Further information about series two will be announced in due course.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
BBC confirms long-awaited return news about its breakout hit crime drama
The BBC has officially renewed This City Is Ours for a second season. The eight-part first season, which launched in full on BBC iPlayer in March and concludes its weekly run on BBC One tonight, has been a hit with both critics and audiences – boasting a 91% Rotten Tomatoes score and its first episode drawing the highest ratings for a new BBC drama this year. In response to strong fan demand for more episodes, the BBC has listened and renewed This City Is Ours for a second season. "We have all been blown away by the incredibly positive response to This City is Ours, I can't thank the audience enough for their time and emotional investment," said Stephen Butchard, the show's creator, lead writer and executive producer. "My heartfelt thanks also to Lindsay Salt and her wonderful team at BBC Drama for their unflinching support and continued belief in the show, our story and our characters - and not least for this opportunity to do it all over again! See you soon!" Related: Best streaming services Lindsay Salt, director of BBC Drama, added: "This City is Ours was one of our team's first commissions when I joined the BBC, and I could not be happier with how Stephen, [director Saul Dibb] and the Left Bank team have brought it to the screen so classily. "The response from viewers has been a joy to see, with millions discovering its thrilling, character-driven drama for themselves to become gripped by the raging war of the Phelans. "I'm delighted that we now get to build on this fantastic first run and show that things are only just getting started for this very special series." Related: This City is Ours centres on the love affair between Michael (James Nelson-Joyce) and Diana (Hannah Onslow), which unfolds as Michael's crime empire begins to fall apart. "For years, together with his friend Ronnie (Sean Bean), Michael has successfully been bringing cocaine into the City and beyond, using his close links with the Marbella underworld; but when a shipment goes missing, he knows their kingdom is under attack," the synopsis reads. The series also stars Laura Aikman, Julie Graham, Kevin Harvey, Saoirse-Monica Jackson, Mike Noble, Bobby Schofield, Darci Shaw, and Stephen Walters. This City Is Ours airs on BBC One and streams on BBC iPlayer. Digital Spy's first print magazine is here! Buy British Comedy Legends in newsagents or online now, priced at £7.99. at £328.00 at at EE at £49.99 at at at Amazon at Audible£18.99 at at EE at at at at at at at at at at Amazon£29.98 at at at Game at Sky Mobile at EE at at at Pandora at at at at at at at at Three at at Game at Pandora at at at at at at at £1199.00 at AO at £199.99 at Fitbit$15.00 at at at at at at at at at at at at at John Lewis at at at at at at at £90.00 at at at at at at John Lewis at at John Lewis & Partners at at at Amazon at at Amazon at Fitbit£119.99 at at Amazon£184.00 at John Lewis & Partners at Three at at at at at at at at Amazon at at at at at at at at at Apple at Three at at at at at at at at John Lewis at at at EE at at Audible at at at at at at at EE at £449.00 at John Lewis£32.99 at Amazon at at at at at Apple at at at Microsoft£79.00 at Samsung at at Apple at at Three£229.00 at John Lewis at at John Lewis at at at at Samsung at crunchyroll£1199.00 at AO at at Amazon at John Lewis & Partners at at at at Microsoft£92.98 at at at Microsoft at at at at John Lewis£269.99 at at Amazon at at at John Lewis & Partners at now at at at at at Microsoft at at John Lewis at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at Might Also Like PS5 consoles for sale – PlayStation 5 stock and restocks: Where to buy PS5 today? IS MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 7 THE BEST IN THE SERIES? OUR REVIEW AEW game is a modern mix of No Mercy and SmackDown
Evening Standard
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Evening Standard
Call The Midwife film and Second World War prequel series announced
Lindsay Salt, director of BBC Drama, said: 'Call The Midwife has been a jewel in the BBC's crown for well over a decade, and this feels like the perfect time to further expand on the glorious, perfectly realised world that Heidi, Pippa, Annie and the team have created for the show's millions of passionate and dedicated viewers.'
BBC News
18-03-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
River City to come to an end in 2026 as BBC plans next generation of drama production in Scotland with three new titles
BBC Scotland will be saying a fond farewell to long-running drama series, River City and the residents of Shieldinch next year after more than 20 years on screen. The drama, which has entertained audiences since 2002, will air its final series in Autumn 2026. Reflecting a significant change in audience behaviour away from long-running series and towards shorter runs, the BBC will make a considerable boost in major drama productions set across Scotland, moving the River City investment, starting with three new series – Counsels, Grams and The Young Team. As well as these new titles, popular drama Granite Harbour will return for a third series, filming in Aberdeen and Glasgow in the coming months. Also making a return is Shetland for its tenth series and Vigil for a third series, while the previously announced eight-part drama, Mint, is filming in Scotland. Combined, these dramas will bring a greater range of stories written by Scots, about Scotland and made in Scotland for a UK-wide audience. Forming part of the single biggest investment in drama from Scotland in the past decade, these new dramas - along with existing commissions - will create new opportunities across the independent sector. Total investment in BBC drama from Scotland over the next three years is expected to rise to over £95m cumulatively (2026-28). Counsels, Grams and The Young Team were ordered by Louise Thornton, Head of Commissioning for BBC Scotland and Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama. The BBC will also work with industry partners on a new talent training plan in Scotland. A new framework for training will build on River City's successful training academy and the ongoing work on other series to elevate individuals in to senior creative roles as well as supporting and developing production crews. Further details will be announced in the autumn. Hayley Valentine, Director, BBC Scotland says: 'River City has been a wonderful adventure and of course we'll all be sad to see it go. The team have done a brilliant job and I know they have some big plans for the finale next year. But as viewing patterns change and competition intensifies, this is the right time to invest in the next generation of high-impact drama series from across Scotland showcasing storytelling across the UK. Our goal is to grow Scotland further on the global drama map – with a slate of world-class productions that set the standard not just here but internationally too.' Louise Thornton Head of Commissioning at BBC Scotland: 'We are incredibly proud of River City and it is with great sadness that we have come to this difficult decision. I want to thank the River City team in front of and behind the cameras for their dedication to the show over the years, past and present. For more than two decades, River City has brought drama to life on screen as well as offering industry training at grassroots level, and we know that fans of the programme will be really sad to see it go. The show leaves a tremendous legacy behind and the new productions we've announced will offer further opportunities. 'However, the media landscape is changing at pace and, as audience viewing habits change, it's vital we respond to this. Our three new dramas, alongside the returning drama favourites, reflect the increasing shift in audience demand for series rooted in Scotland which play to audiences across the UK…and beyond. We're delighted to be working with such great production teams and remain steadfast in our commitment to invest in Scotland's creative industry.' The new Scottish drama titles are: Counsels (Balloon Entertainment) 8x60' – BBC iPlayer / BBC One / BBC Scotland Counsels is an original high-stakes legal drama co-created by Scottish writers Bryan Elsley (The Crow Road, Skins) and BBC Writers' Drama Room graduate Gillian McCormack. Set and filmed in and around Glasgow, Counsels follows five young lawyers who once trained together at one of Scotland's elite law schools but are now scattered across the profession and find themselves facing each other in the courts of Glasgow. Some will rise to the top, while others risk losing everything as their careers teeter on the edge when they lock horns in their biggest cases yet. The ambitious lawyers must navigate a legal battlefield where their friendships begin to fracture, love affairs crumble, and the fight for justice threatens to tear them all apart. Read more: BBC announces new Glasgow-set legal drama Counsels Grams (World Productions) 6x60' – BBC iPlayer / BBC One / BBC Scotland Grams is a darkly comic thriller created, written and directed by the RTS award-winning James Price (Dog Days, Boys Night), Grams is set in Springburn, Glasgow, where James was born and still lives. Following the death of her beloved grandson Michael, widowed Glaswegian Thana becomes the target of a violent local gang, who Michael apparently crossed. Thana finds salvation in the form of Connor, a volatile friend of Michael's with serious anger issues. Grams will see Thana and Connor form an unlikely partnership, as they seek the truth of what really happened to Michael. Read more: BBC commissions new drama Grams from award-winning writer and director James Price The Young Team (Synchronicity Films) 6x60' – BBC iPlayer / BBC Three/ BBC Scotland The Young Team is the scripted debut from one of Scotland's most exciting voices in literature, Graeme Armstrong. The series is adapted from Graeme's best-selling and award-winning debut novel of the same name and is set and filmed in North Lanarkshire. Fifteen-year-old Azzy Williams and his pals roam the streets of Airdrie on a Friday night, bottles of Buckfast in hand and techno playing from tinny speakers. Azzy is ready. Ready to smoke, pop pills, drink wine and fight. He longs to become fully initiated into local gang the Young Team Posse (YTP). But when Azzy, determined to prove himself, makes a bold move, a brutal gang conflict ensues with Azzy very firmly at its heart. The Young Team will follow Azzy on his journey from boyhood to manhood as he and his mates become postcode warriors in a toxic cycle that threatens to consume them. An unflinching look at the realities of addiction and gang violence, this ambitious series will tell a powerful, visceral story about the realities of life for young, disenfranchised people and the fight for a different future. Read more: BBC commissions new drama The Young Team adapted from Graeme Armstrong's best-selling novel Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama says: 'Audience habits are changing and we are responding to that with these plans for three brilliant new dramas made in Scotland. BBC viewers love truly authentic stories and we are committed to creating high-impact content from across the UK, so that we can better reflect and represent every part of the country. The success of the long running Shetland, coupled with the return of Vigil and Granite Harbour, is a testament to the strength of talent we have in Scotland and we look forward to seeing our three new shows come to life alongside these hugely popular returners.' These new commissions will build on the BBC's strong track record in drama production in Scotland including award-winning series Guilt and Mayflies, and ratings hits Rebus and Nightsleeper. Richard Gadd's new series Half Man has also started shooting in Scotland while the psychological thriller The Ridge starring Lauren Lyle will hit screens later this year. Filming on the new titles is expected from later this year and into 2026, with casting to be announced in due course. Plans are underway to ensure River City goes out on a high next year, celebrating the show's legacy. River City is a BBC Studios Drama Production. JM2 Notes to Editors River City launched on 24 September 2002. The interior and exterior sets are based at the Dumbarton Studios, just outside Glasgow. The lease for the Dumbarton site comes to an end in September 2026.
