We’ve been waiting over a year for the third instalment of Blue Lights, but that day is finally upon us and we’re looking forward to catching up with the officers at our favourite Northern Ireland police station.
But let’s be honest, it’s been a while since we last saw Grace, Stevie, Annie and Tommy on our screens. Maybe you’re struggling to remember what Blue Lights is all about and what happened in series two? Or maybe you’re new to Blue Lights and are wondering if you should watch it?
To the first group we say: Keep scrolling we’ve got all the answers. To the second: Call a sick day and start watching, you won’t regret it.
Here’s everything you need to know about Blue Lights series three.
What is Blue Lights about?
Blue Lights is a police procedural which follows the lives of the officers working at the fictional Blackthorn police station in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Expect edge-of-your-seat tension with several witty one-liners thrown in.
Critics have praised the way that the series doesn’t shy away from more hard-hitting, topical themes like racial profiling and corrupt policing, but manages to balance the drama with well-developed second storylines – mainly focusing of the inter-relationships of the main characters.
Who are the cast of Blue Lights?
Sian Brooke as Grace Ellis
Single mum Grace is played by Sian Brooke – an English actress who you may recognise from TV series including House of the Dragon, in which she played Queen Aemma Arryn aka the first wife of King Viserys I Targaryen (Paddy Considine), and Trying, the comedy which follows Nikki (Esther Smith) and Jason (Rafe Spall) as they attempt to become parents.
Martin McCann as Stevie Neil
Most recently you may have spotted Martin starring alongside Suranne Jones in the Netflix miniseries Hostage as former soldier, and perhaps more importantly kidnapper, John Shagan.
In 2020 he was listed as number 48 on The Irish Times list of Ireland’s greatest film actors having starred in masterpieces like Swansong (2010), The Survivalist (2015) and Calibre (2018).
Katherine Devlin as Annie Conlon
Her role as the fiery and impulsive Annie marks Katherine’s first lead, but she’s also appeared in an episode of The Vikings and an episode of the Eddie Redmayne-led thriller series, The Day of the Jackal.
Nathan Braniff as Tommy Foster
Nathan’s first and only on-screen role is playing Tommy in Blue Lights. When he’s not acting, Tommy competes in both Kickboxing and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu tournaments alongside his three brothers.
Joanne Crawford as Helen McNally
Prior to Blue Lights, Joanne had had small parts in The Fall and Line of Duty. More recently, you may have spotted her in the BBC drama Dead and Buried alongside Colin Morgan. Joanne played Dr. Kennedy, the psychiatrist.
Frank Blake as Shane Bradley
Although we grew to love Shane by the end of series two, Frank’s acting CV proves he’s not afraid of playing a darker character. Take Normal People for example, Frank played Marianne’s (Daisy Edgar Jones) alcoholic brother Alan.
You’ll also likely recognise Frank from the period drama Sanditon, having played Captain Declan Fraser, and Say Nothing, which he starred in as real life member of the IRA, Seamus Wright, who was abducted and shot.
Andi Osho as Sandra Cliff
A hugely successful actor, you may have spotted Andi in some of your other favourite TV dramas. We're talking Kiri - which she starred in as Rochelle Akindele alongside Sarah Lancashire, Line of Duty, as murder victim Gail Vella, and the 2021 adaptation of Harlan Coben's Stay Close. Most recently Andi played DI Jean Royce in ITV's Payback.
Andi is also a successful stand-up comedian and often puts her comedic prowess to good use appearing in comedies like Sex Education, as Cal's mother Nikki Bowman.
Who has joined the cast of Blue Lights for series three?
Michael Smiley as Paul ‘Colly’ Collins’
Joining the team as new intelligence officer Colly is Michael, known for his roles in the films Kill List (2011) and The Lobster (2015) as well as, of course, for Tyres O’Flaherty in Spaced.
More recently he was Grace’s (Anne-Marie Duff) strange friend Roger Muldoon in Bad Sisters and Wrollen in Generation Z, the Channel 4 comedy horror about OAPs turning into zombies.
Cathy Tyson as Dana Morgan
Private members club owner Dana is set to be at the heart of the drama in Blue Lights series three. She’ll be played by Cathy, who you may recognise from Mona Lisa (1986) – which was actually her film debut - seeing as her portrayal of Simone earned her Best Supporting Actress nominations at both the Golden Globes and the BAFTAs.
She eventually won a BAFTA for Best Supporting Actress in 2022 for her role as Poll, an elderly resident in a care home during the Covid-19 pandemic, in Help.
Plus, let’s not forget that she was also the final headteacher of Grange Hill, Miss Gayle.
What is the plot of Blue Lights series three?
With series three taking place a year after the storyline of series two, it seems Grace (Sian Brooke), Annie (Katherine Devlin) and Tommy (Nathan Braniff) are accustomed to life as response officers. But if they were expecting an easy life, they were wrong because a new global gang of criminals rule Belfast – facilitated by accountants and lawyers.
And in case that wasn’t enough, all three of them are now navigating workplace romances. Grace and Stevie (Martin McCann) – who’s taken a promotion - finally decided to give things a go at the end of series two despite Grace’s trepidation, Annie and Shane (Frank Blake) need to work out if there’s anything more than sexual tension between them and Tommy now has a steady girlfriend in Aisling (Dearbhaile McKinney).
Teasing the blossoming romance between Grace and Stevie, Sian told TVChoice, ‘This time around, Stevie and Grace are very much a couple. They're very much together, which is great to see.
‘This series you watch them navigate their relationship, deal with things, external pressures that are thrown up from work, which, had it not been for the work that they do, they might not they might not have had to face in terms otherwise.’
Is Blue Lights worth watching?
Of course!
At the 2025 BAFTAs, series two of Blue Lights won Best Drama Series. And perhaps more importantly the very first series of the show was nominated for Best New Drama Series at the TVChoice Awards – we’ve backed this gripping drama from the very beginning.
What happened in series two of Blue Lights?
The main storyline of series two centred around former solider and pub owner Lee Thompson (Seamus O’Hara) who decided to recruit his ex-army mates to help deal with gang activity in his area. Unfortunately Lee’s actions caused more harm than good for the police, but luckily everyone was brought to justice (including the corrupt DS Murray Canning played by Desmond Eastwood) by the finale.
And of course, most importantly, after plenty of back and forth across the series, Grace (Sian Brooke) and Stevie (Martin McCann) finally decided to give their relationship a go!
What happened in series one of Blue Lights?
Our first introduction to rookies Grace (Sian Brooke), Annie (Katherine Devlin) and Tommy (Nathan Branliff) saw them thrown in the deep end and force to deal with the notorious McIntyre gang who have links to MI5.
Easily the most devastating moment of the series (of any series ever really) was the death of veteran officer and Tommy’s mentor Gerry Cliff (Richard Dormer) who gets caught in the crossfire of a drug deal.
When does Blue Lights series three air?
Series three of Blue Lights will be released weekly from Monday 29 September.
Where can I watch Blue Lights series three?
Episodes of the third series of Blue Lights will be released weekly on BBC1 from 9pm on Monday 29 September, with the whole series available on BBC iPlayer from that date.
Series one and two if you fancy are re-watch are available on BBC iPlayer.
Will there be a fourth series of Blue Lights?
Even before series three of Blue Lights was released, a fourth series had been commissioned. Clearly the BBC know that this third series is going to be pretty spectacular.
Daisy Hall became a writer for TVChoice after realising that she could make a career out of her incredible ability to extensively name an actor's credits when they randomly pop up in whatever she's watching. Her friends find it infuriating, but hopefully you find it useful!