Sean Bean to lead cast of 'This City Is Ours' now filming in Liverpool and Spain

The BBC has announced casting for its upcoming crime drama, currently filming in Liverpool and Spain under the working title This City is Ours.

The eight-part series is created and written by Stephen Butchard, directed by Saul Dibb, and produced by Left Bank Pictures for BBC iPlayer and BBC One. 

Sean Bean stars as gang leader Ronnie Phelan, with James Nelson-Joyce as Ronnie’s friend, Michael Kavanagh. Hannah Onslow will play Diana Williams, Michael’s partner, and Jack McMullen plays Ronnie’s son, Jamie Phelan. Julie Graham will play Elaine, head of the Phelan family alongside her husband Ronnie.

Set and filmed in Liverpool, This City is Ours is the story of Michael, a man who for all of his adult life has been involved in organised crime, working for his friend and the gang leader Ronnie. When Ronnie begins to hint at retirement, Michael too begins to imagine another life. Because, for the first time in his life, Michael is in love. For the first time in his life, he sees beyond the day-to-day, he sees a future: something to win and something to lose - Diana.

Also joining the cast are Laura Aikman as Rachel Duffy, Kevin Harvey as Bobby Duffy, Saoirse-Monica Jackson as Cheryl Crawford, Mike Noble as Banksey, Bobby Schofield as Bonehead, Darci Shaw as Melissa Phelan, and Stephen Walters as Davy Crawford.

The producer is Simon Maloney; executive producers are Andy Harries, Rebecca Hodgson and Sian McWilliams for Left Bank Pictures, Stephen Butchard and Saul Dibb, and Jo McClellan for the BBC. Additional funding and support comes from the Liverpool Film Office through its Liverpool City Region Production Fund. Sony Pictures Television will distribute the series internationally.

Top row L-R: Sean Bean (Image: Andy Gotts); James Nelson-Joyce; Hannah Onslow; Jack McMullen; Julie Graham; Laura Aikman (Image: Harry Livingstone). Bottom row L-R: Kevin Harvey; Saoirse-Monica Jackson; Mike Noble; Bobby Schofield; Darci Shaw; Stephen Walters