Blue Lights season three hailed 'favourite' as BBC police drama returns to screens

The BAFTA-winning procedural series Blue Lights will make its highly anticipated return to screens this month following the action-packed finale in 2024. The show will return to Northern Ireland, where it follows newly qualified officers navigating law and order in the post-conflict country. Following the success of the second series, the BBC renewed Blue Lights for seasons three and four, promising ample drama ahead for the PSNI team.

Ahead of its comeback this weekend, the show's creator and writer, Declan Lawn, spoke exclusively to the Daily Express and teased its exciting return. Fans will recall the ending, which saw Grace Ellis (played by Sian Brooke) and Stevie Neil (Martin McCann) drive into the night together after once again averting a crisis, but alongside their romance, Lawn revealed that this season is his "favourite" yet. The synopsis for season three says: "Two years into their jobs as response officers, Grace, Annie and Tommy are accustomed to life under the blue lights.

"But their work will take them into a sinister world hidden behind the veneer of middle-class life, the world of the accountants and lawyers who facilitate organised crime."

The synopsis continues: "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."

Speaking to us, Lawn revealed that he's eager to introduce viewers to new locations and new faces to add a new layer to the established characters.

"Season three, I feel, has gone very well. It's my favourite of the three series," the creator said.

"I really like this season because we delve very deep into the characters, and I think as writers, we know the characters very well now, and we're excited to bring them forward and bring them to new places."

With a new season comes new research as Lawn and his team ensure the writing is accurate.

Going into the pre-production process, he explained: "Obviously, a lot of the things in the show are based on a lot of research. We do about four months of research for every season. We talk to maybe about 25 to 30 police officers about their jobs. So when I look at the series now that it's finished, I'm very proud of it."

Among the fan favourites, the new cast members joining the show include Cathy Tyson as Dana Morgan, a private members club owner, and Michael Smiley, who will star as Paul 'Colly' Collins, a new intelligence officer.

The broadcaster has confirmed that season three will be available as a box set on BBC iPlayer on 29 September, and the first episode will air on BBC One on the same day at 9pm.