'Blue Lights' Renewed for Seasons 3 & 4

Last week, just ahead of London's major TV showcase, the BBC's new Head of Drama, Lindsey Salt, put her stake in the ground with a dozen shows greenlit for 2024. As Telly Visions noted, 11 of those were brand-new series, a daring proposition in an era where production studios are sticking to recognizable brands and known IPs to break through the entertainment onslaught. However, the twelfth was a renewal of the BBC's breakout hit Blue Lights, which debuted its first season in early 2023 and arrived on BritBox in the U.S. in January 2024. Season 2 is slated for spring 2024 on both sides of the pond but has not yet arrived; however, the BBC has already announced it will go ahead with Season 3 and 4.

Salt wasn't kidding about throwing caution to the winds; a double renewal for a show that only just aired one season is a remarkable departure for the ordinarily renewal-shy Aunty Beeb, who usually need an American bump in ratings or a co-production before being really sure a Season 2 is warranted. However, Blue Lights has barely even been noticed in the U.S. as yet, and BritBox International is not signing on to co-produce. This is all Beeb, baby.

If Salt was looking to make a splash, this was the perfect moment to do so, as Blue Lights has just released first-look images for the second season, as well as cast additions. Check out how last year's rookies, Grace Ellis (Siân Brooke), Annie Conlon (Katherine Devlin), and Tommy Foster (Nathan Braniff), are doing.

Here's the synopsis for Season 2:

Grace, Annie and Tommy are growing up fast as police officers, but nothing can prepare them for the turmoil they face every day. It’s a year since the fall of the McIntyre crime gang and the vacuum has been filled by rival gangs, all competing for dominance. Constable Shane Bradley is drafted in to help, but his motivations are unclear. Tommy is dangerously seduced by the world of intelligence policing, while Grace struggles to deal with her son’s absence, and growing feelings for fellow officer Stevie. As a young loyalist threatens to take over the city, the officers face a major gangland feud – culminating in a violent and devastating confrontation.

Brooke, Devline, and Braniff are reprising their roles in the second season alongside fan-favorites Martin McCann as Stevie Neil, Joanne Crawford as Helen McNally, Andi Osho as Sandra Cliff, and Hannah McClean as Jen Robinson. Season 2 will also see the returns of Paddy Jenkins (Grace & Goliath), Desmond Eastwood (In the Land of Saints & Sinners), Andrea Irvine (Dead Shot), Aoibhéann McCann (Harry Wild) and Abigail McGibbon (The Lovers).

Season 2's new cast will feature Frank Blake (Normal People) as new Constable Shane Bradley, along with Seamus O’Hara (An Irish Goodbye) as Lee Thompson, Seána Kerslake (Bad Sisters) as his sister Mags, Craig McGinlay (COBRA) as Lee’s right-hand man Craig, and Dan Gordon (Bloodlands) playing Mags and Lee’s Uncle Rab.

Blue Lights is co-created, written, and directed by Declan Lawn and Adam Patterson and co-created and produced by Stephen Wright (Two Cities Television) and Louise Gallagher (Gallagher Films). All four are executive producers, with Nick Lambon executive producing for the BBC. For Season 2, Lawn and Patterson helmed Episodes 1-3, while director Jack Casey helmed Episodes 4-6, with Amanda Black as producer. More details, including the cast and directors for Season 3 and 4, will be announced in due course. All forthcoming seasons will run six episodes.

Blue Lights Season 2 does not have an official release date yet, but it is expected out in the spring of 2024 on both the BBC and BritBox.