Saoirse-Monica Jackson in BBC’s ‘epic new crime drama’

Derry Girls star Saoirse-Monica Jackson has joined the ensemble cast of BBC One’s “epic new crime drama”, which has the working title This City is Ours.

The series, which is currently filming in Liverpool and Spain, will see Jackson play the character Cheryl Crawford.

The eight-part series is created and written by Stephen Butchard (The Good Mothers, The Last Kingdom, Five Daughters) and directed by Saul Dibb (The Salisbury Poisonings, The Sixth Commandment).

“This City is Ours is the story of Michael (played by James Nelson-Joyce), a man who for all of his adult life has been involved in organised crime, working for his friend and the gang leader Ronnie (played by Sean Bean),” says the BBC.

“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 (Hannah Onslow).

“This City is Ours is the story of Michael and Diana’s love affair, set against the disintegration of Michael’s crime gang. For years, together with Ronnie, Michael has successfully been bringing cocaine into the city and beyond, directly from Colombia; but when a shipment goes missing, he knows their kingdom is under attack.

“This City is Ours explores what happens when Ronnie’s son Jamie (Jack McMullen) decides he wants to inherit their kingdom and that there is no longer a place for Michael at the table. Both Michael and Jamie have bold ideas to modernise the gang and they will battle for control of it. But Michael’s biggest battle will be to save the woman he loves and the child he has always wanted.”

Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, said: “It’s a joy to see cameras rolling on This City is Ours with a glorious cast who have made Stephen Butchard’s sublime scripts even more exciting. Under the skilful direction of Saul Dibb, BBC viewers are in for one hell of a ride.”

Click here for more television news.