This City is Ours: Cast of famous faces led by James Nelson-Joyce and Hannah Onslow in tense BBC thriller
Who plays who in the gripping eight-parter?
This City is Ours was one of the most unmissable dramas to land on BBC One in 2025, with Sean Bean leading the cast as deeply flawed crime boss Ronnie Phelan. And now it’s back for a series 2.
The casting director deserved all the awards for the inspired piece of casting. Although Sean’s co-stars more than matched him in talent as the storyline slowly climbed to boiling point. Fans will know that Sean’s character Ronnie Phelan was dramatically killed off in series 1. But don’t be surprised to see him pop up in ghostly flashback form in series 2…
The crime drama from Shardlake’s Stephen Butchard is a story about family, love, corruption, power, ambition, pride and greed. If you liked Kin, The Sopranos, Animal Kingdom, and Gangs of London, then you’ll love this.
Here’s everything you need to know about who plays who in the cast of This City is Ours on BBC One.
Sean Bean plays crime boss Ronnie Phelan
The always watchable Sean Bean portrayed gang leader Ronnie Phelan in the crime thriller from the Beeb. When we first met the crime boss, he was dreaming of retirement… But who would he hand the reins of his huge drug-smuggling empire to? Although Sean’s character Ronnie died in series 1, he returns in several episodes of series 2.
Sheffield-born Sean Bean, 67, is one of the most respected British actors on our screens with a career spanning four decades. His very first role was playing Horace Clark in one episode of The Bill in 1984!
After nine years as a jobbing actor, appearing in TV series such as The Practice, Sean found mainstream success as heroic Richard Sharpe in the ITV series of the same name, which ran on and off from 1993 to 2008.
That same year, in 1993, he played gardener Mellors in the mini-series Lady Chatterley, based on the racy – once banned for obscenity – book by DH Lawrence. The role, which gave housewives across the UK a collective hot flush, cemented him as a down-to-earth sex symbol.
Of course, Game of Thrones fans will know him as Eddard ‘Ned’ Stark, the patriarch who came to a rather grisly – and surprising! – end in the first series.
In 2021, he portrayed out-of-his-depth prison inmate Mark Cobden in the brilliant Time. Sean Bean’s character Mark, a former teacher, found himself inside for killing someone while driving drunk. The cast of This City is Ours reunites him with some of his Time co-stars, including James Nelson-Joyce (Johnno), and Jack McMullen (Daniel).
More recently, he portrayed Ian in the romantic drama Marriage, Thomas Cromwell in historical Shardlake, and Joseph Wilford in Snowpiercer.
This City is Ours cast: James Nelson-Joyce portrays Michael Kavanagh
Liverpool-born actor James Nelson-Joyce, 37, leads the cast of This City is Ours as Michael Kavanagh, a man up to his neck in organised crime.
For all of his adult life, he worked for gang leader Ronnie. However, when friend and boss Ronnie began to hint at retirement, Michael too began to imagine another life… Starting with murdering his old mate and mentor… Series 2 finds him trying to be a better man. But it doesn’t quite end up that way.
James is perhaps most famous for playing Liam in Mount Pleasant, and Spider in The Outlaws. However, Time fans may shudder at the recollection of him playing vile bully Johnno in the first series of the BBC prison drama in 2021. In fact, his character made life hell inside for Sean Bean’s Mark Cobden.
Other notable roles include Degsy in Cilla, James Yates in Little Boy Blue opposite Unforgotten‘s Sinad Keenan, Aaron Holmes in Innocent, and Greg Gallagher in The Responder.
He’s also played Jamie Henson in Industry, Greg in The Family Pile, Brian Reader in The Gold, and Barney in A Town Called Malice. More recently, he’s portrayed Edward ‘Treacle’ Goodson in the Stephen Graham drama A Thousand Blows, from the creator of Peaky Blinders. In Strike – The Ink Black Heart, James starred as womanising artist Pez Pierce.
James has been in multiple films, including The Nest, The Sound of Philadelphia, The Covenant, The Trap, and Bird.
Hannah Onslow stars as Michael’s girlfriend Diana Williams
Romford-born actress Hannah Onslow, 27, stars as Michael’s girlfriend Diana Williams. She wants Michael to leave his life of crime, and lead a ‘normal’ life. In series 2, she is pregnant with Michael’s child.
Hannah is best known for playing Emily Dunn in Belgravia: The Next Chapter, and Lizzie Siddal in The Doll Factory.
In 2022, she portrayed young mum Erika in the brilliant comedy drama This Is Going to Hurt opposite Black Doves‘ Ben Whishaw. The character filed a complaint against his character Adam. Hannah, although relatively new to our screens, has also played Elise in Ridley Road, and Connie Blair in Call the Midwife.
Jack McMullen is Ronnie’s son Jamie Phelan in the cast of This City is Ours
Scouser Jack McMullen, 35, stars as Ronnie’s son Jamie Phelan in the cast of This City is Ours. Jack also starred in Time opposite Sean Bean, and James Nelson-Joyce. He played Daniel in all three episodes of the award-winning prison drama in 2021.
Jack is actually a former child star, who first appeared on TV at the age of 11. In 2002, he joined the cast of Brookside as Josh McLoughlin, a role he played until 2003.
Between 2005 and 2008, he starred as Tigger Johnson in school drama Grange Hill. After that, he played another school boy in Waterloo Road, this time Finn Sharkey, between 2010 and 2012.
Other significant roles include Dean Kelly in hard-hitting drama Little Boy Blue, Jack Turner in The F1rst Team and, more recently, Lewis in Idris Elba plane thriller Hijack.
This City is Ours cast: Julie Graham is Elaine Phelan
Scottish actress Julie Graham, 61, portrays Ronnie’s wife Elaine. She’s fiercely protective of her son Jamie, and his place in the business.
Yep, eagle-eyed TV fans will know that Julie is another familiar face from the cast of Time. Although she was in the mostly female cast of series 2.
Of course, Julie is very well known to TV viewers, having appeared in popular TV series such as Benidorm, Shetland, and The Bill. Her first major role was on Channel 4’s Blood Red Roses in 1986, and she went on to bag a recurring role on Casualty in 1988, starring as student nurse Alison McGrellis.
Between 2000 and 2003, she played the leading role of Megan Hartnoll in all four seasons of At Home with the Braithwaites.
In 2003, Julie starred alongside Martin Clunes in the BAFTA-nominated William and Mary. From 2008 to 2010, Julie played the lead role of Abby Grant in BBC science fiction drama Survivors. Abby was the leader of a group of survivors from a deadly flu epidemic.
Next were roles in Being Eileen, and The Bletchley Circle, followed by the big role of DI Perez’s boss Rhona Kelly in Shetland. And then came her famous turn in Benidorm. While her character Sheron only appeared in the last three seasons of the hit comedy, she certainly made them memorable!
Her more recent TV roles have included Acorn TV’s Queens of Mystery, Ridley, and Maternal. In 2023, she played Lou Harkness in Time, Connie Morris in Payback, and Clover in The Serial Killer’s Wife.
In 2024, Julie took on the role of wily Ma in the cast of Channel 5 period drama The Hardacres.
Stephen Walters stars as Davy Crawford
Another Scouser Stephen Walters, 51, played Phelan family ‘friend’ Stephen Walters in the cast of This City is Ours series 1. Although he also died in series 1, his storyline continues to be important in series 2.
A prolific actor, he’s been on our screens since 1989 when he first appeared as Tomkins in Dramarama, a series of plays for children. That same year he appeared as Omo in Brookside, only to return four years later as a different character called Geoff Rogers.
Between 1996 and 1997, Stephen starred as Jamie Johnson in the TV drama Springhill. Other notable roles in the 90s and 2000s include John McGrath in Band of Brothers, Dr. Nick Vaughan in prison drama Buried, Mad Twatter in Skins, Splodge in The Visit, and James Williams in Robson Green drama Wire in the Blood.
He is perhaps most famous for playing Angus Mhor in period drama Outlander, DCI Mark Guinness in Little Boy Blue, or Thomas Malone in Shetland.
More recently, Stephen has portrayed Anne Williams’ husband Steve in the drama Anne, Zeppo in Slow Horses, Nial Heslop in Vera, Rob in Channel 5 thriller The Night Caller, and Captain Abashev in A Gentleman in Moscow.
His film roles have included Milko in Hannibal Rising, Shanks in Layer Cake, and Scott in Nice Guy Eddie.
Saoirse-Monica Jackson is Cheryl Crawford
Northern Irish actress Saoirse-Monica Jackson, 32, stars as Davy Crawford’s wife Cheryl. Far from being comfortable as a gangster’s moll, Cheryl is quick to warn Michael’s girlfriend against the dangers of the lifestyle. She continues this role in series 2, still grieving the death of her husband Davy.
Of course, Saoirse-Monica is most famous for playing Erin Quinn, a role she portrayed in all three seasons of comedy Derry Girls between 2018 and 2022.
Her very first TV role was portraying Sasha in the Harlan Coben thriller The Five, before she went on to play Janet in Urban Myths, Mia in Unprecedented, and Tara in Skint.
More recently, she portrayed Bluebell in The Doll Factory, and Misia in black death comedy The Decameron. She’s been in multiple films, including Upgraded, The Flash, Coffee Wars, and Finding You.
Frankly, she is easily the best thing in This City is Ours series 1 and 2.
Kevin Harvey portrays Bobby Duffy in This City is Ours cast
Liverpudlian actor Kevin Harvey, 49, is also a former Time star and portrays Phelan insider Bobby Duffy. Like several of his co-stars, he’s often cast in less than savoury roles…
Those of who you watched Channel 5’s gripping thriller The Inheritance in 2023 will remember him as the violent thug – and abusive partner – Glen.
He also played convict Paul McAdams in BBC prison drama Time in 2021. Other notable roles include Jeff Crabtree in Prey, Lewis Skinner in The Trial: A Murder in the Family, Clive Brock in Vera, and Olamide Bello in Treason.
Don’t worry, though, he’s also been on the other side of the law, having played defence barrister Michael Patten in Hollyoaks, DC Vince Peterson in Merseybeat, Sgt Bill Rudd in Safe House, and Sergeant Middleton in Good Cop opposite Ten Pound Poms star Warren Brown.
More recently, Kevin starred as Phillipe Varane in Death in Paradise series 13, and Saul in the Channel 4 drama The Gathering.
Laura Aikman plays Rachel Duffy
London-born actress Laura Aikman, 40, portrays Bobby Duffy’s wife Rachel. They are friends with the Phelan family and holiday with them in Spain. After Michael Kavanagh left the business in series 1, Bobby Duffy was left in charge…
Laura made her name playing “sassy fairy” Mysti in the CBBC children’s TV series The Mysti Show, a role she played between 2004 and 2005.
She went on to play Milly in the Adrian Edmondson comedy Teenage Kicks in 2008, before going on to portray Lucy Baxter in Personal Affairs, May Phelps in Casualty, and Rosie Parker in Lemon La Vida Loca.
Between 2012 and 2014, Laura starred as Miss Poppy in the kids drama 4 O’Clock Club. Then she went straight back to school as Lorna Hutchinson in Waterloo Road.
Other notable roles include Ellen in Bluestone 42, Natalie Mason in The Job Lot, Debbie in Citizen Khan, Jo in Lovesick, and Ms Parfitt in So Awkward. Mor recently, Laura portrayed Dyan Cannon in Cary Grant drama Archie, Sarah Courtney in Grace, Val in Joan, and Sonia in Gavin & Stacey.
This City is Ours cast: Bobby Schofield portrays Bonehead
Kirkby-born actor Bobby Schofield, 33, plays Bonehead in the cast of This City is Ours series 1 and 2. He’s best known for playing soldier Dave Kershaw in both series of SAS Rogue Heroes on BBC One.
In 2017, he starred as Parsifal in period drama Knightfall, before portraying Baz in Time (him, too!), Michael Williams in Anne, and troubled psychiatry patient Bobby Moran in Aidan Turner thriller The Suspect.
In 2022, he portrayed the hideously unpleasant fascist Matt Hankinson in The Walk-In, part of a Neo-Nazi terror group. More recently, he starred as Kennedy in the Benedict Cumberbatch Netflix drama Eric, Wayne Rooney in Dear England, and paedophile Joe Mitchell in Unforgivable.
His film roles include Jared in Don’t Breath 2, Noah in Locked Down, and Pricey in How to Build a Girl.
Leanne Best plays Diana’s mum Lesley Williams
Liverpool-born Leanne Best, 47, stars as Diana’s mum Lesley Williams in the cast of This City is Ours series 1 and 2. She is in prison for the murder of her husband. But viewers know she did not commit the crime – Diana did.
The actress is probably best known for playing Tina Reynolds in the popular comedy series Cold Feet, a role she played from 2016 to 2017.
Other huge roles include Frida Rask in Young Wallander, Anna in Channel 4 thriller Close to Me, Helen Brown in Tin Star, and Teresa Fenchurch in Home Fires.
Other well known TV roles include Jane Cobden in Ripper Street, Celia Donnelly in Fortitude, Kate in the mini-series Four Lives, and Anne in the critically acclaimed mini-series Save Me.
You might also recognise her as PC Jackie Brickford from the third series of Line of Duty.
More recently, Leanne has played Jodie in G’wed opposite The Good Ship Murder‘s Zak Douglas, Phoebe Bournett in ITVX Vicky McClure thriller Insomnia, Georgie in one episode of Ted Lasso, and DI Lindsay in A Town Called Malice.
She also portrayed grieving mum Julie Ashworth in The Bay series 5.
Who else is in the cast of This City is Ours?
Elsewhere, Shardlake’s Mike Noble stars as Michael’s ally Banksey. He’s best known for playing Val in Grantchester, Private Silas Wren in Mr Selfridge, and Spencer Wilson in Home Fires. In 2024, he starred opposite Sean Bean in the Disney series Shardlake.
Darci Shaw stars as Melissa Sullivan, Jamie’s partner and the mother of his baby. She’s a relative newcomer, having first appeared on TV in 2019. That year, she played the central character of Holly Meredith in The Bay series 1. Darci went on to play Jessie in The Irregulars, Amy in Brassic, and Alice Diamond in A Thousand Blows. She also starred as a young Judy Garland in the film Judy.
Malpractice star Shaun Fagan portrays DS Barney Styles. He also played Vernon in The Responder, but is probably best known for portraying Bolton in anxiety-inducing drama Boiling Point.
Young talent Adam Abbou stars as Banksey’s son Freddie. His role becomes much bigger in This City is Ours series 2. He’s been on our screens since 2013, when he portrayed Tyler in the TV series Being Eileen. He’s had roles in Time series 1, The Rising, Casualty, and Malice. He’s best known for playing Danny Lewis in Waterloo Road in 2023.
Who is new to the cast of This City is Ours in series 2?
Two new cast members join the Liverpool crime drama for series 2, and both bring a sense of danger. Famous Liverpudlian Shaun Evans joins the cast as former gangster Ozzie Thompson, who is recently out of prison. The villain is set to cause all sorts of problems for the Phelans’ and Michael Kavanagh.
Shaun, 46, is best known for playing a young Endeavour Morse in the ITV drama series Endeavour. He also portrayed Coxswain Elliot Glover in Vigil.
He made his name playing John Paul Keating in Teachers in the early 00s, before going on to appear in Ashes to Ashes, The Take, Whitechapel, Silk, and The Last Weekend.
More recently, he gave a chilling performance as serial killer John Sweeney in Until I Kill You.
Spanish actor, Álvaro Morte will also be joining the cast. The 51-year-old plays Felipe Guzman, a member of the Colombian cartel. Felipe is also the younger brother of Ricardo, who was murdered at the end of the first series. Over here, he is probably best known for his roles in Netflix’s Money Heist, and The Wheel of Time.
