Siân Brooke stars alongside a cast of established names and newcomers in the new series.

By James Hibbs

Published: Friday, 31 March 2023 at 12:00 am

New BBC drama Blue Lights has landed and is a must-see for fans of police procedurals.  

Penned by the team behind 2020’s The Salisbury Poisonings, Blue Lights follows three rookie police officers – Grace Ellis, Tommy Foster and Annie Conlon – working in Belfast, and the risks they face.

Sian Brooke stars as social-worker-turned-rookie-cop Grace Ellis, and she’s not the only familiar face in the cast, with actors well known to viewers of Game of Thrones, EastEnders, Doctor Foster and more also appearing.

Who’s in the cast of Blue Lights?

Here are the main cast members and characters in Blue Lights. Read on below for more info about who they are and where you’ve seen the actors before.

• Siân Brooke as Grace Ellis
• Katherine Devlin as Annie Conlon
• Nathan Braniff as Tommy Foster
• Martin McCann as Stevie Neil
• Richard Dormer as Gerald ‘Gerry’ Cliff
• Hannah McClean as Jen Robinson
• Joanne Crawford as Helen McNally
• Valene Kane as Angela Mackle
• Jonathan Harden as David ‘Jonty’ Jonson
• John Lynch as James McIntyre
• Andi Osho as Sandra Cliff

Nathan Braniff plays Tommy Foster

Who is Tommy Foster? Tommy is a rookie in the PSNI who is desperate to prove himself, despite being inept at the practical side of frontline policing.

Where have I seen Nathan Braniff? Blue Lights is Braniff’s first on-screen role.

Siân Brooke plays Grace Ellis

BBC/Gallagher Films/Two Cities Television

Who is Grace Ellis? Grace is a empathetic and caring former social worker who is now a rookie in the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

Brooke recently explained that she has some family inspiration for the role.

Chatting to RadioTimes.com and other press at a recent Q&A for Blue Lights, Brooke said: “My dad was in the force for a long time and I think, in some way that had a huge impact because I think that world didn’t seem so alien to me.

“I’ve seen the sort of backstage of what it is to be a policeman at home. And as a daughter and seeing my dad in uniform, sometimes when you get up close to a police officer, the uniform is sort of intimidating or whatever. And with my dad, that was just like, there’d be a helmet or truncheon around or whatever…”

Where have I seen Siân Brooke? Brooke is best known for her roles as Eurus Holmes in Sherlock, Deirdre Young in Good Omens and Aemma Arryn in House of the Dragon. She has also appeared in Trying, The Terror, Doctor Foster and more.

Martin McCann plays Stevie Neil

BBC/Gallagher Films/Two Cities Television/Steffan Hill

Who is Stevie Neil? Stevie is Grace’s mentor who is tasked with getting her through her probation.

Where have I seen Martin McCann? McCann has previously appeared in series such as Marcella, The Fall, Vera and Temple, as well as films including Clash of the Titans and ’71.

Richard Dormer plays Gerald ‘Gerry’ Cliff

BBC/Gallagher Films/Two Cities Television

Who is Gerald ‘Gerry’ Cliff? Gerry is Tommy’s mentor and a veteran of the job.

Where have I seen Richard Dormer? Dormer is best known for his roles in series such as Game of Thrones, Fortitude, COBRA and The Watch, as well as the films ’71 and Mrs Henderson Presents.

Katherine Devlin plays Annie Conlon

BBC/Gallagher Films/Two Cities Television

Who is Annie Conlon? Annie is one of Grace’s fellow recruits in the PSNI, who struggles with the fact that her chosen path may mean having to leave everything she’s ever known behind.

Where have I seen Katherine Devlin? Blue Lights is Devlin’s first major role, after she previously appeared in 2018 film The Dig and one episode of Vikings.

Hannah McClean plays Jen Robinson

BBC/Gallagher Films/Two Cities Television

Who is Jen Robinson? Jen is a police constable who has finished her probationary period and is two years into the job. She is the daughter of the Chief Superintendent and got on the fast track programme, ruffling feathers amongst the rest of the squad.

Where have I seen Hannah McClean? McClean has previously had minor roles in series such as Josh and Sick Note.

Joanne Crawford plays Helen McNally

BBC/Gallagher Films/Two Cities Television

Who is Helen McNally? Helen is Annie’s mentor who is tough on the probationers.

Where have I seen Joanne Crawford? Crawford is known for her roles in series such as Line of Duty, The Fall and Chosen, as well as films including Ballywalter and To All My Darlings.

Valene Kane plays Angela Mackle

BBC/Gallagher Films/Two Cities Television

Who is Angela Mackle? Angela is the mother of a young man who Grace arrests for car theft.

Where have I seen Valene Kane? Kane is known for her roles in series such as Gangs of London, The Fall and Thirteen, as well as films such as Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and Nowhere Special.

Jonathan Harden plays David ‘Jonty’ Jonson

BBC/Gallagher Films/Two Cities Television/Steffan Hill

Who is David ‘Jonty’ Jonson? Jonty is the Inspector in charge at the station.

Where have I seen Jonathan Harden? Harden is known for his roles in series including Sherwood, Time Unforgotten and Peep Show and films such as Victoria & Abdul and Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

John Lynch plays James McIntyre

BBC/Gallagher Films/Two Cities Television/Steffan Hill

Who is James McIntyre? James McIntyre is the head of the notorious criminal family the McIntyres.

Where have I seen John Lynch? Lynch is known for his roles in series such as The Fall, Shetland, Silent Witness, The Terror and Tin Star, as well as films including In the Name of the Father and Sliding Doors.

Andi Osho plays Sandra Cliff

BBC/Gallagher Films/Two Cities Television

Who is Sandra Cliff? Sandra is Gerry’s wife and the main custody sergeant at the police station.

Where have I seen Andi Osho? Osho is known for her roles in series such as Good Omens, Sex Education, You & Me, The Sandman, Breeders, Stay Close, Line of Duty, I May Destroy You and Death in Paradise, as well as the DC film Shazam!.