Acclaimed British actor Sean Bean returns to television in The City Is Ours, a gripping new crime drama set to premiere this fall on BBC One. Set against the backdrop of a fictional Northern English city, the series explores the moral decay of institutions and the complex dynamics of loyalty, justice, and power in a community on the brink. Bean plays Jack Ward, a retired detective inspector who once led the city’s elite organized crime unit. After years of trying to distance himself from a violent past, Ward is reluctantly pulled back into the chaos when his distance son is found murdered under mysterious circumstances. As he digs deeper, Jack uncovers a tangled web of corruption that reaches from the criminal underworld to the highest levels of local government.

The series, created by BAFTA-nominated writer Daniel Firth, takes inspiration from real-world cases of systemic corruption and urban decay. At the heart of the show is Sean Bean’s powerful and nuanced performance. Known for bringing emotional depth to tough, morally complex characters, Bean portrays Jack as a man haunted by past decisions and driven by a need for redemption. His portrayal captures both the stoicism of a former cop hardened by years on the force and the vulnerability of a father searching for truth.

Supporting cast includes Joanne Froggatt (Downton Abbey) as investigative journalist Claire Reeves, whose reporting threatens to expose powerful secrets, and Lucian Msamati (His Dark Materials) as Superintendent Marcus Kent, Jack’s former protégé turned political climber. The ensemble brings authenticity and dramatic weight to a narrative filled with betrayal, violence, and the blurred lines between right and wrong.

Filmed on location in Manchester and Liverpool, the series makes full use of stark urban landscapes to reflect the mood of the story. Director Sarah Gavron (Rocks) captures a visual style that is both cinematic and grounded, enhancing the sense of unease and tension. With its timely themes, high-caliber cast, and gripping storyline, The City Is Ours is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated British dramas of the year. It premieres in October and will also be available for streaming on BBC iPlayer.