Blue Lights Series Four Sets September Return as New Artwork Is Revealed

Belfast crime drama Blue Lights is preparing to return to screens, with the BBC unveiling new artwork for the highly anticipated fourth series.

The award-winning show will return to BBC One at 9pm on Tuesday 29 September, while the entire series will be available on BBC iPlayer from 6am that morning.

Belfast’s response officers face their biggest challenge

Series four finds Grace Ellis, Tommy Foster and Annie Conlon three years into their careers as police response officers.

Now far removed from the inexperienced recruits viewers first met, the three constables are being pushed to their limits by an escalating threat on Belfast’s streets—one that even the police appear to be struggling to contain.

At the same time, the murder trial of Gerry Cliff brings a deeply buried secret to the surface. Its consequences are set to spread through both the police service and the city’s criminal underworld, creating turmoil on both sides of the law.

With major decisions about their personal and professional futures ahead, Grace, Tommy and Annie will be forced to confront uncomfortable truths and decide how far they are prepared to go.

Familiar faces return

Siân Brooke reprises her role as Grace Ellis, alongside Martin McCann as Stevie Neil, Katherine Devlin as Annie Conlon and Nathan Braniff as Tommy Foster.

The returning cast also includes Joanne Crawford as Chief Inspector Helen McNally, Andi Osho as Sandra Cliff, Frank Blake as Shane Bradley, Abigail McGibbon as Tina McIntyre, Dearbháile McKinney as Aisling Byrne, Neil Keery as Sergeant Lawrence McCloskey and Andrea Irvine as Chief Superintendent Nicola Robinson.

Richard Dormer will make a special appearance as Gerry Cliff in a one-off episode.

Cathy Tyson also returns as private members’ club owner Dana Morgan, with Hannah McClean appearing as solicitor Jen Robinson, Jonathan Harden as Inspector “Jonty” Johnston and Michael Smiley as intelligence officer Paul “Colly” Collins.

A Belfast drama with global appeal

Produced by Two Cities Television and co-produced by Gallagher Films, Blue Lights has become one of the BBC’s most successful Northern Ireland dramas.

The series has now been sold in more than 160 territories, taking its Belfast-based stories and characters to audiences around the world.

Stephen Wright, Louise Gallagher, Declan Lawn and Adam Patterson serve as executive producers, alongside the BBC’s Nick Lambon. BBC Studios is responsible for the programme’s international distribution.

When can you watch Blue Lights series four?

Blue Lights series four begins on BBC One at 9pm on Tuesday 29 September 2026.

All episodes will also be released on BBC iPlayer from 6am on the same day. Previous series are available to watch on BBC iPlayer now.