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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
Entertainment
Lauren Harte

Hope Street: Everything you need to know about BBC NI's police drama as return date confirmed

Police drama Hope Street is back on our screens next month for a new season to reveal the fate of Inspector Finn O’Hare after the first series’ dramatic cliff-hanger.

The series, which returns to the fictional town of Port Devine on the Northern Ireland coast, will return to BBC Daytime and BBC One NI after proving popular with fans across the UK and beyond.

In the second series actor Ciaran McMenamin will reprise his role as Inspector Finn O’Hare.

Read more: NI magician lands role as next Blue Peter presenter

The ensemble also features NI Broadway star, Rachel Tucker as Siobhan O'Hare and North Belfast's very own Kerri Quinn, who previously featured in Coronation Street, as Sergeant Marlene Pettigrew.

Brid Brennan, who played Miss Kelly in 2015's Brooklyn, reprises the role of Concepta O’Hare, while Des McAleer (The Crown) returns as Barry Pettigrew.

Niall Wright (6 Degrees) is back in the role of PC Callum McCarthy, as is Aaron McCusker from Shameless who plays Clint Dunwoody, with The Fall's Niamh McGrady as Nicole Devine.

What is Hope Street about?

In the opening episode of series two, Niamh and Shay O’Hare are partying on the beach when a hooded figure rugby-tackles someone to the ground.

The figure reveals himself as Niamh and Shay’s dad, Inspector Finn O’Hare who had spotted the man trying to sell drugs.

Finn’s been off work for six months – since he was injured in a car crash – so Marlene is Acting Inspector. She’s rattled by Finn’s ‘off duty’ arrest and decides to take action.

Marlene stakes out the likely source of the drugs – a beauty salon belonging to Chanel Kelly, wife of notorious criminal Ronan Kelly.

What Marlene doesn’t know is that Ronan is the subject of an undercover investigation – spear-headed by an old friend of Finns - Al Quinn played by Stephen Hagan. Will Marlene’ untimely intervention blow the whole operation?

Kerri Quinn and Niall Wright as Marlene Pettigrew and PC Callum McCarthy in Hope Street (Christopher Barr)

How many episodes are there and when does it first air?

Although not yet confirmed there were 10 episodes of the first series of Hope Street, with each episode featuring its own self-contained crime story.

The first episode will air on BBC One Northern Ireland at 7pm on Monday 7 November. It will then air on BBC Daytime and on Britbox North America.

Where was Hope Street filmed?

The show is set in the fictional Northern Irish seaside town of Port Devine.

The cast and crew of Hope Street returned to Donaghadee in Co Down. earlier this year to film the second series of serial police drama, promising gripping storylines, intriguing characters and stunning settings.

Who features on the Hope Street cast list?

The cast of Hope Street features a range of young Northern Irish actors including Louis McCartney (Shay O’Hare) and Ellie Lavery (Niamh O’Hare).

The regulars are joined by Stephen Hagen (Risen) and Sadie Malone (Tin Star) who play father and daughter Al and Taylor Quinn.

Also joining the cast to play an exciting array of new characters are actors Ian Kenny (The Owners), Sophie Robinson (Rebellion), Marty Maguire (Vikings), Daniel Carlin (Blackrock), Niall Cusack (The Lost City of Z), Michael Byers (Mr Selfridge), Brigid Lohrey (If I Don't Lose, I'll Lose), Conor Grimes (Mrs Wilson), Cathy White (Nurses), Erin Galway Kendrick (Little Women) and Chris McCurry (Belfast) and Enya Doran.

Who created Hope Street?

Series one and two of Hope Street were commissioned as part of the partnership between the BBC and Northern Ireland Screen and is a co-commission between BBC Daytime, BBC Northern Ireland and BritBox International.

The series is executively produced by Paul Marquess, Donna Wiffen and produced by Leon Fee from Long Story TV.

They will once again be joined by co-creator Susanne Farrell (Dirty God). Writers on this new series include Jessica Lea (EastEnders), Tess McGowan (Bump Along The Way), Christine Murphy (Emmerdale), Hamish Wright (The Secret Life Of Us), Stuart Drennan (The Dig), Greer Ellison (Butterfly Kisses) and Karis Kelly (Consumed).

Hope Street returns on Monday November 7 at 7pm on BBC One Northern Ireland and BBC iPlayer. Series one is still available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.

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