New Sean Bean drama will 'support Scouse talent'

This City Is Ours will be filmed over 14 weeks in the city

Filming has started in Liverpool for a new BBC TV crime drama set in the city.

This City is Ours is the story of Michael, played by Liverpudlian James Nelson-Joyce, a man who for all of his adult life has been involved in organised crime, working for his friend and the gang leader Ronnie Phelan, played by Sean Bean. When Ronnie begins to hint at retirement, Michael too begins to imagine another life.

The eight-part series will be filmed over 14 weeks and is part-funded by the Liverpool Film Office through its Liverpool City Region (LCR) Production Fund.

Head of Liverpool Film Office, Lynn Saunders said the project supported "Scouse talent" and would boost the local economy.

A scheme for people to develop skills in the TV and film industry launched in February

Hannah Onslow (Empire of Light, This Is Going to Hurt) will play Diana Williams, Michael’s partner, and Liverpool's own Jack McMullen (Hijack, Ford V Ferrari) plays Ronnie’s son, Jamie Phelan.

Julie Graham (Shetland, Time) will play Elaine, head of the Phelan family alongside her husband Ronnie.

“By investing in projects such as this, we are supporting Scouse talent, creating opportunities for local people, while also boosting the regional economy with over £6 for every £1 of investment being directly spent in the Liverpool City Region," Ms Saunders said.

“We’re also thrilled to be working with the project to support a wave of local new entrants from our Action! programme into paid trainee placements on set, all helping to create a more diverse and inclusive screen workforce in the Liverpool City Region."

There are plans to turn the former Liverpool building into TV and film studios

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said the LCR Production Fund meant the region could "support incredible productions, which in return are helping us to stake our claim as the UK’s premier filming location outside of London".

“I have no doubt that our region has all the capabilities, facilities and skills to become the ‘Hollywood of the North’ and attract the thousands of well-paid jobs and training opportunities that it will bring to our area,” he said.

Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Culture, Councillor Harry Doyle, said the production would "not only bring significant inward investment to the region but also champion new entrants by providing local trainees the best opportunities to springboard their film and TV careers".

Mayor Rotheram and the Combined Authority has also committed £17m to develop the former Littlewoods building into a world class film and TV campus as well as The Depot, which comprises two film and TV studios.

Work to transform the former home of the football pools on Edge Lane started in December.