'Belfast, this one's for you' - Blue Lights joy as show lands Bafta win

The Blue Lights team smile for the cameras after winning the best drama category

BBC One police drama Blue Lights has won best drama category at the Baftas.

The series follows a batch of newly-qualified officers navigating policing in a post-conflict Northern Ireland. Co-created and written by Declan Lawn and Adam Patterson, its stars include Sian Brooke, Martin McCann, Katherine Devlin and Nathan Braniff.

Accepting the award, Mr Lawn thanked the people of Belfast for letting the writers of the show tell their stories.

"Belfast, this one's for you," he said.

Blue Lights won for its second series and beat BBC One's Sherwood, Netflix's Supacell and BBC One's Wolf Hall: The Mirror And The Light.

The drama, which is currently filming its third series, follows police officers on patrol in various communities throughout Belfast, tackling paramilitaries, corruption, and legacy issues.

Co-creator Stephen Wright said it was "just fantastic" as he and other cast members and writers stood on stage at the Royal Festival Hall in London on Sunday night.

"Thank you to everybody at the BBC who supported this show from day one," he said.

"I want to thank NI Screen who supported us at home and BBC studios for supporting us around the world.

"A personal thank you to my partners in crime - Louise Gallagher who had this idea, Amanda Black who produced this series, Adam Patterson and Declan Lawn," Mr Wright said.

Mr Lawn paid tribute to the people of Belfast as he accepted the award.

"Thanks to our amazing cast and crew, both those here and those back in Belfast," he said.

"Thanks to Noel McCann and Bronagh Taggart, who wrote so beautifully on that season of television, and thanks also to this man [Adam Patterson] who directed it so well.

"We've been on quite a journey together, so this feels pretty extraordinary.

"And thank you finally, to the people of our home city, for letting us tell your stories.

"Belfast – this one's for you," he concluded.

After returning to Northern Ireland, Mr Lawn said: "On the flight they gave us some free champagne and a lot of people were looking at the awards and really pleased for us. It was great.

"The award is a lot heavier than I thought it would be, but the feeling is more intense and overwhelming than I had anticipated.

"We hadn't really thought we were going to win, so to win and then have the last 24 hours have just been extraordinary for all of us.

"You don't have a clue beforehand - the second you find out is the second everyone else finds out."

Co-creator and writer Declan Lawn paid tribute to the people of Belfast as he accepted the award

Mr Patterson said: "I think we are very honest as a TV show - it's about real people trying to do a difficult job and I think that is universal.

"I think Belfast is a really special city that people are really turning their eye to.

"We've come out of a dark chapter in our history and I think our show celebrates where we have come from and where we are trying to go.

"Season three has only one week left of filming; when it comes out I think there will be an extra glow because of the Bafta which is good for all of us ."

The series follows a batch of newly-qualified officers navigating policing in a post-conflict Northern Ireland

Nathan Braniff, who plays Tommy Foster, said the series had been "literally life-changing" for him.

"It just seems like we have hit all these crazy milestones that you couldn't even have imagined when you first started the show, so it's been totally surreal.

"I've spent nearly three years with this character now and it's a long time to spend in your character's shoes and I've enjoyed every minute of it.

"I think with this show, the key to success is how much of an ensemble piece it's been – it's just been a really collaborative project and it feels like we are all in it together – and we all care just as much."

'Rare opportunity'

A BBC report said Blue Lights had generated an estimated £20m to the Northern Ireland economy through employment and spending in the supply chain across its first two series.

The series, made by Two Cities Television, employed an average of 59 cast of which 83% were either born in or a resident of Northern Ireland.

Of the crew of 246, more than 87% were from Northern Ireland.

In a statement to BBC News NI, the show's executive producers and co-creators said: "We were given the freedom by the BBC to make a show about our own place, in our own time, in our own voice."

They added that this was a "rare opportunity", and dedicated the award to "every person" who worked on Blue Lights.

Derry-based TV production company, Alleycats, also won a BAFTA award in the Daytime category for their work on a BBC Series featuring Clive Myrie

Meanwhile, Alleycats TV, a Londonderry-based TV production company, also won a Bafta award in the Daytime category for their work on the BBC Two series Clive Myrie's Caribbean Adventure.

The series features veteran BBC journalist Clive Myrie as he explores the rich history and vibrant culture of the Caribbean, connecting personal roots with compelling narratives.

Speaking to BBC News NI, Alleycats TV's Des Henderson said it was "incredibly special" to be recognised in this way.

"We never actually thought we would win," he joked.

"We are a small indie from Derry, and it was the first time we were nominated.

"I am delighted for Clive [Myrie] to get the recognition as well, because it was a very personal travel blog to do, and we are just so delighted for him."

He said the industry in Northern Ireland is booming, and that the successes of Blue Lights and their own will only help showcase the hard work going on behind the scenes.

Richard Williams, chief executive of Northern Ireland Screen, said: "Northern Ireland Screen is incredibly proud to see homegrown talent and storytelling recognised on the prestigious BAFTA stage.

"These awards are a testament to the creativity, talent and world-class quality of our screen industry and how content made here continues to garner audience and critical acclaim."

Who won the Baftas 2025?

For a full list of this year's Bafta TV Award winners click here.