April 9

How has Blue Lights moved on from the first series?

It’s a year on and one of the big changes for everyone is that Blackthorn station has amalgamated with another bigger station so they’re rubbing shoulders with the senior team like Nicola Robinson and CID on site. This time around there are staff shortages to deal with and this affects Helen’s team.

How is Helen coping in her new role as Inspector?

In the position of Inspector, Helen has to have an eye in both directions – she has to keep watch over her officers but she also has to be aware of the machinations of how the organisation works at a senior level. Helen’s instincts are first and foremost to be aware of the safety of her people and that will always be her motivation in the job. Nicola has seen potential in Helen but she is still figuring out how she feels about this new post. She’s in a tricky layer of middle management and trying to figure out that equation of power and responsibility.

Do Helen’s relationships change with her colleagues in series two?

Helen and Sandra are both people-focused officers and even though Sandra is a Sergeant, she’s much more on a par with Helen, despite Helen’s promotion. There’s a natural friendship between them. With Jonty, we saw that they have more of a sibling relationship and they’ve known each other for a long time which allows her to be pragmatic when they come across each other’s work paths.

What new challenges does Helen face?

Helen is in a bind because expectations of her are extremely high and decision-making has been taken out of her hands. She is also dealing with a new threat on the streets and they need more intelligence. The sands are shifting in the community and there’s a blind spot on intel so they aren’t sure about what they are even looking for out there which puts the team at a disadvantage. Add to that the issue of being short-staffed and Helen has a real problem on her hands.

Why do you think the show was such a big success and resonated with audiences?

I think it was a hit with audiences firstly because of Adam and Declan’s writing and the fact this is a character-led drama. It’s also because you care about these people immediately and they are relatable. I also think that telling the story of modern policing in Northern Ireland has been educational for audiences who think they might know this world but don’t and were intrigued, surprised and engaged by it.

What can audiences expect from the second series?

The stakes seem higher in series two. It will be explosive and moving.