Blue Lights (2023 TV series): Difference between revisions

*Blue Lights*
Blue Lights
	Title card
Genre	Police procedural; Crime drama
Created by	Declan Lawn; Adam Patterson;
Written by	Declan Lawn; Adam Patterson; Fran Harris;
Directed by	Gilles Bannier
Starring	Siân Brooke; Katherine Devlin; Nathan Braniff; Richard Dormer;
Theme music composer	Eoin O'Callaghan / Elma Orkestra
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language	English
No. of series	2
No. of episodes	12
Production
Executive producers	Stephen Wright; Louise Gallagher; Tommy Bulfin; Declan Lawn; Adam Patterson; Gilles Bannier;
Producer	Carol Moorhead
Production location	Northern Ireland
Cinematography	Stephen Murphy; Angus Mitchell;
Running time	60 minutes
Production companies	Two Cities Television; Gallagher Films; HotSauce Pictures season 2-present; BBC Studios;
Original release
Network	BBC One
Release	27 March 2023 –; present

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Blue Lights is a Northern Irish police procedural television drama series set in the fictional Blackthorn police station in Belfast, Northern Ireland, where the series was filmed. Created and written by Declan Lawn and Adam Patterson, it began broadcasting on BBC One on 27 March 2023. The first series followed three probationary police officers of the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the experienced officers who train, mentor, and work with them, with the second following the same characters a year later trying to quell a loyalist feud in the city. Both series of Blue Lights received critical praise and high viewership. A third and fourth series have been commissioned.

Production

On 14 February 2022, the BBC announced that filming for an upcoming police procedural called Blue Lights had commenced in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and its surrounding areas.^[1]^[2] It was set to contain six episodes and air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.^[1] The series was created and written by Declan Lawn and Adam Patterson, and produced by Two Cities Television and Northern Ireland Screen.^[1] Lawn and Patterson said that the BBC commissioned a pilot and the first writers' room for the show in 2019, and when the show was greenlit, the development of the series was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, as writers' rooms had to be moved online.^[3] The show was commissioned by Piers Wenger and Charlotte Moore, and is distributed internationally by BBC Studios.^[1] The upcoming series was described as "an authentic, gripping and darkly funny drama about ordinary people doing an extraordinary job in a society that could spiral out of control at any moment".^[1] The series follows three rookie police officers working in Belfast, described as "a uniquely dangerous place to be a police officer", and the "unique set of pressures and dangers they face as frontline cops".^[1]^[2] The three were further described as being in their probation period, with the odds of all three passing stacked against them.^[1] Director Gilles Brannier called it "quite challenging" to her own vision for this show due to it being mainly character driven.^[4] Lawn and Patterson suggested the appeal of the series was the "great universality" of its themes, coupled with its "slice of life" view of Belfast.^[3] Lawn and Patterson further added that due to being set in modern-day Belfast, the officers would face "a very specific set of policing problems from the legacy of sectarian violence".^[5] Patterson even likened the job of being a police officer in Belfast to "trench warfare", saying that the series would reflect the "lingering threat" to police officers in Belfast.^[3]^[6]

Lawn and Patterson aimed to represent Belfast with the series, as they both grew up there, explaining: "Every writer wants to explore their own place, and their own society as authentically and as honestly as they can. We feel enormously grateful to BBC drama for letting us do that with Blue Lights".^[1] Brannier aimed to represent Belfast in a different manner to the way it usually is, to "step away from the black and white representation of Belfast", calling it a fantastic challenge.^[4] Lawn explained the importance of portraying Belfast on the show, as many crew members described the city itself as another character in the show. He explained: "We've always dreamed of making a show in Belfast and Blue Lights is a distillation of everything we've learned from living here and being journalists here. We think it shows the city in a way that's never been shown before in terms of the bad and the good, the kind of vibrancy of it and the problems of it".^[3] They admitted that some of their "more established stars" who grew up in Belfast understood the dangers of the jobs, as in Lawn's words: "They could explain the context to the others".^[5]^[7] Lawn went on to describe his own experiences growing up in the city, where he would feel at "constant risk" and never knew if his parents would return home from work at the end of a weekday.^[5] Lawn admitted that some of the actors, especially the younger stars, were surprised to learn about the treatment of police officers in Northern Ireland.^[5]^[7] According to Patterson, when writing Blue Lights, he and Lawn aimed to challenge people's mindsets, saying: "I think if you think about the world like that, then you can actually move forward as a society. But if you lock yourself away and put yourself in a binary mindset then you can't. So our objective always in writing is to push past that and make people challenge themselves."^[6]

The series began airing following the attempted murder of DCI John Caldwell, an off-duty police officer who received serious injuries after being shot in front of his son at a sports complex in Omagh, County Tyrone. Patterson paid tribute to Caldwell, and believed the incident was "a reminder as to why the show is so important".^[6] He continued by adding: "We can't just ignore the fact that there is still a lingering threat for these people that literally lay themselves on the line to uphold our civic duty. That's amazing, and we just love the police for that. Of course, they’re a flawed machine; like many machines, they have their issues".^[6] He commented that it is "amazing" that people would put themselves in harm's way for others, adding "I think a society can only survive through people that".^[6]

Before the first series ended its run, a second series was commissioned,^[8]^[9] with filming beginning in August 2023.^[10] Lawn and Patterson expressed excitement for the second series, opening up that: "Blue Lights is a very personal project for us, set in the city where we live, so for us making [a second series] is a special kind of privilege".^[8]^[11] The cast was said to consist of a returning cast from the previous series, as well as new characters.^[9]^[12] Stephen Wright, executive producer, enthused that he was "proud" of the reception to series 1 and was "looking forward to bringing [the] characters and the city of Belfast back for series two as well as introducing some exciting new characters and storylines to the fans".^[8] The BBC has announced that the first episode of series 2 would air at 9 pm on 15 April 2024 on BBC One. All episodes of series 2 would become available to watch on BBC iPlayer at 6am on the same day while the remainder of the series would air weekly.^[13] It was further teased that the second series would take place exactly a year after the events of the first, with the characters set to be "facing a whole new set of professional and personal challenges".^[8] Tommy would become interested by the world of intelligence policing and Grace would struggle to deal with her son's absence and feelings for Stevie.^[11]^[13] It expanded that Grace, Annie, and Tommy would no longer be "fresh out of training" and would mainly be dealing with rival loyalist gangs who try to fill the vacuum left by the MacIntyres after they were taken down in series 1, teasing: "As a young loyalist threatens to take over the city, the officers face a major gangland feud – culminating in a violent and devastating confrontation".^[8]^[9]^[11]^[14]

During the run of series 2, in May 2024, the show confirmed that it would return for a third and fourth series in the future.^[15]^[16]

Casting

Lawn and Patterson met with almost 30 Northern Irish police officers to help inform their characters and flesh out the fictional workplace.^[3] The cast was described by them as a mix of new and established talent.^[1] Siân Brooke plays Grace Ellis, a mother of a teenager who made the decision in her 40s to leave her job as a social worker to join the Police Service of Northern Ireland, a decision dubbed "the biggest gamble of her life" as she straddles a fine line between the personal and professional.^[1] Her fellow rookies are Annie Conlon, played by Katherine Devlin, who is described as someone who "struggles with the fact that her chosen path may mean having to leave everything she's ever known behind", and Tommy Foster, played by newcomer Nathan Braniff, described as a young man who is incompetent at policing, but "desperate to prove himself".^[1] Both were inspired by real people Lawn and Patterson met when writing the characters for the series.^[3] The three rookie characters were written with an element of innocence and naivety.^[4]

Martin McCann received the part of Stevie Neil, a police officer who is partnered with Grace, whom McCann described as an "introverted extrovert" and a "lone wolf".^[17] Richard Dormer was cast as veteran police officer Gerry Cliff, who is described by Lawn and Patterson as "always there with the one liner" and "a natural born rebel", adding that the character was essential for the show's "mixture of darkness and humour".^[3] Andi Osho was cast as Gerry's wife Sandra, the main custody sergeant of the station.^[17] Joanne Crawford joined as Helen McNally, a sergeant who is "tough" on the probationers because she "knows what the job entails and the type of person who suits it".^[17] Hannah McClean was cast as Jen Robinson, a policewoman who is a few years into the job, but who is "work-shy" and dislikes being on patrol.^[17] John Lynch portrayed James McIntyre, the main antagonist and head of a terrorist dynasty, whom Lynch describes as a "conundrum" and someone who "takes pleasure in exercising his power and isn’t shy about intimidating people or putting his foot through a door".^[17] Jonathan Harden was cast as David "Jonty" Johnson, and the actor was excited to play a role in a Belfast-set TV series.^[17] The role of Grace's 17-year-old son was given to newcomer Matthew Carver, who described Cal and Grace's relationship as "close".^[17] Director Brannier described the casting process for the ten main characters as an "absolute joy".^[4]

In the second series, every main cast member returned, except Dormer as his character died on-screen, and Lynch as his character was arrested.^[11] Frank Blake was cast as Shane Bradley, a constable who was "drafted in to help", but whose true motivations were "unclear".^[13]^[14] Seamus O'Hara and Seána Kerslake joined the cast as siblings Lee and Mags Thompson.^[11] Lee was billed as a military veteran and "a protestant from east Belfast" who begins "feeling exploited by the gangs who run the estate, as well as the people who have let it happen", causing him to become "caught up in a loyalist feud", while Mags was billed as the family pub's owner.^[18]^[19] Craig McGinlay was cast as Lee's "right-hand man", Craig McQuarrie.^[11]^[18] Dan Gordan received the role of Mags and Lee's uncle, Rab Thompson.^[9]^[11]^[14]

Cast overview

Siân Brooke as Grace Ellis^[20]
Katherine Devlin as Annie Conlon^[20]
Nathan Braniff as Tommy Foster^[20]
Richard Dormer as Gerry Cliff^[3]
(Series 1)
Martin McCann as Stevie Neil^[20]
John Lynch as James McIntyre^[17]
(Series 1)
Jonathan Harden as David Johnson^[20]
Matthew Carver as Cal Ellis^[17]
(Series 1)
Valene Kane as Angela Mackle
(Series 1)
Dane Whyte O'Hara as Gordy Mackle
(Series 1)
Joanne Crawford as Helen McNally^[20]
Hannah McClean as Jen Robinson^[20]
Andrea Irvine as Nicola Robinson^[20]
Andi Osho as Sandra Cliff^[20]
Nabil Elouahabi as Joseph
(Series 1)
Desmond Eastwood as Murray Canning^[20]
Paddy Jenkins as Happy Kelly^[20]
Dearbháile McKinney as Aisling
Frank Blake as Shane Bradley^[20]
(Series 2)
Seamus O'Hara as Lee Thompson^[20]
(Series 2)
Seána Kerslake as Mags Thompson^[20]
(Series 2)
Craig McGinlay as Craig McQuarrie^[20]
(Series 2)
Dan Gordon as Rab McKendry^[20]
(Series 2)
Derek Thompson as Robin Graham
(Series 2)

Episodes

Series	Episodes	Originally aired		Average viewership (millions)
Series	Episodes	First aired	Last aired	Average viewership (millions)
1	6	27 March 2023 (2023-03-27)	1 May 2023 (2023-05-01)	4.35
2	6	15 April 2024 (2024-04-15)	20 May 2024 (2024-05-20)	4.48

Series 1 (2023)

No. overall	No. in season	Title ^[21]	Directed by ^[21]	Written by ^[21]	Original air date ^[21]	UK viewers (millions) ^[22]
1	1	"The Code"	Gilles Bannier	Declan Lawn & Adam Patterson	27 March 2023 (2023-03-27)	4.68
New constables Grace, Annie and Tommy struggle with the demands of police work. The police clash with MI5 agents and associates of gangster James McIntyre.
2	2	"Bad Batch"	Gilles Bannier	Declan Lawn & Adam Patterson	3 April 2023 (2023-04-03)	4.25
A poisonous batch of drugs turns up across Belfast. Annie wonders whom she can trust.
3	3	"The Fear"	Gilles Bannier	Fran Harris	10 April 2023 (2023-04-10)	4.17
A paramilitary-style assault case has Grace determined to bring the McIntyres to their knees. Meanwhile, Angela becomes increasingly desperate.
4	4	"Full Moon Fever"	Gilles Bannier	Fran Harris	17 April 2023 (2023-04-17)	4.34
The team attempt to cover for each other during a busy night shift.
5	5	"The Q Word"	Gilles Bannier	Declan Lawn & Adam Patterson	24 April 2023 (2023-04-24)	4.23
Mo risks his relationship with his father, and Tommy is put to the test.
6	6	"Love the One You're With"	Gilles Bannier	Declan Lawn & Adam Patterson	1 May 2023 (2023-05-01)	4.44
Truths are revealed as the team works together in the aftermath of the arms deal.

Series 2 (2024)

No. overall	No. in season	Title ^[21]	Directed by ^[21]	Written by ^[21]	Original air date ^[21]	UK viewers (millions) ^[22]
7	1	"This Too Shall Pass"	Declan Lawn & Adam Patterson	Declan Lawn & Adam Patterson	15 April 2024 (2024-04-15)	4.82
8	2	"Iceberg"	Declan Lawn & Adam Patterson	Declan Lawn & Adam Patterson	22 April 2024 (2024-04-22)	4.41
9	3	"Love Knows"	Declan Lawn & Adam Patterson	Bronagh Taggart	29 April 2024 (2024-04-29)	4.48
10	4	"The Stamp of Nature"	Jack Casey	Noel McCann	6 May 2024 (2024-05-06)	4.19
11	5	"Where I Want To Be"	Jack Casey	Declan Lawn & Adam Patterson	13 May 2024 (2024-05-13)	4.33
12	6	"The Loyal"	Jack Casey	Declan Lawn & Adam Patterson	20 May 2024 (2024-05-20)	4.62

Reception

Critical response

Series one of Blue Lights received generally positive reviews. On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, it has an approval rating of 91% based on 11 reviews. The website's critical consensus reads, "Intelligently plotted and well-acted, this gruff low-budget procedural gets the green light for an addictive binge watch".^[23] Hugo Rifkind of The Times wrote of series one that although "the overall arc is subtle, with none of your Line of Duty or Happy Valley-style cliffhangers, [...] In place and tone, it’s excellent".^[24] Carol Midgley of The Times commented that it was "a complicated, cleverly observed, funny and (at times) horrific drama that is a cut above your average police procedural".^[25] Anita Singh of Daily Telegraph gave the series five out of five, writing: "There isn’t a duff line or an overcooked scene to be found here. The various storylines knit together into one satisfying conclusion".^[26] Dan Einav of Financial Times wrote: "The series revolves around three new recruits who offer a fresh perspective on a profession that we’ve grown accustomed to seeing through the jaundiced filter of a cynical old-timer."^[27] Eilis O'Hanlon of Irish Independent wrote "[Series one of] Blue Lights is an unexpectedly tense and engaging addition to the increasingly long list of police dramas on TV".^[28] Sean O'Grady of The Independent gave the series three out of five, writing: "There are flashes of gallows humour, almost literally, but the gloom is otherwise unrelieved, and frankly is a bit tiresome to watch".^[29]

Rebecca Nicholson of The Guardian called series one "much more than just another cop show".^[30] She gave the series five out of five, writing that she was "engrossed", describing it as "well-crafted, fantastically tense, thrilling stuff",^[31] and "one of the best shows of the year".^[32] Alison Rowat of The Herald wrote that: "Though made for relative pennies compared to the glossy offerings of the streaming channels, this Belfast-set police procedural was a class act, one that made a virtue of its location without straying into cliche or settling for neat answers".^[33] Alberto Carlos of Espinof called the series "an excellent police series: it is intense, intelligent and absolutely essential".^[34] Ian Acheson in The Spectator called it a "near perfect cop drama" that "manages to humanise the lives of the men and women in the Police Service of Northern Ireland without mawkishness" that despite "some procedural howlers that have clearly been let loose in the service of the storylines", leaves viewers "in for a rare treat".^[35] Ángel S. Harguindey of El Pais wrote that "The premise is nothing new, but it has one virtue: its narrative style is uncomplicated and has no need to resort to heroic gestures".^[36]

Series two also received mostly positive reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has an approval rating of 93% based on 14 reviews. The website's critical consensus reads, "A procedural done precisely by the book, Blue Lights' sophomore season adheres to formula but does so with the utmost efficiency and panache".^[37] Jack Seale of The Guardian gave the series four out of five, writing: "Its gift for plain speaking is one thing that makes Blue Lights such rewarding drama, but the difficult political truths are softened by a weakness for that staple of escapist emergency-services soaps, the workplace romance".^[38] Nick Hilton of The Independent gave the series three out of five, writing "As generic fare goes, Blue Lights is of the highest order. The acting and writing is first rate, and Brooke, particularly, is a terrific leading lady".^[39] Chris Wasser of Irish Independent wrote "Just like last time, it’s all building towards something big, something explosive, even. And, just like last time, Blue Lights remembers the importance of a nail-biting set-piece".^[40] Benji Wilson of Daily Telegraph gave the series five out of five, writing "It doesn’t take long, however, for series two to catch light, and once it does it is irresistible".^[41] Dan Einav of Financial Times gave the second series four out of five, writing: "Declan Lawn and Adam Patterson take time to contextualise their fiction within the very real tragedies of Belfast’s past and present. But Blue Lights is neither insistently political nor wearingly downbeat".^[42] Carol Midgley of The Times wrote that "The story is still warming up at this stage, but this is dense, rich soil and these are the perfect writers to till it".^[43]

Hugo Rifkind of The Times wrote that "You do occasionally get the feeling that Belfast only has in it about eight police, who all have to do far too many jobs, like Mrs Rabbit. Still, it’s heavy with mood and has a streak of outraged social politics at its core".^[44] Camilla Long of The Times criticised the second series, writing: "The writers saw this, caught our sense of paranoia, creating a horribly plausible show. But the new series doesn’t feel like that any more. It mostly feels like a police sitcom with all the jokes taken out".^[45] Helen Hawkins of The Arts Desk gave the series four out of five, saying: "The first season of Blue Nights was so close to police procedural perfection, it would be hard for season two to reach the same heights. Overall, it doesn’t, though there are still special moments".^[46] Aidan Smith of The Scotsman wrote that "We could be watching The Wire; Blue Lights is that gritty and aspires to be that great".^[47] Alison Rowat of The Herald wrote that "The blending of hard-edged and soft is one of the reasons for the show’s success. We want a police procedural set in today’s Belfast to keep it real, but not too real".^[48]

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Nominee(s)	Result	Ref.
2023	28th National Television Awards	Best New Drama	Blue Lights	Nominated	^[49]
	TV Choice Awards	Best New Drama Series	Blue Lights	Nominated	^[50]
	Royal Television Society Craft & Design Awards	Best Editing – Scripted	Peggy Koretzky	Nominated	^[51]
2024	IFTA Film & Drama Awards	Best Drama	Blue Lights	Nominated	^[52]^[53]
		Best Script	Blue Lights	Nominated
		Best Actor	Martin McCann	Nominated
		Best Supporting Actor	Richard Dormer	Won

References

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^ McLaughlin, Sophie (6 September 2023). "NTA 2023: Blue Lights loses out on Best New Drama award to Netflix show Wednesday". Belfast Live. Archived from the original on 4 May 2024. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
^ Pritchard, Johnathan (3 November 2023). "TV Choice Awards nominees 2024: All Creatures Great and Small, Happy Valley and James Martin all up for awards". Yorkshire Post. Archived from the original on 4 May 2024. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
^ Royal Television Society (2023). "RTS CRAFT & DESIGN AWARDS 2023". Royal Television Society. Archived from the original on 4 May 2024. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
^ Tartaglione, Nancy (14 March 2024). "Cillian Murphy, Andrew Scott Among Irish Film & TV Awards Nominees; 'Lies We Tell' Leads Feature Categories – Full List". Deadline. Archived from the original on 4 May 2024. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
^ Szalai, Georg (20 April 2024). "Cillian Murphy, 'Kin' Season 2 Among Irish Film & Television Awards Winners". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 4 May 2024. Retrieved 4 May 2024.

External links

Blue Lights at IMDb
Blue Lights at epguides.com

[Begins-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k "Cast announced for brand new BBC One drama Blue Lights as filming begins". BBC Media Centre. 14 February 2022. Archived from the original on 24 February 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2024.

[Filming-2] Steves, Ashley (24 February 2022). "UK What's Filming: BBC's New Crime Drama 'Blue Lights'". Backstage. Archived from the original on 22 January 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2024.

[Screen-3] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Layton, Mark (17 October 2022). "Exclusive: 'Blue Lights' creators on taking BBC police drama from script to screen". Television Business International. Archived from the original on 17 October 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2024.

[Director-4] BBC One (23 March 2023). "Interview with Gilles Bannier - Director & Executive Producer of Blue Lights". PressParty. Archived from the original on 4 March 2024. Retrieved 4 May 2024.

[Style-5] Cook, Rebecca (28 March 2023). "BBC's Blue Lights moves crime drama away from Line of Duty-style shows". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 28 April 2024. Retrieved 4 May 2024.

[Important-6] Hibbs, James (21 March 2023). "Blue Lights writer says show is "so important" after real-life tragedy". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 23 April 2024. Retrieved 5 May 2024.

[Brutality-7] Thorpe, Vanessa (19 March 2023). "Brutality in BBC drama Blue Lights shocked cast who had not lived through Troubles". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 1 August 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2024.

[Danger-8] "Blue Lights: Danger and drama promised in second season". BBC News. 16 February 2024. Archived from the original on 17 February 2024. Retrieved 4 May 2024.

[Confirms-9] Zammitt, Erin (16 February 2024). "BBC shares first look at Blue Lights season 2 and confirms new cast". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 2 May 2024. Retrieved 4 May 2024.

[10] Reid, Kurtis (23 August 2023). "Set pictures from series 2 of BBC's Blue Lights reveal possible new recruits". Belfast Telegraph. Archived from the original on 7 March 2024. Retrieved 4 May 2024.

[New-11] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Mensah, Katelyn (16 February 2024). "Blue Lights confirms new and returning cast in first look at season 2". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 16 April 2024. Retrieved 4 May 2024.

[12] "BBC releases Blue Lights series 2 trailer and premiere date". BBC Media Centre. 28 March 2024. Archived from the original on 3 May 2024. Retrieved 5 May 2024.

[When-13] Collier, Katie (14 April 2024). "BBC's Blue Lights: Full cast list and when it is on TV". The National. Archived from the original on 4 May 2024. Retrieved 4 May 2024.

[Loyalist-14] Roy, David (16 February 2024). "Blue Lights: new cast and loyalist-centric plot revealed for second series of BBC's hit Belfast cop show". Irish News. Archived from the original on 24 February 2024. Retrieved 4 May 2024.

[15] Harp, Justin (21 February 2024). "BBC police drama Blue Lights confirmed for two more seasons". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 2 May 2024. Retrieved 4 May 2024.

[16] Zammitt, Erin (28 March 2024). "Blue Lights season 2 trailer reveals release date – and it's soon". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 1 April 2024. Retrieved 5 May 2024.

[Creators-17] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ "Blue Lights - Meet the cast and creators of the new police drama set in Northern Ireland". BBC Media Centre. 21 March 2023. Archived from the original on 2 May 2024. Retrieved 5 May 2024.

[Season-18] Hibbs, James (23 April 2024). "Blue Lights season 2 cast: Meet the stars of BBC police drama". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 4 May 2024. Retrieved 6 May 2024.

[Hit-19] Jessop, Vicky (16 April 2024). "Blue Lights season two: who plays who in the hit police drama?". The Standard. Archived from the original on 24 April 2024. Retrieved 6 May 2024.

[List-20] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p "BBC's Blue Lights: Full cast list and when it is on TV". The National. 14 April 2024. Archived from the original on 4 May 2024. Retrieved 6 May 2024.

[BBC-21] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h "BBC One – Blue Lights – Episodes". BBC One. Retrieved 6 April 2023.

[BARB-22] "Weekly top 50 shows". BARB.

[23] "Series 1 - Blue Lights". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on 1 May 2024. Retrieved 7 September 2024.

[24] Rifkind, Hugo (3 April 2023). "Succession Review − It's bleak as hell but I love it". The Times. Archived from the original on 23 April 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2024.

[25] Midgley, Carol (3 April 2023). "Blue Lights review − finally, a police procedural that's worth your time". The Times. Archived from the original on 15 April 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2024.

[26] Singh, Anita (3 April 2023). "Blue Lights, review: BBC One's Belfast cop drama deserves as much hype as Line of Duty". Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 6 April 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2024.

[27] Einav, Dan (10 April 2023). "Blue Lights, BBC1 review — a rare police drama offering credible characters". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 17 April 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2024.

[28] O'Hanlon, Eilis (14 April 2023). "Northern Irish cop drama Blue Lights lives up to its great expectations". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 30 May 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2024.

[29] O'Grady, Sean (5 April 2023). "Blue Lights review: A tiresome look at policing in Northern Ireland". The Independent. Archived from the original on 15 April 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2024.

[30] Nicholson, Rebecca (1 May 2023). "Blue Lights: this thrilling cop drama is one of TV's best shows". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 28 December 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2024.

[31] Nicholson, Rebecca (27 March 2023). "Blue Lights review – don't sleep on this fantastically tense Belfast cop show". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 16 April 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2024.

[32] The Guardian writers (24 April 2023). "TV tonight: excitement mounts in a superb NI cop show". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 4 May 2024. Retrieved 4 May 2024.

[33] Rowat, Alison (6 May 2023). "Frankie Boyle; Charles R; The Windsors; Blue Lights, reviewed". The Herald. Archived from the original on 4 October 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2024.

[34] Carlos, Alberto (2 October 2023). "It has only 6 episodes and is absolutely essential: one of the best police series in the world has just premiered". Espinof (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 13 February 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2024.

[35] Acheson, Ian (24 April 2023). "The BBC's Blue Lights is a near-perfect cop drama". The Spectator. Archived from the original on 24 April 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2024.

[36] Harguindey, Angel S. (15 November 2023). "Blue Lights, not your average police series". El Pais. Archived from the original on 25 April 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2024.

[37] "Series 2 - Blue Lights". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on 1 May 2024. Retrieved 7 September 2024.

[38] Seale, Jack (15 April 2024). "Blue Lights series two review – last year's breakout police hit is as beautifully tense as ever". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 29 April 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2024.

[39] Hilton, Nick (15 April 2024). "Blue Lights review: Series two may be first rate, but there are still too many police dramas on TV". The Independent. Archived from the original on 18 April 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2024.

[40] Wasser, Chris (18 April 2024). "Blue Lights review: It's an undeniably watchable cop show – but let's not pretend it's the best thing on TV". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 29 April 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2024.

[41] Wilson, Benji (20 April 2024). "Blue Lights, series 2, review: British TV's best crime drama returns in the finest of health". Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 30 April 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2024.

[42] Einav, Dan (22 April 2024). "Blue Lights series 2 review — engrossing and authentic police drama returns to BBC1". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 17 April 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2024.

[43] Midgley, Carol (22 April 2024). "Blue Lights review – These Belfast cops still feel wholly authentic". The Times. Archived from the original on 23 April 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2024.

[44] Rifkind, Hugo (22 April 2024). "Baby Reindeer review – What if you had a stalker... and liked it?". The Times. Archived from the original on 1 May 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2024.

[45] Long, Camilla (22 April 2024). "What a shame Blue Lights is now a peak millennial cop show". The Times. Archived from the original on 1 May 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2024.

[46] Hawkins, Helen (23 April 2024). "Blue Lights Series 2, BBC One review - still our best cop show despite a slacker structure". The Arts Desk. Archived from the original on 30 April 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2024.

[47] Smith, Aidan (23 April 2024). "Aidan Smith's TV week: Blue Lights is as gritty as The Wire and almost as great". Scotsman. Archived from the original on 2 May 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2024.

[48] Rowat, Alison (23 April 2024). "Greg Hemphill's new Glasgow comedy Dinosaur fails to catch light". The Herald. Archived from the original on 28 April 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2024.

[49] McLaughlin, Sophie (6 September 2023). "NTA 2023: Blue Lights loses out on Best New Drama award to Netflix show Wednesday". Belfast Live. Archived from the original on 4 May 2024. Retrieved 4 May 2024.

[50] Pritchard, Johnathan (3 November 2023). "TV Choice Awards nominees 2024: All Creatures Great and Small, Happy Valley and James Martin all up for awards". Yorkshire Post. Archived from the original on 4 May 2024. Retrieved 4 May 2024.

[51] Royal Television Society (2023). "RTS CRAFT & DESIGN AWARDS 2023". Royal Television Society. Archived from the original on 4 May 2024. Retrieved 4 May 2024.

[52] Tartaglione, Nancy (14 March 2024). "Cillian Murphy, Andrew Scott Among Irish Film & TV Awards Nominees; 'Lies We Tell' Leads Feature Categories – Full List". Deadline. Archived from the original on 4 May 2024. Retrieved 4 May 2024.

[53] Szalai, Georg (20 April 2024). "Cillian Murphy, 'Kin' Season 2 Among Irish Film & Television Awards Winners". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 4 May 2024. Retrieved 4 May 2024.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Short description|British police drama television series set in Northern Ireland (2023)}}
+{{Short description|Northern Irish police drama television series}}
 {{Use British English|date=March 2023}}
 {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}
@@ Line 48: / Line 48: @@
 *[[STV Studios|Two Cities Television]]
 *Gallagher Films
-*HotSauce Pictures (season 2-present
+*HotSauce Pictures season 2-present
 *BBC Studios
 }}
@@ Line 56: / Line 56: @@
 | last_aired           = present
 }}
-'''''Blue Lights''''' is a British [[police procedural]] television [[Drama (film and television)|drama]] series set in the fictional Blackthorn [[police station]] in [[Belfast]], [[Northern Ireland]], where the series was filmed. Created and written by Declan Lawn and Adam Patterson, it began broadcasting on [[BBC One]] on 27 March 2023. The first series followed three probationary police officers of the [[Police Service of Northern Ireland]] and the experienced officers who train, mentor, and work with them, with the second following the same characters a year later trying to quell a loyalist feud in the city. Both series of ''Blue Lights'' received critical praise and high viewership. A third and fourth series have been commissioned.
+'''''Blue Lights''''' is a Northern Irish [[police procedural]] television [[Drama (film and television)|drama]] series set in the fictional Blackthorn [[police station]] in [[Belfast]], [[Northern Ireland]], where the series was filmed. Created and written by Declan Lawn and Adam Patterson, it began broadcasting on [[BBC One]] on 27 March 2023. The first series followed three probationary police officers of the [[Police Service of Northern Ireland]] and the experienced officers who train, mentor, and work with them, with the second following the same characters a year later trying to quell a loyalist feud in the city. Both series of ''Blue Lights'' received critical praise and high viewership. A third and fourth series have been commissioned.
 ==Production==
 On 14 February 2022, the [[BBC]] announced that filming for an upcoming [[police procedural]] called ''Blue Lights'' had commenced in [[Belfast]], [[Northern Ireland]], and its surrounding areas.<ref name="Begins">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/2022/cast-announced-for-bbc-one-drama-blue-lights |title=Cast announced for brand new BBC One drama Blue Lights as filming begins |last= |first= |date=14 February 2022 |website=BBC Media Centre |language=English |access-date=3 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220224215218/https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/2022/cast-announced-for-bbc-one-drama-blue-lights |archive-date=24 February 2022 }}</ref><ref name="Filming">{{cite web |url=https://www.backstage.com/uk/magazine/article/uk-whats-filming-bbcs-new-crime-drama-blue-lights-74752/ |title=UK What's Filming: BBC's New Crime Drama 'Blue Lights' |last=Steves |first=Ashley |date=24 February 2022 |website=Backstage |language=English |access-date=3 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230122212722/https://www.backstage.com/uk/magazine/article/uk-whats-filming-bbcs-new-crime-drama-blue-lights-74752/ |archive-date=22 January 2023 }}</ref> It was set to contain six episodes and air on [[BBC One]] and [[BBC iPlayer]].<ref name="Begins" /> The series was created and written by Declan Lawn and Adam Patterson, and produced by [[STV Studios|Two Cities Television]] and [[Northern Ireland Screen]].<ref name="Begins" /> Lawn and Patterson said that the BBC commissioned a pilot and the first writers' room for the show in 2019, and when the show was greenlit, the development of the series was [[Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on television#United Kingdom|impacted]] by the [[COVID-19]] [[COVID-19 pandemic|pandemic]], as writers' rooms had to be moved online.<ref name="Screen" /> The show was commissioned by Piers Wenger and Charlotte Moore, and is distributed internationally by [[BBC Studios]].<ref name="Begins" /> The upcoming series was described as "an authentic, gripping and darkly funny drama about ordinary people doing an extraordinary job in a society that could spiral out of control at any moment".<ref name="Begins" /> The series follows three rookie police officers working in Belfast, described as "a uniquely dangerous place to be a police officer", and the "unique set of pressures and dangers they face as frontline cops".<ref name="Begins" /><ref name="Filming" /> The three were further described as being in their probation period, with the odds of all three passing stacked against them.<ref name="Begins" /> Director Gilles Brannier called it "quite challenging" to her own vision for this show due to it being mainly character driven.<ref name="Director" /> Lawn and Patterson suggested the appeal of the series was the "great universality" of its themes, coupled with its "slice of life" view of Belfast.<ref name="Screen" /> Lawn and Patterson further added that due to being set in modern-day Belfast, the officers would face "a very specific set of policing problems from the legacy of sectarian violence".<ref name="Style">{{cite web |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a43437723/bbc-blue-lights-review-line-of-duty/ |title=BBC's Blue Lights moves crime drama away from Line of Duty-style shows |last=Cook |first=Rebecca |date=28 March 2023 |website=Digital Spy |language=English |access-date=4 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240428083832/https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a43437723/bbc-blue-lights-review-line-of-duty/ |archive-date=28 April 2024 }}</ref> Patterson even likened the job of being a police officer in Belfast to "trench warfare", saying that the series would reflect the "lingering threat" to police officers in Belfast.<ref name="Screen">{{cite web |url=https://tbivision.com/2022/10/17/exclusive-blue-lights-creators-on-taking-bbc-police-drama-from-script-to-screen/#close-modal |title=Exclusive: 'Blue Lights' creators on taking BBC police drama from script to screen |last=Layton |first=Mark |date=17 October 2022 |website=Television Business International |language=English |access-date=3 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221017110321/https://tbivision.com/2022/10/17/exclusive-blue-lights-creators-on-taking-bbc-police-drama-from-script-to-screen/ |archive-date=17 October 2022 }}</ref><ref name="Important">{{cite web |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/blue-lights-writer-real-tragedy-newsupdate/ |title=Blue Lights writer says show is "so important" after real-life tragedy |last=Hibbs |first=James |date=21 March 2023 |website=Radio Times |language=English |access-date=5 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240423210628/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/blue-lights-writer-real-tragedy-newsupdate/ |archive-date=23 April 2024 }}</ref>
-Lawn and Patterson aimed to represent Belfast with the series, as they both grew up there, explaining: "Every writer wants to explore their own place, and their own society as authentically and as honestly as they can. We feel enormously grateful to BBC drama for letting us do that with ''Blue Lights''".<ref name="Begins" /> Brannier aimed to represent Belfast in a different manner to the way is usually is, to "step away from the black and white representation of Belfast", calling it a fantastic challenge.<ref name="Director">{{cite web |url=https://www.pressparty.com/pg/newsdesk/BBC1/view/321216/ |title=Interview with Gilles Bannier - Director & Executive Producer of Blue Lights |author=BBC One |date=23 March 2023 |website=PressParty |language=English |access-date=4 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240304224916/https://www.pressparty.com/pg/newsdesk/BBC1/view/321216/ |archive-date=4 March 2024 }}</ref> Lawn explained the importance of portraying Belfast on the show, as many crew members described the city itself as another character in the show. He explained: "We've always dreamed of making a show in Belfast and Blue Lights is a distillation of everything we've learned from living here and being journalists here. We think it shows the city in a way that's never been shown before in terms of the bad and the good, the kind of vibrancy of it and the problems of it".<ref name="Screen" /> They admitted that some of their "more established stars" who grew up in Belfast understood the dangers of the jobs, as in Lawn's words: "They could explain the context to the others".<ref name="Style" /><ref name="Brutality">{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/mar/19/brutality-in-bbc-drama-blue-lights-shocked-cast-who-had-not-lived-through-troubles |title=Brutality in BBC drama Blue Lights shocked cast who had not lived through Troubles |last=Thorpe |first=Vanessa |date=19 March 2023 |website=The Guardian |language=English |access-date=4 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801052521/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/mar/19/brutality-in-bbc-drama-blue-lights-shocked-cast-who-had-not-lived-through-troubles |archive-date=1 August 2023 }}</ref> Lawn went on to describe his own experiences growing up in the city, where he would feel at "constant risk" and never knew if his parents would return home from work at the end of a weekday.<ref name="Style" /> Lawn admitted that some of the actors, especially the younger stars, were surprised to learn about the treatment of police officers in Northern Ireland.<ref name="Style" /><ref name="Brutality" /> According to Patterson, when writing ''Blue Lights'', he and Lawn aimed to challenge people's mindsets, saying: "I think if you think about the world like that, then you can actually move forward as a society. But if you lock yourself away and put yourself in a binary mindset then you can't. So our objective always in writing is to push past that and make people challenge themselves."<ref name="Important" />
+Lawn and Patterson aimed to represent Belfast with the series, as they both grew up there, explaining: "Every writer wants to explore their own place, and their own society as authentically and as honestly as they can. We feel enormously grateful to BBC drama for letting us do that with ''Blue Lights''".<ref name="Begins" /> Brannier aimed to represent Belfast in a different manner to the way it usually is, to "step away from the black and white representation of Belfast", calling it a fantastic challenge.<ref name="Director">{{cite web |url=https://www.pressparty.com/pg/newsdesk/BBC1/view/321216/ |title=Interview with Gilles Bannier - Director & Executive Producer of Blue Lights |author=BBC One |date=23 March 2023 |website=PressParty |language=English |access-date=4 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240304224916/https://www.pressparty.com/pg/newsdesk/BBC1/view/321216/ |archive-date=4 March 2024 }}</ref> Lawn explained the importance of portraying Belfast on the show, as many crew members described the city itself as another character in the show. He explained: "We've always dreamed of making a show in Belfast and Blue Lights is a distillation of everything we've learned from living here and being journalists here. We think it shows the city in a way that's never been shown before in terms of the bad and the good, the kind of vibrancy of it and the problems of it".<ref name="Screen" /> They admitted that some of their "more established stars" who grew up in Belfast understood the dangers of the jobs, as in Lawn's words: "They could explain the context to the others".<ref name="Style" /><ref name="Brutality">{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/mar/19/brutality-in-bbc-drama-blue-lights-shocked-cast-who-had-not-lived-through-troubles |title=Brutality in BBC drama Blue Lights shocked cast who had not lived through Troubles |last=Thorpe |first=Vanessa |date=19 March 2023 |website=The Guardian |language=English |access-date=4 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801052521/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/mar/19/brutality-in-bbc-drama-blue-lights-shocked-cast-who-had-not-lived-through-troubles |archive-date=1 August 2023 }}</ref> Lawn went on to describe his own experiences growing up in the city, where he would feel at "constant risk" and never knew if his parents would return home from work at the end of a weekday.<ref name="Style" /> Lawn admitted that some of the actors, especially the younger stars, were surprised to learn about the treatment of police officers in Northern Ireland.<ref name="Style" /><ref name="Brutality" /> According to Patterson, when writing ''Blue Lights'', he and Lawn aimed to challenge people's mindsets, saying: "I think if you think about the world like that, then you can actually move forward as a society. But if you lock yourself away and put yourself in a binary mindset then you can't. So our objective always in writing is to push past that and make people challenge themselves."<ref name="Important" />
 The series began airing following the attempted murder of DCI John Caldwell, an off-duty police officer who received serious injuries after being shot in front of his son at a sports complex in [[Omagh]], [[County Tyrone]]. Patterson paid tribute to Caldwell, and believed the incident was "a reminder as to why the show is so important".<ref name="Important" /> He continued by adding: "We can't just ignore the fact that there is still a lingering threat for these people that literally lay themselves on the line to uphold our civic duty. That's amazing, and we just love the police for that. Of course, they’re a flawed machine; like many machines, they have their issues".<ref name="Important" /> He commented that it is "amazing" that people would put themselves in harm's way for others, adding "I think a society can only survive through people that".<ref name="Important" />
-Before the first series ended its run, a second series was commissioned,<ref name="Danger">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-68310062 |title=Blue Lights: Danger and drama promised in second season |last= |first= |date=16 February 2024 |website=BBC News |language=English |access-date=4 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240217023829/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-68310062 |archive-date=17 February 2024 }}</ref><ref name="Confirms">{{cite web |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a46812125/blue-lights-season-2-cast-bbc/ |title=BBC shares first look at Blue Lights season 2 and confirms new cast |last=Zammitt |first=Erin |date=16 February 2024 |website=Digital Spy |language=English |access-date=4 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240502222315/https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a46812125/blue-lights-season-2-cast-bbc/ |archive-date=2 May 2024 }}</ref> with filming beginning in August 2023.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/film-tv/set-pictures-from-series-2-of-bbcs-blue-lights-reveal-possible-new-recruits/a1511634790.html |title=Set pictures from series 2 of BBC’s Blue Lights reveal possible new recruits |last=Reid |first=Kurtis |date=23 August 2023 |website=Belfast Telegraph |language=English |access-date=4 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240307233402/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/film-tv/set-pictures-from-series-2-of-bbcs-blue-lights-reveal-possible-new-recruits/a1511634790.html |archive-date=7 March 2024 }}</ref> Lawn and Patterson expressed excitement for the second series, opening up that: "''Blue Lights'' is a very personal project for us, set in the city where we live, so for us making [a second series] is a special kind of privilege".<ref name="Danger" /><ref name="New" /> The cast was said to consist of a returning cast from the previous series, as well as new characters.<ref name="Confirms" /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/2024/blue-lights-series-2-trailer |title=BBC releases Blue Lights series 2 trailer and premiere date |last= |first= |date=28 March 2024 |website=BBC Media Centre |language=English |access-date=5 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240503204800/https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/2024/blue-lights-series-2-trailer |archive-date=3 May 2024 }}</ref> Stephen Wright, executive producer, enthused that he was "proud" of the reception to series 1 and was "looking forward to bringing [the] characters and the city of Belfast back for series two as well as introducing some exciting new characters and storylines to the fans".<ref name="Danger" /> The BBC has announced that the first episode of series 2 would air at 9 pm on 15 April 2024 on BBC One. All episodes of series 2 would become available to watch on BBC iPlayer at 6am on the same day while the remainder of the series would air weekly.<ref name="When" /> It was further teased that the second series would take place exactly a year after the events of the first, with the characters set to be "facing a whole new set of professional and personal challenges".<ref name="Danger" /> Tommy would become interested by the world of intelligence policing and Grace would struggle to deal with her son's absence and feelings for Stevie.<ref name="New" /><ref name="When">{{cite web |url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/national/uk-today/24219413.bbcs-blue-lights-full-cast-list-tv/ |title=BBC's Blue Lights: Full cast list and when it is on TV |last=Collier |first=Katie |date=14 April 2024 |website=The National |language=English |access-date=4 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/goaVQ |archive-date=4 May 2024 }}</ref> It expanded that Grace, Annie, and Tommy would no longer be "fresh out of training" and would mainly be dealing with rival loyalist gangs who try to fill the vacuum left by the MacIntyres after they were taken down in series 1, teasing: "As a young loyalist threatens to take over the city, the officers face a major gangland feud – culminating in a violent and devastating confrontation".<ref name="Danger" /><ref name="Confirms" /><ref name="New" /><ref name="Loyalist">{{cite web |url=https://www.irishnews.com/entertainment/blue-lights-new-cast-and-loyalist-centric-plot-revealed-for-second-series-of-bbcs-hit-belfast-cop-show-NHGYYJCFD5GGBOTPR5ZT6LAU3Y/ |title=Blue Lights: new cast and loyalist-centric plot revealed for second series of BBC’s hit Belfast cop show |last=Roy |first=David |date=16 February 2024 |website=Irish News |language=English |access-date=4 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240224184214/https://www.irishnews.com/entertainment/blue-lights-new-cast-and-loyalist-centric-plot-revealed-for-second-series-of-bbcs-hit-belfast-cop-show-NHGYYJCFD5GGBOTPR5ZT6LAU3Y/ |archive-date=24 February 2024 }}</ref>
+Before the first series ended its run, a second series was commissioned,<ref name="Danger">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-68310062 |title=Blue Lights: Danger and drama promised in second season |last= |first= |date=16 February 2024 |website=BBC News |language=English |access-date=4 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240217023829/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-68310062 |archive-date=17 February 2024 }}</ref><ref name="Confirms">{{cite web |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a46812125/blue-lights-season-2-cast-bbc/ |title=BBC shares first look at Blue Lights season 2 and confirms new cast |last=Zammitt |first=Erin |date=16 February 2024 |website=Digital Spy |language=English |access-date=4 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240502222315/https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a46812125/blue-lights-season-2-cast-bbc/ |archive-date=2 May 2024 }}</ref> with filming beginning in August 2023.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/film-tv/set-pictures-from-series-2-of-bbcs-blue-lights-reveal-possible-new-recruits/a1511634790.html |title=Set pictures from series 2 of BBC’s Blue Lights reveal possible new recruits |last=Reid |first=Kurtis |date=23 August 2023 |website=Belfast Telegraph |language=English |access-date=4 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240307233402/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/film-tv/set-pictures-from-series-2-of-bbcs-blue-lights-reveal-possible-new-recruits/a1511634790.html |archive-date=7 March 2024 }}</ref> Lawn and Patterson expressed excitement for the second series, opening up that: "''Blue Lights'' is a very personal project for us, set in the city where we live, so for us making [a second series] is a special kind of privilege".<ref name="Danger" /><ref name="New" /> The cast was said to consist of a returning cast from the previous series, as well as new characters.<ref name="Confirms" /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/2024/blue-lights-series-2-trailer |title=BBC releases Blue Lights series 2 trailer and premiere date |last= |first= |date=28 March 2024 |website=BBC Media Centre |language=English |access-date=5 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240503204800/https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/2024/blue-lights-series-2-trailer |archive-date=3 May 2024 }}</ref> Stephen Wright, executive producer, enthused that he was "proud" of the reception to series 1 and was "looking forward to bringing [the] characters and the city of Belfast back for series two as well as introducing some exciting new characters and storylines to the fans".<ref name="Danger" /> The BBC has announced that the first episode of series 2 would air at 9 pm on 15 April 2024 on BBC One. All episodes of series 2 would become available to watch on BBC iPlayer at 6am on the same day while the remainder of the series would air weekly.<ref name="When" /> It was further teased that the second series would take place exactly a year after the events of the first, with the characters set to be "facing a whole new set of professional and personal challenges".<ref name="Danger" /> Tommy would become interested by the world of intelligence policing and Grace would struggle to deal with her son's absence and feelings for Stevie.<ref name="New" /><ref name="When">{{cite web |url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/national/uk-today/24219413.bbcs-blue-lights-full-cast-list-tv/ |title=BBC's Blue Lights: Full cast list and when it is on TV |last=Collier |first=Katie |date=14 April 2024 |website=The National |language=English |access-date=4 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240504140745/https://www.thenational.scot/news/national/uk-today/24219413.bbcs-blue-lights-full-cast-list-tv/ |archive-date=4 May 2024 }}</ref> It expanded that Grace, Annie, and Tommy would no longer be "fresh out of training" and would mainly be dealing with rival loyalist gangs who try to fill the vacuum left by the MacIntyres after they were taken down in series 1, teasing: "As a young loyalist threatens to take over the city, the officers face a major gangland feud – culminating in a violent and devastating confrontation".<ref name="Danger" /><ref name="Confirms" /><ref name="New" /><ref name="Loyalist">{{cite web |url=https://www.irishnews.com/entertainment/blue-lights-new-cast-and-loyalist-centric-plot-revealed-for-second-series-of-bbcs-hit-belfast-cop-show-NHGYYJCFD5GGBOTPR5ZT6LAU3Y/ |title=Blue Lights: new cast and loyalist-centric plot revealed for second series of BBC’s hit Belfast cop show |last=Roy |first=David |date=16 February 2024 |website=Irish News |language=English |access-date=4 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240224184214/https://www.irishnews.com/entertainment/blue-lights-new-cast-and-loyalist-centric-plot-revealed-for-second-series-of-bbcs-hit-belfast-cop-show-NHGYYJCFD5GGBOTPR5ZT6LAU3Y/ |archive-date=24 February 2024 }}</ref>
 During the run of series 2, in May 2024, the show confirmed that it would return for a third and fourth series in the future.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a46889172/bbc-blue-lights-renewed/ |title=BBC police drama Blue Lights confirmed for two more seasons |last=Harp |first=Justin |date=21 February 2024 |website=Digital Spy |language=English |access-date=4 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240502201945/https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a46889172/bbc-blue-lights-renewed/ |archive-date=2 May 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a60332948/blue-lights-season-2-trailer-release-date/ |title=Blue Lights season 2 trailer reveals release date – and it's soon |last=Zammitt |first=Erin |date=28 March 2024 |website=Digital Spy |language=English |access-date=5 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240401085042/https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a60332948/blue-lights-season-2-trailer-release-date/ |archive-date=1 April 2024 }}</ref>
@@ Line 78: / Line 78: @@
 ===Cast overview===
 {{columns-list|colwidth=20em|
-*[[Siân Brooke]] as Grace Ellis<ref name="List">{{cite web |url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/national/uk-today/24219413.bbcs-blue-lights-full-cast-list-tv/ |title=BBC's Blue Lights: Full cast list and when it is on TV |last= |first= |date=14 April 2024 |website=The National |language=English |access-date=6 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240504235255/https://www.thenational.scot/news/national/uk-today/24219413.bbcs-blue-lights-full-cast-list-tv/ |archive-date=4 May 2024 }}</ref><br/>(Series 1–)
+*[[Siân Brooke]] as Grace Ellis<ref name="List">{{cite web |url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/national/uk-today/24219413.bbcs-blue-lights-full-cast-list-tv/ |title=BBC's Blue Lights: Full cast list and when it is on TV |last= |first= |date=14 April 2024 |website=The National |language=English |access-date=6 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240504235255/https://www.thenational.scot/news/national/uk-today/24219413.bbcs-blue-lights-full-cast-list-tv/ |archive-date=4 May 2024 }}</ref>
-*[[Katherine Devlin]] as Annie Conlon<ref name="List" /><br/>(Series 1–)
+*[[Katherine Devlin]] as Annie Conlon<ref name="List" />
-*[[Nathan Braniff]] as Tommy Foster<ref name="List" /><br/>(Series 1–)
+*[[Nathan Braniff]] as Tommy Foster<ref name="List" />
 *[[Richard Dormer]] as Gerry Cliff<ref name="Screen" /><br/>(Series 1)
-*[[Martin McCann (actor)|Martin McCann]] as Stevie Neil<ref name="List" /><br/>(Series 1–)
+*[[Martin McCann (actor)|Martin McCann]] as Stevie Neil<ref name="List" />
 *[[John Lynch (actor)|John Lynch]] as James McIntyre<ref name="Creators" /><br/>(Series 1)
-*[[Jonathan Harden]] as David Johnson<ref name="List" /><br/>(Series 1–)
+*[[Jonathan Harden]] as David Johnson<ref name="List" />
 *Matthew Carver as Cal Ellis<ref name="Creators" /><br/>(Series 1)
 *[[Valene Kane]] as Angela Mackle<br/>(Series 1)
 *Dane Whyte O'Hara as Gordy Mackle<br/>(Series 1)
-*Joanne Crawford as Helen McNally<ref name="List" /><br/>(Series 1–)
+*Joanne Crawford as Helen McNally<ref name="List" />
-*Hannah McClean as Jen Robinson<ref name="List" /><br/>(Series 1–)
+*Hannah McClean as Jen Robinson<ref name="List" />
-*Andrea Irvine as Nicola Robinson<ref name="List" /><br/>(Series 1–)
+*Andrea Irvine as Nicola Robinson<ref name="List" />
-*[[Andi Osho]] as Sandra Cliff<ref name="List" /><br/>(Series 1–)
+*[[Andi Osho]] as Sandra Cliff<ref name="List" />
 *[[Nabil Elouahabi]] as Joseph<br/>(Series 1)
-*[[Desmond Eastwood]] as Murray Canning<ref name="List" /><br/>(Series 1–)
+*[[Desmond Eastwood]] as Murray Canning<ref name="List" />
-*Paddy Jenkins as Happy Kelly<ref name="List" /><br/>(Series 1–)
+*Paddy Jenkins as Happy Kelly<ref name="List" />
-*Dearbháile McKinney as Aisling<br/>(Series 1–)
+*Dearbháile McKinney as Aisling
 *[[Frank Blake (actor)|Frank Blake]] as Shane Bradley<ref name="List" /><br/>(Series 2)
 *[[Seamus O'Hara (actor)|Seamus O'Hara]] as Lee Thompson<ref name="List" /><br/>(Series 2)
@@ Line 119: / Line 119: @@
 | start2      = {{Start date|2024|4|15|df=y}}
 | end2        = {{End date|2024|5|20|df=y}}
-| infoA2      = TBD
+| infoA2      = 4.48
 }}</onlyinclude>
@@ Line 202: / Line 202: @@
  |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2024|4|15|df=y}}
  |Viewers         = 4.82
+ |ShortSummary    =
- |ShortSummary    = A year into the job, the team are faced with a drug-fuelled crime wave that leads them into a loyalist estate. A violent clash puts Stevie and Grace’s working relationship at risk.
  |LineColor       = C8E1FA
 }}
@@ Line 213: / Line 213: @@
  |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2024|4|22|df=y}}
  |Viewers         = 4.41
+ |ShortSummary    =
- |ShortSummary    = A loyalist gangland feud turns up the pressure on the section. Annie makes an impetuous decision on a night out.
  |LineColor       = C8E1FA
 }}
@@ Line 224: / Line 224: @@
  |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2024|4|29|df=y}}
  |Viewers         = 4.48
+ |ShortSummary    =
- |ShortSummary    = As tensions grow in Mount Eden, a response call forces Stevie to confront his past. Annie deals with the consequences of an impulsive decision.
  |LineColor       = C8E1FA
 }}
@@ Line 235: / Line 235: @@
  |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2024|5|6|df=y}}
  |Viewers         = 4.19
+ |ShortSummary    =
- |ShortSummary    = Lee is the new boss in Mount Eden. Under pressure from Canning to get results, Shane leads Tommy into danger.
  |LineColor       = C8E1FA
 }}
@@ Line 245: / Line 245: @@
  |WrittenBy       = Declan Lawn & Adam Patterson
  |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2024|5|13|df=y}}
- |Viewers         = TBC
+ |Viewers         = 4.33
+ |ShortSummary    =
- |ShortSummary    = Annie’s job is on the line. As Lee consolidates power, Stevie and Grace are thrown back together on a response call, with terrible consequences.
  |LineColor       = C8E1FA
 }}
@@ Line 256: / Line 256: @@
  |WrittenBy       = Declan Lawn & Adam Patterson
  |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2024|5|20|df=y}}
- |Viewers         = TBC
+ |Viewers         = 4.62
+ |ShortSummary    =
- |ShortSummary    = Mount Eden descends into chaos as Grace tries to get Henry out from under Lee’s control. Happy finally learns the truth.
  |LineColor       = C8E1FA
 }}
@@ Line 264: / Line 264: @@
 ==Reception==
 ===Critical response===
-Series 1 of ''Blue Lights'' received generally positive reviews. On [[review aggregator]] website [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the first series has an approval rating of 90% based on 10 reviews. The website's critical consensus reads, "Intelligently plotted and well-acted, this gruff low-budget procedural gets the green light for an addictive binge watch".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/blue_lights/s01 |title=Series 1 - Blue Lights |last= |first= |date= |website=Rotten Tomatoes |language=English |access-date=1 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240501181751/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/blue_lights/s01 |archive-date=1 May 2024 }}</ref> Hugo Rifkind of ''[[The Times]]'' wrote that series 1 wrote that although "the overall arc is subtle, with none of your ''Line of Duty'' or ''Happy Valley''-style cliffhangers, [...] In place and tone, it’s excellent".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/succession-review-its-bleak-as-hell-but-i-love-it-nhrptvp2c |title=Succession Review − It's bleak as hell but I love it |last=Rifkind |first=Hugo |date=3 April 2023 |website=The Times |language=English |access-date=1 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230423060631/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/succession-review-its-bleak-as-hell-but-i-love-it-nhrptvp2c |archive-date=23 April 2023 }}</ref> Carol Midgley of ''The Times'' commented that it was "a complicated, cleverly observed, funny and (at times) horrific drama that is a cut above your average police procedural".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/blue-lights-review-finally-a-police-procedural-that-s-worth-your-time-bcgxh7l67 |title=Blue Lights review − finally, a police procedural that's worth your time |last=Midgley |first=Carol |date=3 April 2023 |website=The Times |language=English |access-date=1 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240415112619/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/blue-lights-review-finally-a-police-procedural-that-s-worth-your-time-bcgxh7l67 |archive-date=15 April 2024 }}</ref> Anita Singh of ''[[Daily Telegraph]]'' gave the series 5/5 stars, writing: "There isn’t a duff line or an overcooked scene to be found here. The various storylines knit together into one satisfying conclusion".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2023/03/27/blue-lights-bbc-one-review-belfast-cop-drama-deserves-much-hype/ |title=Blue Lights, review: BBC One's Belfast cop drama deserves as much hype as Line of Duty |last=Singh |first=Anita |date=3 April 2023 |website=Daily Telegraph |language=English |access-date=1 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240406103709/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2023/03/27/blue-lights-bbc-one-review-belfast-cop-drama-deserves-much-hype/ |archive-date=6 April 2024 }}</ref> Dan Einav of ''[[Financial Times]]'' wrote: "The series revolves around three new recruits who offer a fresh perspective on a profession that we’ve grown accustomed to seeing through the jaundiced filter of a cynical old-timer."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ft.com/content/a00d7711-b5e2-4ff9-ad7f-8e262d4edaca |title=Blue Lights, BBC1 review — a rare police drama offering credible characters |last=Einav |first=Dan |date=10 April 2023 |website=Financial Times |language=English |access-date=1 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230417041618/https://www.ft.com/content/a00d7711-b5e2-4ff9-ad7f-8e262d4edaca |archive-date=17 April 2023 }}</ref> Eilis O'Hanlon of ''[[Irish Independent]]'' wrote "[Series 1 of] ''Blue Lights'' is an unexpectedly tense and engaging addition to the increasingly long list of police dramas on TV".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/television/tv-reviews/northern-irish-cop-drama-blue-lights-lives-up-to-its-great-expectations/42412840.html |title=Northern Irish cop drama Blue Lights lives up to its great expectations |last=O'Hanlon |first=Eilis |date=14 April 2023 |website=Irish Independant |language=English |access-date=1 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530044136/https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/television/tv-reviews/northern-irish-cop-drama-blue-lights-lives-up-to-its-great-expectations/42412840.html |archive-date=30 May 2023 }}</ref> Sean O'Grady of ''[[The Independent]]'' gave the series 3/5 stars, writing: "There are flashes of gallows humour, almost literally, but the gloom is otherwise unrelieved, and frankly is a bit tiresome to watch".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/reviews/blue-lights-review-northern-ireland-b2309227.html |title=Blue Lights review: A tiresome look at policing in Northern Ireland |last=O'Grady |first=Sean |date=5 April 2023 |website=The Independent |language=English |access-date=1 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240415234041/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/reviews/blue-lights-review-northern-ireland-b2309227.html |archive-date=15 April 2024 }}</ref>
+Series one of ''Blue Lights'' received generally positive reviews. On [[review aggregator]] website [[Rotten Tomatoes]], it has an approval rating of 91% based on 11 reviews. The website's critical consensus reads, "Intelligently plotted and well-acted, this gruff low-budget procedural gets the green light for an addictive binge watch".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/blue_lights/s01 |title=Series 1 - Blue Lights |last= |first= |date= |website=Rotten Tomatoes |access-date=7 September 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240501181751/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/blue_lights/s01 |archive-date=1 May 2024 }}</ref> Hugo Rifkind of ''[[The Times]]'' wrote of series one that although "the overall arc is subtle, with none of your ''Line of Duty'' or ''Happy Valley''-style cliffhangers, [...] In place and tone, it’s excellent".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/succession-review-its-bleak-as-hell-but-i-love-it-nhrptvp2c |title=Succession Review − It's bleak as hell but I love it |last=Rifkind |first=Hugo |date=3 April 2023 |website=The Times |access-date=1 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230423060631/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/succession-review-its-bleak-as-hell-but-i-love-it-nhrptvp2c |archive-date=23 April 2023 }}</ref> Carol Midgley of ''The Times'' commented that it was "a complicated, cleverly observed, funny and (at times) horrific drama that is a cut above your average police procedural".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/blue-lights-review-finally-a-police-procedural-that-s-worth-your-time-bcgxh7l67 |title=Blue Lights review − finally, a police procedural that's worth your time |last=Midgley |first=Carol |date=3 April 2023 |website=The Times |access-date=1 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240415112619/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/blue-lights-review-finally-a-police-procedural-that-s-worth-your-time-bcgxh7l67 |archive-date=15 April 2024 }}</ref> Anita Singh of ''[[Daily Telegraph]]'' gave the series five out of five, writing: "There isn’t a duff line or an overcooked scene to be found here. The various storylines knit together into one satisfying conclusion".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2023/03/27/blue-lights-bbc-one-review-belfast-cop-drama-deserves-much-hype/ |title=Blue Lights, review: BBC One's Belfast cop drama deserves as much hype as Line of Duty |last=Singh |first=Anita |date=3 April 2023 |website=Daily Telegraph |access-date=1 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240406103709/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2023/03/27/blue-lights-bbc-one-review-belfast-cop-drama-deserves-much-hype/ |archive-date=6 April 2024 }}</ref> Dan Einav of ''[[Financial Times]]'' wrote: "The series revolves around three new recruits who offer a fresh perspective on a profession that we’ve grown accustomed to seeing through the jaundiced filter of a cynical old-timer."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ft.com/content/a00d7711-b5e2-4ff9-ad7f-8e262d4edaca |title=Blue Lights, BBC1 review — a rare police drama offering credible characters |last=Einav |first=Dan |date=10 April 2023 |website=Financial Times |access-date=1 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230417041618/https://www.ft.com/content/a00d7711-b5e2-4ff9-ad7f-8e262d4edaca |archive-date=17 April 2023 }}</ref> Eilis O'Hanlon of ''[[Irish Independent]]'' wrote "[Series one of] ''Blue Lights'' is an unexpectedly tense and engaging addition to the increasingly long list of police dramas on TV".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/television/tv-reviews/northern-irish-cop-drama-blue-lights-lives-up-to-its-great-expectations/42412840.html |title=Northern Irish cop drama Blue Lights lives up to its great expectations |last=O'Hanlon |first=Eilis |date=14 April 2023 |website=Irish Independent |access-date=1 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530044136/https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/television/tv-reviews/northern-irish-cop-drama-blue-lights-lives-up-to-its-great-expectations/42412840.html |archive-date=30 May 2023 }}</ref> Sean O'Grady of ''[[The Independent]]'' gave the series three out of five, writing: "There are flashes of gallows humour, almost literally, but the gloom is otherwise unrelieved, and frankly is a bit tiresome to watch".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/reviews/blue-lights-review-northern-ireland-b2309227.html |title=Blue Lights review: A tiresome look at policing in Northern Ireland |last=O'Grady |first=Sean |date=5 April 2023 |website=The Independent |access-date=1 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240415234041/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/reviews/blue-lights-review-northern-ireland-b2309227.html |archive-date=15 April 2024 }}</ref>
-Rebecca Nicholson of ''[[The Guardian]]'' called series 1 "much more than just another cop show".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/may/01/blue-lights-this-thrilling-cop-drama-is-one-of-tvs-best-shows |title=Blue Lights: this thrilling cop drama is one of TV’s best shows |last=Nicholson |first=Rebecca |date=1 May 2023 |website=The Guardian |language=English |access-date=1 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231228103433/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/may/01/blue-lights-this-thrilling-cop-drama-is-one-of-tvs-best-shows |archive-date=28 December 2023 }}</ref> Nicholson gave the series 5/5 stars, saying she was "engrossed", describing it as "well-crafted, fantastically tense, thrilling stuff",<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/mar/27/blue-lights-review-dont-sleep-on-this-fantastically-tense-belfast-cop-show |title=Blue Lights review – don’t sleep on this fantastically tense Belfast cop show |last=Nicholson |first=Rebecca |date=27 March 2023 |website=The Guardian |language=English |access-date=4 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/lVE4D |archive-date=16 April 2023 }}</ref> and "one of the best shows of the year".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/apr/24/tv-tonight-excitement-mounts-in-a-superb-ni-cop-show |title=TV tonight: excitement mounts in a superb NI cop show |author=''The Guardian'' writers |date=24 April 2023 |website=The Guardian |language=English |access-date=4 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/nIBdC |archive-date=4 May 2024 }}</ref> Alison Rowat of ''[[The Herald (Glasgow)|The Herald]]'' wrote that: "Though made for relative pennies compared to the glossy offerings of the streaming channels, this Belfast-set police procedural was a class act, one that made a virtue of its location without straying into cliche or settling for neat answers".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/23499820.frankie-boyle-charles-r-windsors-blue-lights-reviewed/ |title=Frankie Boyle; Charles R; The Windsors; Blue Lights, reviewed |last=Rowat |first=Alison |date=6 May 2023 |website=The Herald |language=English |access-date=1 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231004165330/https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/23499820.frankie-boyle-charles-r-windsors-blue-lights-reviewed/ |archive-date=4 October 2023 }}</ref> Alberto Carlos of ''Espinof'' called the series "an excellent police series: it is intense, intelligent and absolutely essential".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espinof.com/criticas/tiene-seis-episodios-absolutamente-imprescindible-acaba-estrenarse-mejores-series-policiacas-2023 |title=It has only 6 episodes and is absolutely essential: one of the best police series in the world has just premiered |last=Carlos |first=Alberto |date=2 October 2023 |website=Espinof |language=Spanish |access-date=1 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240213223036/https://www.espinof.com/criticas/tiene-seis-episodios-absolutamente-imprescindible-acaba-estrenarse-mejores-series-policiacas-2023 |archive-date=13 February 2024 }}</ref> Ian Acheson in ''[[The Spectator]]'' called it a "near perfect cop drama" that "manages to humanise the lives of the men and women in the Police Service of Northern Ireland without mawkishness" that despite "some procedural howlers that have clearly been let loose in the service of the storylines", leaves viewers "in for a rare treat".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/blue-lights-iplayer-bbc-northern-ireland-police-drama/ |title=The BBC's Blue Lights is a near-perfect cop drama |last=Acheson |first=Ian |date=24 April 2023 |website=The Spectator |language=English |access-date=4 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/tLehO#selection-1425.0-1425.49 |archive-date=24 April 2023 }}</ref> Ángel S. Harguindey of ''El Pais'' wrote that "The premise is nothing new, but it has one virtue: its narrative style is uncomplicated and has no need to resort to heroic gestures".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://english.elpais.com/culture/2023-11-15/blue-lights-not-your-average-police-series.html |title=Blue Lights, not your average police series |last=Harguindey |first=Angel S. |date=15 November 2023 |website=El Pais |language=English |access-date=1 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240425030718/https://english.elpais.com/culture/2023-11-15/blue-lights-not-your-average-police-series.html |archive-date=25 April 2024 }}</ref>
+Rebecca Nicholson of ''[[The Guardian]]'' called series one "much more than just another cop show".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/may/01/blue-lights-this-thrilling-cop-drama-is-one-of-tvs-best-shows |title=Blue Lights: this thrilling cop drama is one of TV’s best shows |last=Nicholson |first=Rebecca |date=1 May 2023 |website=The Guardian |access-date=1 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231228103433/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/may/01/blue-lights-this-thrilling-cop-drama-is-one-of-tvs-best-shows |archive-date=28 December 2023 }}</ref> She gave the series five out of five, writing that she was "engrossed", describing it as "well-crafted, fantastically tense, thrilling stuff",<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/mar/27/blue-lights-review-dont-sleep-on-this-fantastically-tense-belfast-cop-show |title=Blue Lights review – don’t sleep on this fantastically tense Belfast cop show |last=Nicholson |first=Rebecca |date=27 March 2023 |website=The Guardian |access-date=4 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230416172555/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/mar/27/blue-lights-review-dont-sleep-on-this-fantastically-tense-belfast-cop-show |archive-date=16 April 2023 }}</ref> and "one of the best shows of the year".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/apr/24/tv-tonight-excitement-mounts-in-a-superb-ni-cop-show |title=TV tonight: excitement mounts in a superb NI cop show |author=''The Guardian'' writers |date=24 April 2023 |website=The Guardian |access-date=4 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240504164516/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/apr/24/tv-tonight-excitement-mounts-in-a-superb-ni-cop-show |archive-date=4 May 2024 }}</ref> Alison Rowat of ''[[The Herald (Glasgow)|The Herald]]'' wrote that: "Though made for relative pennies compared to the glossy offerings of the streaming channels, this Belfast-set police procedural was a class act, one that made a virtue of its location without straying into cliche or settling for neat answers".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/23499820.frankie-boyle-charles-r-windsors-blue-lights-reviewed/ |title=Frankie Boyle; Charles R; The Windsors; Blue Lights, reviewed |last=Rowat |first=Alison |date=6 May 2023 |website=The Herald |access-date=1 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231004165330/https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/23499820.frankie-boyle-charles-r-windsors-blue-lights-reviewed/ |archive-date=4 October 2023 }}</ref> Alberto Carlos of ''Espinof'' called the series "an excellent police series: it is intense, intelligent and absolutely essential".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espinof.com/criticas/tiene-seis-episodios-absolutamente-imprescindible-acaba-estrenarse-mejores-series-policiacas-2023 |title=It has only 6 episodes and is absolutely essential: one of the best police series in the world has just premiered |last=Carlos |first=Alberto |date=2 October 2023 |website=Espinof |language=Spanish |access-date=1 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240213223036/https://www.espinof.com/criticas/tiene-seis-episodios-absolutamente-imprescindible-acaba-estrenarse-mejores-series-policiacas-2023 |archive-date=13 February 2024 }}</ref> Ian Acheson in ''[[The Spectator]]'' called it a "near perfect cop drama" that "manages to humanise the lives of the men and women in the Police Service of Northern Ireland without mawkishness" that despite "some procedural howlers that have clearly been let loose in the service of the storylines", leaves viewers "in for a rare treat".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/blue-lights-iplayer-bbc-northern-ireland-police-drama/ |title=The BBC's Blue Lights is a near-perfect cop drama |last=Acheson |first=Ian |date=24 April 2023 |website=The Spectator |access-date=4 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230424062828/https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/blue-lights-iplayer-bbc-northern-ireland-police-drama/#selection-1425.0-1425.49 |archive-date=24 April 2023 }}</ref> Ángel S. Harguindey of ''El Pais'' wrote that "The premise is nothing new, but it has one virtue: its narrative style is uncomplicated and has no need to resort to heroic gestures".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://english.elpais.com/culture/2023-11-15/blue-lights-not-your-average-police-series.html |title=Blue Lights, not your average police series |last=Harguindey |first=Angel S. |date=15 November 2023 |website=El Pais |access-date=1 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240425030718/https://english.elpais.com/culture/2023-11-15/blue-lights-not-your-average-police-series.html |archive-date=25 April 2024 }}</ref>
-Series 2 of ''Blue Lights'' also received mostly positive reviews. On review aggregator website [[Rotten Tomatoes]], series 2 has an approval rating of 91% based on 11 reviews. The website's critical consensus reads, "A procedural done precisely by the book, Blue Lights' sophomore season adheres to formula but does so with the utmost efficiency and panache".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/blue_lights/s02 |title=Series 2 - Blue Lights |last= |first= |date= |website=Rotten Tomatoes |language=English |access-date=1 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240501182048/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/blue_lights/s02 |archive-date=1 May 2024 }}</ref> Jack Seale of ''[[The Guardian]]'' gave the series 4/5 stars, writing: "Its gift for plain speaking is one thing that makes ''Blue Lights'' such rewarding drama, but the difficult political truths are softened by a weakness for that staple of escapist emergency-services soaps, the workplace romance".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/apr/15/blue-lights-series-two-review-last-years-breakout-police-hit-is-as-beautifully-tense-as-ever |title=Blue Lights series two review – last year’s breakout police hit is as beautifully tense as ever |last=Seale |first=Jack |date=15 April 2024 |website=The Guardian |language=English |access-date=2 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240429204412/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/apr/15/blue-lights-series-two-review-last-years-breakout-police-hit-is-as-beautifully-tense-as-ever |archive-date=29 April 2024 }}</ref> Nick Hilton of ''[[The Independent]]'' gave the series 3/5 stars, writing "As generic fare goes, Blue Lights is of the highest order. The acting and writing is first rate, and Brooke, particularly, is a terrific leading lady".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/reviews/blue-lights-series-2-review-episode-1-b2527885.html |title=Blue Lights review: Series two may be first rate, but there are still too many police dramas on TV |last=Hilton |first=Nick |date=15 April 2024 |website=The Independent |language=English |access-date=2 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240418124335/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/reviews/blue-lights-series-2-review-episode-1-b2527885.html |archive-date=18 April 2024 }}</ref> Chris Wasser of ''[[Irish Independent]]'' wrote "Just like last time, it’s all building towards something big, something explosive, even. And, just like last time, Blue Lights remembers the importance of a nail-biting set-piece".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/television/tv-reviews/blue-lights-review-its-an-undeniably-watchable-cop-show-but-lets-not-pretend-its-the-best-thing-on-tv/a2106304967.html |title=Blue Lights review: It’s an undeniably watchable cop show – but let’s not pretend it’s the best thing on TV |last=Wasser |first=Chris |date=18 April 2024 |website=Irish Independent |language=English |access-date=2 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240429103931/https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/television/tv-reviews/blue-lights-review-its-an-undeniably-watchable-cop-show-but-lets-not-pretend-its-the-best-thing-on-tv/a2106304967.html |archive-date=29 April 2024 }}</ref> Benji Wilson of ''[[Daily Telegraph]]'' gave the series 5/5 stars, writing "It doesn’t take long, however, for series two to catch light, and once it does it is irresistible".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2024/04/15/blue-lights-bbc-one-review-series-2-britains-best-drama/ |title=Blue Lights, series 2, review: British TV’s best crime drama returns in the finest of health |last=Wilson |first=Benji |date=20 April 2024 |website=Daily Telegraph |language=English |access-date=2 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240430134322/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2024/04/15/blue-lights-bbc-one-review-series-2-britains-best-drama/ |archive-date=30 April 2024 }}</ref> Dan Einav of ''[[Financial Times]]'' gave the second series 4/5 stars, writing: "Declan Lawn and Adam Patterson take time to contextualise their fiction within the very real tragedies of Belfast’s past and present. But Blue Lights is neither insistently political nor wearingly downbeat".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ft.com/content/be9538b2-5368-41bd-bc81-defc4149c044 |title=Blue Lights series 2 review — engrossing and authentic police drama returns to BBC1 |last=Einav |first=Dan |date=22 April 2024 |website=Financial Times |language=English |access-date=2 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240417221159/https://www.ft.com/content/be9538b2-5368-41bd-bc81-defc4149c044 |archive-date=17 April 2024 }}</ref> Carol Midgley of ''[[The Times]]'' wrote that "The story is still warming up at this stage, but this is dense, rich soil and these are the perfect writers to till it".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/blue-lights-bbc-review-police-drama-belfast-5x9q26wkd |title=Blue Lights review – These Belfast cops still feel wholly authentic |last=Midgley |first=Carol |date=22 April 2024 |website=The Times |language=English |access-date=2 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240423112616/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/blue-lights-bbc-review-police-drama-belfast-5x9q26wkd |archive-date=23 April 2024 }}</ref>
+Series two also received mostly positive reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has an approval rating of 93% based on 14 reviews. The website's critical consensus reads, "A procedural done precisely by the book, Blue Lights' sophomore season adheres to formula but does so with the utmost efficiency and panache".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/blue_lights/s02 |title=Series 2 - Blue Lights |last= |first= |date= |website=Rotten Tomatoes |access-date=7 September 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240501182048/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/blue_lights/s02 |archive-date=1 May 2024 }}</ref> Jack Seale of ''[[The Guardian]]'' gave the series four out of five, writing: "Its gift for plain speaking is one thing that makes ''Blue Lights'' such rewarding drama, but the difficult political truths are softened by a weakness for that staple of escapist emergency-services soaps, the workplace romance".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/apr/15/blue-lights-series-two-review-last-years-breakout-police-hit-is-as-beautifully-tense-as-ever |title=Blue Lights series two review – last year’s breakout police hit is as beautifully tense as ever |last=Seale |first=Jack |date=15 April 2024 |website=The Guardian |access-date=2 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240429204412/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/apr/15/blue-lights-series-two-review-last-years-breakout-police-hit-is-as-beautifully-tense-as-ever |archive-date=29 April 2024 }}</ref> Nick Hilton of ''[[The Independent]]'' gave the series three out of five, writing "As generic fare goes, Blue Lights is of the highest order. The acting and writing is first rate, and Brooke, particularly, is a terrific leading lady".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/reviews/blue-lights-series-2-review-episode-1-b2527885.html |title=Blue Lights review: Series two may be first rate, but there are still too many police dramas on TV |last=Hilton |first=Nick |date=15 April 2024 |website=The Independent |access-date=2 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240418124335/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/reviews/blue-lights-series-2-review-episode-1-b2527885.html |archive-date=18 April 2024 }}</ref> Chris Wasser of ''[[Irish Independent]]'' wrote "Just like last time, it’s all building towards something big, something explosive, even. And, just like last time, Blue Lights remembers the importance of a nail-biting set-piece".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/television/tv-reviews/blue-lights-review-its-an-undeniably-watchable-cop-show-but-lets-not-pretend-its-the-best-thing-on-tv/a2106304967.html |title=Blue Lights review: It’s an undeniably watchable cop show – but let’s not pretend it’s the best thing on TV |last=Wasser |first=Chris |date=18 April 2024 |website=Irish Independent |access-date=2 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240429103931/https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/television/tv-reviews/blue-lights-review-its-an-undeniably-watchable-cop-show-but-lets-not-pretend-its-the-best-thing-on-tv/a2106304967.html |archive-date=29 April 2024 }}</ref> Benji Wilson of ''[[Daily Telegraph]]'' gave the series five out of five, writing "It doesn’t take long, however, for series two to catch light, and once it does it is irresistible".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2024/04/15/blue-lights-bbc-one-review-series-2-britains-best-drama/ |title=Blue Lights, series 2, review: British TV’s best crime drama returns in the finest of health |last=Wilson |first=Benji |date=20 April 2024 |website=Daily Telegraph |access-date=2 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240430134322/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2024/04/15/blue-lights-bbc-one-review-series-2-britains-best-drama/ |archive-date=30 April 2024 }}</ref> Dan Einav of ''[[Financial Times]]'' gave the second series four out of five, writing: "Declan Lawn and Adam Patterson take time to contextualise their fiction within the very real tragedies of Belfast’s past and present. But Blue Lights is neither insistently political nor wearingly downbeat".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ft.com/content/be9538b2-5368-41bd-bc81-defc4149c044 |title=Blue Lights series 2 review — engrossing and authentic police drama returns to BBC1 |last=Einav |first=Dan |date=22 April 2024 |website=Financial Times |access-date=2 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240417221159/https://www.ft.com/content/be9538b2-5368-41bd-bc81-defc4149c044 |archive-date=17 April 2024 }}</ref> Carol Midgley of ''[[The Times]]'' wrote that "The story is still warming up at this stage, but this is dense, rich soil and these are the perfect writers to till it".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/blue-lights-bbc-review-police-drama-belfast-5x9q26wkd |title=Blue Lights review – These Belfast cops still feel wholly authentic |last=Midgley |first=Carol |date=22 April 2024 |website=The Times |access-date=2 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240423112616/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/blue-lights-bbc-review-police-drama-belfast-5x9q26wkd |archive-date=23 April 2024 }}</ref>
-Hugo Rifkind of ''The Times'' wrote that "You do occasionally get the feeling that Belfast only has in it about eight police, who all have to do far too many jobs, like Mrs Rabbit. Still, it’s heavy with mood and has a streak of outraged social politics at its core".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/baby-reindeer-review-what-if-you-had-a-stalker-and-liked-it-hl0tk2m2t |title=Baby Reindeer review – What if you had a stalker... and liked it? |last=Rifkind |first=Hugo |date=22 April 2024 |website=The Times |language=English |access-date=2 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240501204912/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/baby-reindeer-review-what-if-you-had-a-stalker-and-liked-it-hl0tk2m2t |archive-date=1 May 2024 }}</ref> Camilla Long of ''The Times'' criticised the second series, writing: "The writers saw this, caught our sense of paranoia, creating a horribly plausible show. But the new series doesn’t feel like that any more. It mostly feels like a police sitcom with all the jokes taken out".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/what-a-shame-blue-lights-has-become-a-peak-millennial-cop-show-d73hmt5mv |title=What a shame Blue Lights is now a peak millennial cop show |last=Long |first=Camilla |date=22 April 2024 |website=The Times |language=English |access-date=2 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240501073431/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/what-a-shame-blue-lights-has-become-a-peak-millennial-cop-show-d73hmt5mv |archive-date=1 May 2024 }}</ref> Helen Hawkins of ''[[The Arts Desk]]'' gave the series 4/5 stars, saying: "The first season of Blue Nights was so close to police procedural perfection, it would be hard for season two to reach the same heights. Overall, it doesn’t, though there are still special moments".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theartsdesk.com/tv/blue-lights-series-2-bbc-one-review-still-our-best-cop-show-despite-slacker-structure |title=Blue Lights Series 2, BBC One review - still our best cop show despite a slacker structure |last=Hawkins |first=Helen |date=23 April 2024 |website=The Arts Desk |language=English |access-date=2 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240430131954/https://www.theartsdesk.com/tv/blue-lights-series-2-bbc-one-review-still-our-best-cop-show-despite-slacker-structure |archive-date=30 April 2024 }}</ref> Aidan Smith of ''[[The Scotsman]]'' wrote that "We could be watching ''The Wire''; Blue Lights is that gritty and aspires to be that great".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/film-and-tv/aidan-smiths-tv-week-blue-lights-is-as-gritty-as-the-wire-and-almost-as-great-4595700 |title=Aidan Smith's TV week: Blue Lights is as gritty as The Wire and almost as great |last=Smith |first=Aidan |date=23 April 2024 |website=Scotsman |language=English |access-date=2 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240502100310/https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/film-and-tv/aidan-smiths-tv-week-blue-lights-is-as-gritty-as-the-wire-and-almost-as-great-4595700 |archive-date=2 May 2024 }}</ref> Alison Rowat of ''[[The Herald (Glasgow)|The Herald]]'' wrote that "The blending of hard-edged and soft is one of the reasons for the show’s success. We want a police procedural set in today’s Belfast to keep it real, but not too real".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/homenews/24261523.blue-lights-police-drama-roars-back-second-series/ |title=Greg Hemphill's new Glasgow comedy Dinosaur fails to catch light |last=Rowat |first=Alison |date=23 April 2024 |website=The Herald |language=English |access-date=2 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240428141441/https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/homenews/24261523.blue-lights-police-drama-roars-back-second-series/ |archive-date=28 April 2024 }}</ref>
+Hugo Rifkind of ''The Times'' wrote that "You do occasionally get the feeling that Belfast only has in it about eight police, who all have to do far too many jobs, like Mrs Rabbit. Still, it’s heavy with mood and has a streak of outraged social politics at its core".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/baby-reindeer-review-what-if-you-had-a-stalker-and-liked-it-hl0tk2m2t |title=Baby Reindeer review – What if you had a stalker... and liked it? |last=Rifkind |first=Hugo |date=22 April 2024 |website=The Times |access-date=2 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240501204912/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/baby-reindeer-review-what-if-you-had-a-stalker-and-liked-it-hl0tk2m2t |archive-date=1 May 2024 }}</ref> Camilla Long of ''The Times'' criticised the second series, writing: "The writers saw this, caught our sense of paranoia, creating a horribly plausible show. But the new series doesn’t feel like that any more. It mostly feels like a police sitcom with all the jokes taken out".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/what-a-shame-blue-lights-has-become-a-peak-millennial-cop-show-d73hmt5mv |title=What a shame Blue Lights is now a peak millennial cop show |last=Long |first=Camilla |date=22 April 2024 |website=The Times |access-date=2 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240501073431/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/what-a-shame-blue-lights-has-become-a-peak-millennial-cop-show-d73hmt5mv |archive-date=1 May 2024 }}</ref> Helen Hawkins of ''[[The Arts Desk]]'' gave the series four out of five, saying: "The first season of Blue Nights was so close to police procedural perfection, it would be hard for season two to reach the same heights. Overall, it doesn’t, though there are still special moments".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theartsdesk.com/tv/blue-lights-series-2-bbc-one-review-still-our-best-cop-show-despite-slacker-structure |title=Blue Lights Series 2, BBC One review - still our best cop show despite a slacker structure |last=Hawkins |first=Helen |date=23 April 2024 |website=The Arts Desk |access-date=2 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240430131954/https://www.theartsdesk.com/tv/blue-lights-series-2-bbc-one-review-still-our-best-cop-show-despite-slacker-structure |archive-date=30 April 2024 }}</ref> Aidan Smith of ''[[The Scotsman]]'' wrote that "We could be watching ''The Wire''; Blue Lights is that gritty and aspires to be that great".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/film-and-tv/aidan-smiths-tv-week-blue-lights-is-as-gritty-as-the-wire-and-almost-as-great-4595700 |title=Aidan Smith's TV week: Blue Lights is as gritty as The Wire and almost as great |last=Smith |first=Aidan |date=23 April 2024 |website=Scotsman |access-date=2 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240502100310/https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/film-and-tv/aidan-smiths-tv-week-blue-lights-is-as-gritty-as-the-wire-and-almost-as-great-4595700 |archive-date=2 May 2024 }}</ref> Alison Rowat of ''[[The Herald (Glasgow)|The Herald]]'' wrote that "The blending of hard-edged and soft is one of the reasons for the show’s success. We want a police procedural set in today’s Belfast to keep it real, but not too real".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/homenews/24261523.blue-lights-police-drama-roars-back-second-series/ |title=Greg Hemphill's new Glasgow comedy Dinosaur fails to catch light |last=Rowat |first=Alison |date=23 April 2024 |website=The Herald  |access-date=2 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240428141441/https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/homenews/24261523.blue-lights-police-drama-roars-back-second-series/ |archive-date=28 April 2024 }}</ref>
 ===Awards and nominations===
@@ Line 280: / Line 280: @@
 ! Nominee(s)
 ! Result
-! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
+! {{Ref heading}}
 |-
 | rowspan="3" | 2023
@@ Line 287: / Line 287: @@
 | ''Blue Lights''
 | {{nom}}
-| align="center" | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/tv/nta-2023-blue-lights-loses-27655778.amp |title=NTA 2023: Blue Lights loses out on Best New Drama award to Netflix show Wednesday |last=McLaughlin |first=Sophie |date=6 September 2023 |website=Belfast Live |language=English |access-date=4 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/JXkxu |archive-date=4 May 2024 }}</ref>
+| align="center" | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/tv/nta-2023-blue-lights-loses-27655778.amp |title=NTA 2023: Blue Lights loses out on Best New Drama award to Netflix show Wednesday |last=McLaughlin |first=Sophie |date=6 September 2023 |website=Belfast Live |language=English |access-date=4 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240504160340/https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/tv/nta-2023-blue-lights-loses-27655778.amp |archive-date=4 May 2024 }}</ref>
 |-
 | ''[[TV Choice]]'' Awards
@@ Line 293: / Line 293: @@
 | ''Blue Lights''
 | {{nom}}
-| align="center" | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/arts-and-culture/film-and-tv/tv-choice-awards-nominees-2024-all-creatures-great-and-small-happy-valley-and-james-martin-all-up-for-awards-4395456 |title=TV Choice Awards nominees 2024: All Creatures Great and Small, Happy Valley and James Martin all up for awards |last=Pritchard |first=Johnathan |date=3 November 2023 |website=Yorkshire Post |language=English |access-date=4 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/x044M |archive-date=4 May 2024 }}</ref>
+| align="center" | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/arts-and-culture/film-and-tv/tv-choice-awards-nominees-2024-all-creatures-great-and-small-happy-valley-and-james-martin-all-up-for-awards-4395456 |title=TV Choice Awards nominees 2024: All Creatures Great and Small, Happy Valley and James Martin all up for awards |last=Pritchard |first=Johnathan |date=3 November 2023 |website=Yorkshire Post |language=English |access-date=4 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240504160711/https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/arts-and-culture/film-and-tv/tv-choice-awards-nominees-2024-all-creatures-great-and-small-happy-valley-and-james-martin-all-up-for-awards-4395456 |archive-date=4 May 2024 }}</ref>
 |-
 | [[Royal Television Society Craft & Design Awards#2023|Royal Television Society Craft & Design Awards]]
@@ Line 299: / Line 299: @@
 | Peggy Koretzky
 | {{nom}}
-| align="center" | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://rts.org.uk/award/rts-craft-design-awards-2023 |title=RTS CRAFT & DESIGN AWARDS 2023 |author=Royal Television Society |date=2023 |website=Royal Television Society |language=English |access-date=4 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/DvlJv |archive-date=4 May 2024 }}</ref>
+| align="center" | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://rts.org.uk/award/rts-craft-design-awards-2023 |title=RTS CRAFT & DESIGN AWARDS 2023 |author=Royal Television Society |date=2023 |website=Royal Television Society |language=English |access-date=4 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240504161413/https://rts.org.uk/award/rts-craft-design-awards-2023 |archive-date=4 May 2024 }}</ref>
 |-
 | rowspan="4" | 2024
@@ Line 306: / Line 306: @@
 | ''Blue Lights''
 | {{nom}}
-| rowspan="4" align="center" | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2024/03/irish-film-tv-awards-nominees-2024-cillian-murphy-andrew-scott-lies-we-tell-kin-full-list-1235858253/ |title=Cillian Murphy, Andrew Scott Among Irish Film & TV Awards Nominees; ‘Lies We Tell’ Leads Feature Categories – Full List |last=Tartaglione |first=Nancy |date=14 March 2024 |website=Deadline |language=English |access-date=4 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/qEU3J |archive-date=4 May 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/2024-irish-film-television-awards-winners-cillian-murphy-1235871993/ |title=Cillian Murphy, ‘Kin’ Season 2 Among Irish Film & Television Awards Winners |last=Szalai |first=Georg |date=20 April 2024 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=English |access-date=4 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/u6wHL |archive-date=4 May 2024 }}</ref>
+| rowspan="4" align="center" | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2024/03/irish-film-tv-awards-nominees-2024-cillian-murphy-andrew-scott-lies-we-tell-kin-full-list-1235858253/ |title=Cillian Murphy, Andrew Scott Among Irish Film & TV Awards Nominees; ‘Lies We Tell’ Leads Feature Categories – Full List |last=Tartaglione |first=Nancy |date=14 March 2024 |website=Deadline |language=English |access-date=4 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240504161905/https://deadline.com/2024/03/irish-film-tv-awards-nominees-2024-cillian-murphy-andrew-scott-lies-we-tell-kin-full-list-1235858253/ |archive-date=4 May 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/2024-irish-film-television-awards-winners-cillian-murphy-1235871993/ |title=Cillian Murphy, ‘Kin’ Season 2 Among Irish Film & Television Awards Winners |last=Szalai |first=Georg |date=20 April 2024 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=English |access-date=4 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240504162630/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/2024-irish-film-television-awards-winners-cillian-murphy-1235871993/ |archive-date=4 May 2024 }}</ref>
 |-
 | Best Script
@@ Line 330: / Line 330: @@
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Blue Lights}}
-[[Category:Blue Lights (2023 TV series)]]
 [[Category:2020s British crime drama television series]]
 [[Category:2023 British television series debuts]]