Bloodlands returns to Portaferry

Bloodlands returns to Portaferry

2 March 2022

PORTAFERRY will be featured in the second series of James Nesbitt’s local crime drama series, Bloodlands.

The actor reprises his role as DCI Tom Brannick, the morally challenged senior police officer who viewers saw shoot dead character Adam Corry, played by Ian McElhinney in the first series.

Photographer Fran Kennedy happened to catch one of the early scenes being shot for series two last Tuesday evening.

She said: “I walked to the shoreline at Portaferry to catch the sunset and was lucky to see James Nesbitt and co filming for the second series of Bloodlands.”

The Cold Feet actor is happy to be doing a second series which launched with an average of 8.2 million viewers, and was Northern Ireland’s most watched BBC drama launch on record.

Filming will once again take place in Belfast and the surrounding area, including a return to Strangford Lough.

This series welcomes returning cast members including Charlene McKenna of Peaky Blinders fame, Lorcan Cranitch, Lola Petticrew and Chris Walley.

Former Ballykissangel actor Victoria Smurfit will take on the new role of Olivia, an enigmatic widow at the centre of Brannick’s latest case whose intentions may be far from innocent.

Nesbitt said: “It’s brilliant to be back filming in Northern Ireland and reunited with the gang for the second series of Bloodlands. I couldn’t be happier to be welcoming Victoria to the cast, having first worked with her over 20 years ago. I can’t wait for audiences to see what’s next for the cunning and complex Tom Brannick.”

Victoria remarked: ”I’m beyond excited to be joining the cast of Bloodlands and to be working with Jimmy again. I adored watching the first series!”

Writer Chris Brandon said he was excited for another series of Bloodlands and reuniting with the “talented cast and crew” in Northern Ireland. 

“I can’t wait to watch James Nesbitt as Tom Brannick again, as he navigates the thrills and surprises of this new story, and I’m delighted to welcome Victoria Smurfit to the drama,” he said.

Produced by Line of Duty’s Jed Mercurio, the storyline follows the murder of a crooked accountant, which unravels a trail of greed that threatens to expose Brannick’s identity as legendary assassin, Goliath.