Veteran actor Sean Bean has high hopes for the new BBC drama This City Is Ours with the 65-year-old full of praise for the crime show before its premiere.
The drama tells the story of Michael (played by James Nelson-Joyce), a man who for all of his adult life has been involved in organised crime.
However, things change for him when Michael falls in love for the first time in his life.
A BBC synopsis details: "He sees a future: something to win and something to lose - Diana (Hannah Onslow).
Sean Bean seems to have high hopes for new BBC drama, This City Is Ours
BBC
"This City is Ours tells the story of Michael and Diana's love affair, set against the disintegration of Michael’s crime gang.
"For years, together with his friend Ronnie (Sean Bean), Michael has successfully been bringing cocaine into the city and beyond, directly from Colombia; but when a shipment goes missing, then he knows their kingdom is under attack."
Speaking to the broadcaster about starring in the new show, Bean touched on the way many of the cast had worked together before.
"There was great camaraderie, individually and collectively," he reflected.
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BBC's This City Is Ours stars Sean Bean as Ronnie
BBC
The actor continued: "I have been fortunate to work with some of the lads before, and [writer] Stephen Butchard is someone I hugely respect and admire. I can promise fans of crime dramas that this series takes it to another level.
"That is what appealed to me when I first read the scripts. By page nine I knew I wanted to be Ronnie.
"He is someone eyeing up retirement, just as a rival gang organisation are preparing to attack.
"This is a story about a family on the verge of being destroyed by ambition, pride and greed."
His enthusiasm for the drama seems to indicate there's scope for future episodes, following in the footsteps of other BBC crime dramas, such as Line of Duty, which enjoyed six series.
This City Is Ours makes its debut on screens on Sunday
BBC
"It is a special place and has been good to me and it has a special place in my heart," he went on.
"The people welcome you with open arms and that makes things so much easier for any production crew.
"They are respectful that you have a job to do and let you get on with it."
The full series of This City is Ours launch will launch on BBC iPlayer from 6am on Sunday, March 23, with the series beginning its weekly 9pm BBC One that night.
