If you love a good crime drama, you need to watch This City Is Ours on Stan immediately.

If you're craving a gritty crime drama with a distinctly British edge, make room on your watchlist for This City Is Ours.

BBC's breakout hit of 2025 is set to make waves in Australia, streaming exclusively on Stan from June 4.

Set in the rain-soaked streets of Liverpool, This City Is Ours plunges viewers into the city's criminal underworld. The series revolves around the Phelan family, whose criminal empire has long dominated the city's drug trade.

But when patriarch Ronnie Phelan announces his retirement, the complexities of gangland hierarchy and family loyalty come into play.

This City Is Ours feels a bit like Liverpool's answer to The Sopranos — a dark, stylish, and unflinching look at organised crime, but with a uniquely British sensibility.

Watch the trailer below. Post continues after video.

This City Is Ours was created and written by The Last Kingdom's Stephen Butchard, who also serves as executive producer for the series.

The series boasts an impressive ensemble cast, led by BAFTA-winner and Game of Thrones star, Sean Bean, as family patriarch Ronnie. The cast includes Time actor James Nelson-Joyce as Ronnie's right-hand man, Michael, and This Is Going To Hurt actress, Hannah Onslow, as his partner, Diana.

Ahead of the Stan premiere, Hannah Onslow spoke to us about working on the series and her excitement about collaborating with such an impressive cast of British acting greats.

Sean Bean leads the crime drama. Image: Stan.

"I'm a big fan of everyone in the cast. I can remember at the readthrough, I was looking at the scripts and then glancing around the room and thinking 'How lucky am I?'. To be working with these people, and with this script — I am absolutely delighted," she told Mamamia in a statement.

"I think I can speak for everyone when I say this, but we all really loved this job, and each other. We also got to kick off filming in Spain, so that helped!"

She joked that waiting for the script for the next episode filled the entire cast with the same level of suspense that viewers experience watching it. "A lot of the cast agree that waiting for each new script was in itself a cliffhanging situation," Hannah said.

"I've never been on a set where the crew has also been so invested in the story. I'm pretty sure there was a sweepstake going at one point and you had to put your predictions in! The fact that the crew were so invested, says it all really."

When she first read the script, Hannah was hooked. "I loved the scripts. I think we all feel that what [writer and creator] Stephen has written — this world and the characters he's created — feel so specific, rich and very much their own unique thing," she said.

She was immediately drawn to her unique character. "Diana has such depth, I really wanted to tell her story. She isn't like any other role I've read or seen on screen before," Hannah said.

Hannah Onslow enjoyed developing Diana as a character. Image: Stan.

"She had to grow up very quickly. She hasn't had a typical childhood, Diana has a dark history… she hasn't had a 'normal' life, but any girl could be Diana and that is one of the things I think that is so clever about how Stephen has written her."

A big part of the role was the London native nailing Liverpool's classic Scouse accent. "I love the accent so much, I think it's gorgeous. I did a lot of work on it, I had a wonderful accent coach, Helen Ashton, who was always there if I needed her and she helped me with the real specificities of the accent," she recalled.

"I also had a set of recordings on my phone and had my own catalogue of videos that I collated, but luckily I was just around so many scousers on set, so if there was anything I was struggling with, help was always on hand, and scousers will always tell you the truth! It also helped just being in Liverpool and soaking it all up. It's an amazing city."

The actress was especially attracted to her character's complex dynamic with her partner Michael, played by James Nelson-Joyce.

"Her and Michael's relationship is very strong, they really do love each other so much. They are both at a big turning point in their life and want to start a family together. I don't think Diana knew she could ever feel this way about someone, and I think the same goes for Michael," she reflected.

Hannah Onslow stars opposite James Nelson-Joyce. Image: Stan.

"Their relationship is really special, beautifully written and it has been a complete joy to do it with James. Stephen writes with great depth and sensitivity. For me, the show is all about the relationships, and Stephen has written them with such detail, his writing is incredibly perceptive."

After airing on BBC One in March, the series garnered glowing reviews. The first season delivered eight gripping episodes and a second season has already been greenlit — so it's the perfect time to get hooked now that Aussies can experience This City Is Ours on Stan.

"It is a drama that I can honestly say I have never seen on television before. There is something for everyone and I think although the show heavily explores a really brutal world, it also has enormous heart," Hannah said.

"Everyone should expect the unexpected."

This City Is Ours is streaming exclusively on Stan from June 4, 2025.

Feature image: Stan.