After much anticipation, Hope Street storms back into our TV screens this week with its highly-anticipated third series and trust me when I say it doesn’t disappoint.
TheBBCOne daytime drama, whichcentres on the lives of residents and the police departmentof seaside townPort Devine, has proven quite the success all around the world since its debut over two years ago and it’s showing no signs of slowing down.
This year, the crimes are stronger, the characters as witty as ever and the drama is non-stop, with brand new storylines that threaten the very foundation upon which the series was built.
‘It’s agreatseason!’ enthused series star CiaránMcMenamin, who plays Inspector Finn O’Hare, when Metro caught up with him for a chat last year during a special press day.
‘There are some really off-the-wall – but in a good way – storylines. I really enjoyed last year with the PTSD storyline so I was expecting to have a backseat but they’ve written me a brilliant family drama.’
As Ciaránsaid, Finn is kept busier than ever this season and, not just because of the demands that come with being a police inspector, but because he’s left reeling when he finds out that for Concepta (Bríd Brennan) isn’t actually his biological mum!
‘It would’ve been a decent enough story to find out that one of your parents wasn’t really your parent but to have a twist like this is pretty epic!,’ exclaimed the actor. ‘The whole revelation of who Finn’s dad is is great too.’
It’s not just Finn who takes centre stage in series three as much loved policeman Callum McCarthy (Niall Wright) is given much more to do, and even finds love with new detective Jo Lipton (Karen Hassan).
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‘It’s a bit on and off and there is a bit of chasing to be done but for Callum he’s always been chasing women in authority and this is no different,’ teased actor Niall. ‘Jo is everything to him and you’ll see how that plays out across the series.’
Jo arrives in Port Devine at the beginning of the third series and, much like Leila Hussain (Amara Karan) and Al Quinn (Stephen Hagan) before her, she’s got a big secret.
‘She can be quite rude!,’ laughed actress Karen, discussing her character. ‘And she’s very serious about her job. Very much an outsider when she arrives in Port Devine and she’s not trying to make any friends.
‘Jo does have a secret reason for why she’s here, but she keeps it close to her chest. But Hope Street gets its hooks into her and she starts to soften.’
Jo isn’t the only new face joining the police department during the series in question, as newcomer Ryan Power (Finnian Garbutt) is the latest recruit, meaning that Callum isn’t the ‘cub’ anymore.
‘Ryan is young and ambitious,’ revealed Finnian. ‘He’s a really good police officer but he’s also really naïve. He’s headstrong and makes a lot of decisions without thinking them all the way through. I think you’ll enjoy him!
‘He’s very well-written and there’s a lot of nuances to his character as well.He’s got his head right but he needs to focus! He’s very sensitive – once you scratch the surface, there’s a lot more to him.’
Marlene, meanwhile, is back in her element, though star Kerri Quinn reckons that her character takes something of a step back during the extended third season to facilitate other characters’ introduction.
But that’s not to say she doesn’t have a very intriguing storyline of her own!
‘At the end of series two, Marlene just met Ash so we go down that route [in the new season],’ explained Kerri. ‘She’s new to serious relationships but they fall in love. Barry [Pettigrew] is incorporated into that storyline too, and all that stuff plays out really lovely.’
Shay, Finn’s son, also has more of a role this time around, having landed himself a job at The Commodore, working alongside Taylor (Sade Malone), with the two acting as confidantes for several of Port Devine’s regulars, offering words of wisdom to those who need it.
And trust me when I say there are many in need of advice this season!
‘It’s been really cool as I get to do scenes with characters I never got to do scenes with before,’ explained Louis, who has received rave reviews for his starring role in the West End’s Stranger Things: The First Shadow.
‘There’s a really exciting character that comes into the show and Shay gets completely enamoured by him. Finn has things to say about it!’
With major twists, intriguing new dynamics and some truly powerful discussions on important topics throughout, Hope Street’s third series is certainly not to be missed.
Hope Street returns Friday March 15 at 1:45pm on BBC One. Watch the whole of the third series on BBC iPlayer now.
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