BBC confirms air date for Blue Lights season 4 as hit police drama returns

It's been a year since we last checked in with the PSNI team in Blue Lights, but now the show is returning, with a release date having been set for season 4.

The new batch of episodes will officially arrive as a box set on BBC iPlayer at 6am on Tuesday 29 September, while the first episode will also air that day at 9pm on BBC One.

The synopsis for season 4 says: "Three years into their jobs as response officers, Constables Grace Ellis, Tommy Foster, and Annie Conlon are operating at their limit, facing a new threat on the streets that the police can barely control.

"Meanwhile, the murder trial of Gerry Cliff exposes a dangerous and long-buried secret that leads to chaos both inside the police and across the criminal underworld. As they grapple with big decisions about their future, Grace, Tommy and Annie must find the courage to face the greatest threat they have ever encountered: the truth."

The cast for season 4 includes Siân Brooke (Sherlock), Martin McCann (Hostage), Katherine Devlin (The Day Of The Jackal), Nathan Braniff, Joanne Crawford (Outlander: Blood of my Blood), Andi Osho (The Sandman), Frank Blake (Say Nothing) and Abigail McGibbon (The Power of Parker).

Also in the cast are Dearbháile McKinney, Neil Keery (How To Get To Heaven From Belfast), Andrea Irvine (Call The Midwife), Cathy Tyson (Dune: Prophecy), Hannah McClean (Malpractice), Jonathan Harden (Time), Michael Smiley (Bad Sisters) and, in a special one-off episode return, Richard Dormer (Game of Thrones), whose character Gerry Cliff was killed off in season 1.

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After season 4 has aired, it will be the first time in a while that the show's future is uncertain. Seasons 3 and 4 were commissioned at the same time, and that renewal will be coming to an end with these episodes.

Whatever the case, Braniff and Keery recently teased that season 4 will be the best one yet, when speaking with Radio Times - meaning there is still plenty to be excited about.

Blue Lights season 4 will air on BBC One and iPlayer from Tuesday 29 September 2026.

Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.

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Authors

James Hibbs is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering programmes across both streaming platforms and linear channels. He previously worked in PR, first for a B2B agency and subsequently for international TV production company Fremantle. He possesses a BA in English and Theatre Studies and an NCTJ Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.