“A gem of a police drama”: The BBC’s “adored” crime show, Hope Street, is back with an “even better” series 5

Is there anything more satisfying than cosying up on the sofa with a brilliant crime drama to get stuck into? If you’re nodding your head, we have some news you’re going to like, as the BBC’s adored series, Hope Street, is officially making its way back to our screens. Entering its fifth series, it’s been hailed a gem of a police drama – and, having had a sneak peek at the details, we have a feeling it’s about to get even better.

If you’re not familiar with the series, it’s set in the fictional town of Port Devine, where the local police team have a plethora of crimes to solve. Series 4 saw Tara Lynne O’Neill join the cast as police inspector Eve Dunlop, and she had quite the job on her hands, from a kidnapping to a hit and run to the theft of a baby. Now, the series is back with two fresh faces and “a bang”, according to producer Paul Marquess.

Ahead of series 5’s arrival on our screens, here’s everything you need to know about the beloved police drama’s return, including the plot, cast and how to watch it.

What is Hope Street about?

Filmed in Donaghadee, on Northern Ireland’s coastline, the crime series first aired on BBC One Northern Ireland in 2021, before being broadcast on BBC One. The drama is set in the fictional town of Port Devine, a close-knit community where the local police team solves a crime in each episode.

Series 1 focused on the mysterious arrival of Detective Leila Hussain (Amara Karan), an English officer, who found herself working alongside Inspector Finn O'Hare (Ciarán McMenamin) – and at the heart of small-town mysteries and long-buried secrets. Series 2 saw the arrival of a former colleague of Finn's, DC Al Quinn (Stephen Hagan), who was sent to town as part of an undercover operation, and found himself in a crisis when his daughter was caught up in the theft of an ATM.

The third series introduced us to a new detective constable, Jo Lipton (Karen Hassan) - the latest detective in the revolving door of the Port Devine police station – alongside new police constable Ryan Power (Finnian Garbutt). Aside from all the crime-solving, there was romance on the cards for Jo, who won the heart of Callum McCarthy (Niall Wright), and it was all going on for Finn, who learnt that mum Concepta (Brid Brennan) wasn’t his biological mum.

And yes, series 4 brought us another cast shake-up with the arrival of Tara Lynne O’Neill as police inspector Eve Dunlop, who had everything from a kidnapping to a hit and run to the theft of a baby to deal with. Sound dramatic? It was!

What will happen in Hope Street series 5?

The new eight-part series will introduce us to two fresh faces to Port Devine - Constable Donal Gallagher (played by Cameron Cuffe) and Doctor Sasha Cookson (played by Jenn Murray). According to the BBC, confident and charming, Donal is a well-known local rugby player, whose career was cut short by injury. As the newest member of the Port Devine Police department, Donal has found a new vigour for life and is soon set to make his mark.

Meanwhile Sasha Cookson, a local doctor, has recently taken over her father’s GP surgery. Sasha is direct and straight talking, which rubs some people up the wrong way, but it’s not a problem for Donal. Even though he’s nursing a recently broken heart, when Donal and Sasha meet, sparks immediately begin to fly – but will one of them get burnt?

The new series will also see the show reach a milestone – its 50th episode. Mary McKeagney, Commissioning Editor, BBC Northern Ireland says: “Hope Street captures the humour and warmth of this place perfectly and it has been great to see it strike a chord with audiences across the UK. It’s a real milestone for all involved to hit episode 50 and we’re very proud of what the series has achieved.”

Helen Munson, Commissioning Editor, BBC Daytime, added: “We are back for series five in beautiful Port Devine! It’s a joy to be working again with Long Story and the cast and crew in Northern Ireland who all bring the characters of Hope Street to life so beautifully.”

Discussing the show’s fifth series, producer Paul Marquess also revealed that the series will open “with a bang (literally) and – as always – combines relatable crime stories with warm and engaging character drama.” He continued: “We’re delighted to welcome back so many Hope Street fan favourites – and to introduce a couple of new characters who will really keep the audience guessing…see you in The Commodore.”

Who’s starring in Hope Street series 5?

As we mentioned, series 5 will introduce us to two new characters, Constable Donal Gallagher, played by Cameron Cuffe (Krypton) and Doctor Sasha Cookson, played by Jenn Murray (The Lovers).

The following cast members will also return to the series:

• Kerri Quinn (Marlene Pettigrew)
• Tara Lynne O’Neill (Eve Dunlop)
• Aaron McCusker (Clint Devine-Dunwoody)
• Niamh McGrady (Nicole Devine-Dunwoody)
• Marcus Onilude (Luke Jackson)
• Finnian Garbutt (Ryan Power)
• Katie Shortt (Brandi McClure)
• Eleanor Methven (Lois Dunlop)
• Paddy Jenkins (Seamie McCarthy)
• RhéAna Kamalu (Chloe Jackson)
• Jonny Grogan (Ross Dunlop)

Is Hope Street any good?

Yes – it’s what we’d call an easy watch. The setting is truly stunning and there really is never a dull moment. Critics and viewers have called it “charming”, “a breath of fresh air” and “a gem of a police drama” - and we'd agree.

How can I watch Hope Street series 5?

Given that filming has only just begun on Hope Street’s fifth series, we’re not expecting it to air until the end of 2025 at the earliest. As soon as we have a confirmed date, we’ll share it here. In the meantime, series 1-4 are available to watch on BBC iPlayer and BritBox.