Richard Dormer returns as Gerry Cliff in the fourth series of Blue Lights, despite the character being fatally shot during a standard patrol in the opening series. The new instalment of the Belfast-based BBC drama centres on Gerry's murder trial, with the actor appearing through a sequence of flashbacks.
The series will reveal "a dangerous and long-buried secret that leads to chaos both inside the police and across the criminal underworld."
Returning to a younger, more troubled Gerry
Discussing his return to the character, Richard commented: "It was a weird sense of déjà vu, but surprisingly easier than I expected. I thought I was going to be nervous, but everyone was so welcoming as you would expect from this cast."
He added: "The biggest challenge was rediscovering who Gerry was before the audience met him in series one. He's younger and much more troubled than audiences would have seen in the first series, so it was about finding that version of him again, even down to his voice."
Richard noted that the fourth series functions as an origin story, providing audiences with deeper insight into the character and demonstrating "how Gerry is an example of how to be a good human and a really efficient cop."
Giving fans closure
Blue Lights co-creators Declan Lawn and Adam Patterson revealed that, years after Gerry's death, they continue to receive complaints from fans who felt they lacked proper closure. Adam commented: "It also made sense dramatically. Enough time has passed for the criminal case to reach its conclusion, and it felt important to give that story proper closure. Plus, it meant that people might stop shouting at us in the street for killing him off!"
Andi Osho, who portrays Sandra Cliff, remarked: "I can't overstate what a popular character Gerry was. He still is and even now people ask why the writers killed him off. I think viewers feel unresolved around that and so bringing him back will hopefully give them some closure."
Richard also reflected on the overwhelming response to Gerry's demise, stating: "I was surprised by just how big the reaction was. I knew the scene would be powerful because I was emotional watching it when re-recording lines, before it was even finished. That spoke to the quality of the writing."
Blue Lights season four returns to BBC One on Tuesday, September 29 at 9pm.
