This City Is Ours returned to screens on October 25, placing Liverpool at the centre of primetime BBC television once again. While many viewers welcomed the city's presence in the prestigious 9pm Sunday slot, some online commentators argued the show could be a bad thing for representation.
Critics have long complained that Liverpool-set shows focus on the criminal underworld. These sensitivities are understandable, given the city's history of unfair negative portrayal. Many viewers have seen supposed Scousers appear on screen with poor accents and caricatured personalities that reinforce outdated stereotypes.
A reflection of the TV landscape
However, a Liverpool-set show like This City Is Ours, written by a Liverpool writer and showcasing local talent on a prominent platform, does not fit that pattern. The prevalence of crime shows in Liverpool reflects wider commissioning trends rather than something city-specific.
As The Cage and The Responder writer Tony Schumacher said: "You're not going to sell a show that doesn't have an element of crime in it. There's space for things like Call The Midwife and it's great TV. But the majority of TV is set about crime."
The success of shows such as MobLand and The Gentlemen demonstrates continued public fascination with crime. Liverpool storytellers getting the chance to put their spin on the genre has built infrastructure that now supports other productions.
Jobs and opportunities for local talent
This infrastructure means different kinds of shows are now made in the city, offering more opportunities for local actors, such as the comedy G'wed. Growing up, working on a film set would have meant moving to London or another entertainment capital. Now, production scale in Liverpool means many local people find work and gain experience in the field.
Schumacher spoke proudly of these opportunities: "I was working with apprentices on The Responder season one, who are now fully qualified people on The Cage. If those shows hadn't been made, those people wouldn't have jobs. To be from this city and to be spoken of in terms of improving opportunities with work, I can't tell you how proud I am."
Writer Jimmy McGovern has long navigated the question of setting shows in his home city. In the early 90s, he chose to set Cracker in Manchester, explaining: "In Liverpool at the time, if you wrote about a Scouse thug it was a Scouse thug, it wasn't just a thug. The sensibilities about the portrayal of Liverpool, the negative stereotypes hanging over the city of burglars and thieves was absolutely pernicious then so I much preferred to work in the city, but set stuff outside of the city."
McGovern now finds attitudes have changed: "I've changed and the country has changed. I want to write everything and set everything in the city."
Economic and cultural impact
The discourse around crime dramas has resurfaced with This City Is Ours. While the show focuses on the criminal underworld, its production quality has made Liverpool look highly cinematic. The cast and crew have strong ties to the city and told the ECHO how important it is to represent Liverpool properly.
Star James Nelson-Joyce said: "We want people to come to our city, to visit and experience it. I wouldn't be the person who I am if I came from any other city. We don't take ourselves too seriously. We say it how it is. We have a laugh and we want to have a good time. We're a kind, generous, outward looking city."
He added: "A city is only as good as the people that's in it. A big part of this show and a big character is this city. Them one liners, that sarcastic sense of humour when something happens. That's what makes the show."
The show generated a £9m boost for the Liverpool City Region economy, and restaurants featured in the series became fully booked with fans. Fellow star Jack McMullen highlighted the importance of visibility: "I didn't see shows like this set here when I was young growing up. I didn't know anyone who knew anyone who was an actor when I was a kid. Now a lot of things are filmed here, a lot of post production happens here now. You go through the city and you see film sets working."
He continued: "And I think that's important, just visibility for young people. Even if it's just behind the camera or crew. There's so many people involved in a film set. Just for people to see this happens in this city and it's a possible career path. Visibility is a big thing."
While scrutiny of how Scousers are depicted should continue, the argument requires nuance. Not every crime drama set in Liverpool should be assumed to be harmful. The work of Jimmy, Tony and This City Is Ours writer Stephen Butchard should be celebrated for what it brings to Liverpool and its culture.
