Jack McMullen has said that seeing his face on a billboard outside Lime Street station will never feel normal, as he discussed the second season of the BBC drama This City Is Ours. The 35-year-old actor from Liverpool reprises his role as Jamie Phelan in the show, which is available on iPlayer from today.
McMullen grew up on screen, with his first role coming in Brookside as Josh McLoughlin when he was aged 11. He said nothing he has been in has been embraced quite like This City Is Ours, which was the most watched new drama on the BBC last year.
A billboard moment and a Scouse cast
Speaking to the ECHO in an exclusive interview, McMullen said: "That was mad. That will never be normal. But I don't think my life has changed a lot." He added: "Me, James [Nelson-Joyce] and Bobby [Schofield] are all mates anyway so this show has been such a great thing for us to do."
The Scouse heartbeat in the cast has given the show an authentic Liverpool flavour. Given the unfair representation on screen the city has had in the past, there are sensitivities around setting a crime drama in Liverpool. McMullen said everyone who is part of the cast and crew was keen to make sure they got the tone right and is delighted with the way the show has been accepted by fellow Scousers.
Representing Liverpool on screen
He added: "To make something specifically about the city you're from, about Scousers [is a responsibility]. You want to make sure you get it right and hopefully we have." He said: "[Scousers have] just got an essence that is present in this show. With most of us coming from Liverpool, that really comes through. When we were making the first one we were keen to make sure this city was represented in the right way. From the response that we've got, I hope that we have achieved that. To have Scousers liking the show is massive for us."
With Scouse actors in a Liverpool set show in the prestigious Sunday night 9pm slot on BBC One, This City Is Ours is the most visible example of the city's filming boom. Liverpool has come a long way since McMullen started out in Brookside and he did not know any other kids who had aspirations to be in front of the camera.
Visibility for young people
He said: "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. 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."
This City Is Ours paints a cinematic portrait of Liverpool and McMullen is proud to put his home city on screen in such style. He said: "The standard of television is really high and we're really up there with this show. I think it shows Liverpool in a really good light. The city looks beautiful and I can't wait to see the rest of it."
Jamie Phelan's story and season three
McMullen plays Jamie Phelan in the show and teased he is set to cause more trouble this season as he sees an opportunity to take control of his dad's gang. He said: "When we meet him he has got the opportunity to stamp his authority a bit and move the gang in a new direction. That's where we meet him at the start and things happen, I don't want to say."
Jamie's dad, Ronnie Phelan, was shockingly killed in episode two of the first season. The character was played by Sean Bean and McMullen was thrilled to once again share the screen with the iconic actor after they were both in Time season one. He said: "Having actors of that calibre will always elevate the show. I worked with Sean Bean before. He's a national treasure so it was great to have him on board from the start."
Some of This City Is Ours is also filmed on location in Spain and McMullen recalls helping out the Yorkshire native Sean during filming. He said: "I got my mate to bring him some Bisto gravy over."
McMullen was delighted with the news the programme has received an early commission for season three. However, his dad's death in season one means anything can happen in This City Is Ours as he stayed tight lipped on whether he will be involved in the next instalment. He said: "They're trusting us to go again, which is obviously brilliant. Most of us will be coming back, some of us won't. We'll have to wait and see. If we're getting rid of Ronnie in episode two then anything can happen. Maybe I'll be in season three."
All eight episodes of This City Is Ours season two are available on iPlayer now. Episode one is broadcast on BBC One at 9pm.
