This City is Ours: Why Ronnie Phelan actor Sean Bean 'walked away from the set of BBC drama really upset'
By Helen Fear | Mon Mar 24 2025This City is Ours star Sean Bean has a central role in the BBC One drama as crime boss Ronnie Phelan, a role he admits he "did not want to end".
The new series, set in Liverpool, started last weekend (Sunday, March 23, 2025), and some have already binged the entire series on BBC iPlayer (guilty as charged!).
Sean Bean's character is one he seemed born to play, and he describes the series as "mould-breaking television".
Sean Bean upset to leave This City is Ours role
Actor Sean Bean, 65, leads the cast of BBC drama This City is Ours playing aging crime boss Ronnie Phelan.
He described the role as "was one of the most enjoyable series I have been involved with".
Sean explained: "I know people say that at the end of working on a particular project, but I can genuinely say I personally did not want it to end. "
He added: "I walked away from the set really upset. I remember feeling this genuine sense of loss, but obviously I had a sense of great satisfaction because this was mould-breaking television."
Sean went on to state that the drama "will become a classic piece of drama".
Sean Bean reunites with cast from Time
The Sheffield-born TV star also spoke about reuniting with actors including James Nelson-Joyce, Bobby Schofield, and Jack McMullen - all of whom appeared together on BBC One prison drama Time.
He admitted that there was "great camaraderie" on set.
Sean said: "There was great camaraderie on set, individually and collectively. I have been fortunate to work with some of the lads before, and (writer) Stephen Butchard is someone I hugely respect and admire."
He added: "Jack McMullen, who plays my son Jamie, is a real talent and I can see great things ahead for him in the future. He is a very thoughtful, hard-working actor who takes his job seriously, as does James Nelson-Joyce, who I have worked with before. James plays my best friend Michael Kavanagh."
Sean Bean 'wanted to be Ronnie Phelan' on This City is Ours
Game of Thrones and Sharpe legend Sean Bean also discussed what drew him to the role of Ronnie Phelan.
He explained: "I can promise fans of crime dramas that this series takes it to another level. That is what appealed to me when I first read the scripts. By page nine I knew I wanted to be Ronnie. He is someone eyeing up retirement, just as a rival gang organisation are preparing to attack."
He continued: "This is a story about a family on the verge of being destroyed by ambition, pride and greed. There has not been anything like it before and I'm very pleased that I have been a part of it. I want it to have a long future - everyone involved in it deserves success."
Sean went on to say that the series is "brutal, but it is very real".
