James Nesbitt plays DCI Tom Brannick in Bloodlands (Picture: BBC/HTM Television)
Bloodlands may have quietly disappeared from the BBC schedule for good.
The popular thriller series starred James Nesbitt, who has enjoyed an illustrious career with highlights including Cold Feet and The Hobbit, focused on the investigation of unsolved murders.
The 59-year-old actor has been on board since its inception in 2021 playing Northern Irish police officer DCI Tom Brannick, and helped the show win a legion of fans.
The first outing scored an impressive 83% on Rotten Tomatoes, but that wasn’t enough with The Sun reporting that it has come to an end after two series.
*SPOILERS AHEAD*
Throughout the first series, Brannick is put to work, when it is suspected the legendary assassin, known as Goliath, is behind a new kidnapping.
Although he is leading the investigation, things aren’t what they seem. An epic finale reveals that Brannick is Goliath, who killed two people in the 1990s when his wife Emma’s life was threatened. The series ended with Brannick murdering the only people who could have identified him as Goliath.
When it returned for the second series, there were people on his case including, the widow of one of his victims, Olivia Foyle played by Victoria Smurfit.
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Charlene McKenna, who played DS Niamh McGovern, previously threw fire over the hope of more episodes.
‘I want a series three so much, but, no, I don’t think so,’ they told the Belfast Telegraph.
‘Bloodlands may have reached its natural conclusion with James Nesbitt’s character, DCI Tom Brannick, being revealed as serial killer Goliath, but I really wanted one more season for him to finally get his comeuppance and for me to be the one to serve it to him.’
There was a huge twist on the series one finale (Picture: BBC / HTM Televison / iStock/ Steffan Hill)
The show was produced by Breathtaking and Line of Duty’s Jed Mercurio, and written by actor-turned-writer Chris Brandon.
The cast included Lola Petticrew as Brannick’s daughter Izzy Brannick, while Lisa Dwan played her university lecturer Tori Matthews.
Viewers may not ever see DC Brannick get his comeuppance (Picture: BBC)
Fans have naturally reacted to the news with disappointment.
‘I can’t believe the #BBC have decided to axe #bloodlands that was such a great show,’ shared Colin on X. Others hoped it was a delayed April Fools joke, that Goliath would not get consequences for the decisions.
This isn’t the only BBC staple that could go – the comedy Motherland which followed the trials, tribulations, and generally cut-throat world of middle-class motherhood could be facing the axe.
The news comes after a string of cancellations, with many people’s favourite shows on the list. Paddy McGuinness’ gameshows Catchpoint and I Can See Your Voice are ending for now. While David Jason’s Still Open All Hours has also been cut, as has gameshow Unbeatable in recent months.
Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies has said the end of the BBC is ‘undoubtedly on its way’.
Metro.co.uk has contacted BBC for comment
Bloodlands is available to watch on BBC iPlayer
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