Police drama Blue Lights returns to TV screens on Monday, April 15 and fans can't wait to see Sian Brooke back in action. Sian, who was born in Staffordshire to Welsh parents, will be returning to her lead role as Constable Grace Ellis for the second series of the drama, which follows three probationary police officers in Northern Ireland and the experienced officers who work with them.
Series one saw Sian's character Grace, a 40-something mother, leave her previous job as a social worker to join the police and she often questioned whether she made the right decision. Viewers are looking forward to seeing Grace and the other rookies continue to progress in their careers throughout series two and we can expect many dramatic and frightening moments for all the officers.
A synopsis for series two explains: "Grace, Annie and Tommy are growing up fast as police officers, but nothing can prepare them for the turmoil they face every day. It's a year since the fall of the McIntyre crime gang and the vacuum has been filled by rival gangs, all competing for dominance.
"Constable Shane Bradley is drafted in to help, but his motivations are unclear. Tommy is dangerously seduced by the world of intelligence policing, while Grace struggles to deal with her son's absence, and growing feelings for fellow officer Stevie. As a young loyalist threatens to take over the city, the officers face a major gangland feud - culminating in a violent and devastating confrontation."
Here's everything you need to know about actress Sian Brooke ahead of the return of Blue Lights:
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Sian Brooke's real name and previous TV roles
Whilst Sian is credited in Blue Lights and in her other television work by her professional name Sian Brooke, Sian's full name is actually Sian Elizabeth Phillips. She took the stage name 'Sian Brooke' to ensure she wasn't mixed up with veteran Welsh actress Sian Phillips (whose full name is actually Jane Elizabeth Ailwen Phillips). According to The Standard, Sian took the surname Brooke after an English Civil War general who was killed at Lichfield, where she grew up.
Before Blue Lights, Sian Brooke acted in Cape Wrath, Sherlock, Doctor Foster, Good Omens, Guilt, Tryng and House of the Dragon, to name a few. Of these, Sian is perhaps best known for playing Deidre Young (Adam's mother) in series one of Good Omens and Dr Sian Lambert in series two of Doctor Foster.
Sian's upbringing and Welsh roots
Sian was born in Staffordshire in England in 1980. At the time, her mother was a teacher and her father was a police officer. Both her parents are Welsh and Sian has two older siblings. When Sian was young, she attended school in her home-town Lichfield and she joined a youth theatre club there when she was 11, before joining the National Youth Theatre. Later, Sian completed her acting training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, where she graduated in 2002.
Sian's famous husband
Sian is marred to actor and director Bill Buckhurst, who has had roles in Coronation Street, Doctors, New Tricks and Father Brown and was also featured in epic James Bond film Skyfall.
Bill has also played Mr Allcock in EastEnders and an airport police officer in action film The Foreigner, which starred Jackie Chan. The couple keep much of their personal life private but are known to have two children together, Ben and Archie.
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