This City is Ours star James Nelson-Joyce has issued a foreboding warning about Shaun Evans's brand new season 2 character, Ozzie Thompson.
The hit thriller follows Michael Kavanagh (Nelson-Joyce), a former fixer for the Phelan crime family, who became a bitter enemy to the firm after a shock betrayal in season 1.
Michael isn't the only headache for the Phelans this time, following Ozzie's release from prison after serving a long sentence for crimes committed on their orders.
He seeks compensation for the priceless years lost, with Evans playing the character with an initial "charm" that could prove disarming to viewers – but keep your wits about you.
That's the advice of This City is Ours star Nelson-Joyce, who told Radio Times that he, along with the rest of the crew, were taken aback by Evans' enigmatic performance.
"I didn't work with Shaun in the [early] episodes, so I didn't really know how he was playing Ozzie," he recalled. "I just kept on hearing everyone saying: 'Oh my God, Shaun's amazing!'
"I know he's amazing because I've seen him in everything, but I didn't really know how he was playing him."
Nelson-Joyce continued: "He had this charm and this twinkle when you watch it, but the undertone was very manipulative and very assessed."
The actor, also known for A Thousand Blows, accepted that "possibly the audience could go to [Ozzie's] side" at first, but warned that "he's trying to worm his way" into a position of trust for a reason.
View Green Video on the source websiteCo-star Julie Graham, who plays Phelan family matriarch Elaine, concurred that Ozzie is "a real catalyst that drives a lot of the narrative throughout series 2".
She added: "He's also got his own agenda – you're not quite sure where he stands and whose side he's on."
Evans will be well-known to telly fans for his decade-long stint on detective series Endeavour, while he recently impressed in thrillers Until I Kill You and Betrayal.
This City Is Ours returns this weekend, picking up on the shocking season 1 ending, which left a power vacuum in the Phelans' operation – and dangerous people looking for answers.
This City Is Ours season 2 comes to BBC One and iPlayer on Sunday 25 October 2026.
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