Hope Street, the popular police drama from the BBC that has drawn comparisons to Doc Martin, has confirmed a trio of new cast members for its highly-anticipated feature-length episode.
The much-loved series is due to return later this year with an eagerly-awaited special episode, titled One of Our Own - A Hope Street Film, which will also be released in cinemas in the UK from September.
While we have a slew of returning faces, there are also some new ones joining the fold, with Paddy Raff, Tim McGarry, and Letitia Hector all confirmed to be making their debuts in the series (via BBC).
Related: Best streaming services UK 2026 – including Disney Plus, Netflix, iPlayer and Apple TV
Raff, a Belfast-based comedian, will play Malcolm McQueen, the new chef and barman for The Commodore. Fellow comedian McGarry will play Reverend Dodds, while Hector will play Anna Baptiste, a love interest of Marlene Pettigrew.
The trio joins the likes of Kerri Quinn, Tara-Lynne O’Neill, Niamh McGrady, Marcus Onilude, Cameron Cuffe, Katie Shortt, Eleanor Methven, Paddy Jenkins, Jonny Grogan, and RheAna Kamalu, all of whom will reprise their respective roles.
What to Read Next
Hope Street is set in the fictional location of Port Devine, a coastal town in Northern Ireland. The action follows various members of the local police force, who attempt to solve a variety of crimes.
As per the logline, Our Own - A Hope Street Film opens with a "violent crime committed against a much-loved local", with the investigation bringing bad news for DS Marlene Pettigrew. Furthermore, love is said to be "in the air" as a wedding is being planned.
"We hope this feature length film will provide the perfect opportunity to tie up some loose ends for fans," said Mary McKeagney, Commissioning Editor for BBC Northern Ireland, who teased that the new character could bring "drama".
"It is a bit of a thank you to all our audiences for engaging so enthusiastically with the series. Thanks, too, to the cast and crew, past and present, for bringing us such joy across all five [seasons] so far," they added.
Related: Eve Myles and Katherine Kelly's returning thriller confirms release date as first-look pics land
After premiering in 2021, the police drama has been praised by viewers, with several likening it to Doc Martin. In a review on IMDb, a user noted the "quirks" of the residents, adding that Port Devine had a "similar feel" to the ITV series.
"I actually really enjoyed this show. I love the quirky characters and the small town setting. In a way it reminds me of Doc Martin which I've been desperately missing, so this is a nice substitute," wrote another viewer.
Hope Street airs on BBC One and streams on BBC iPlayer. One of Our Own - A Hope Street Film is due to be released in September.
Visit our Streaming Guide now to see at a glance where you can view ALL your favourite shows and movies.
The new edition of Living Legends, a collector's edition exploring the royal family, is here! Buy The Royals in newsagents or online.
Reporter, Digital Spy George is a freelance writer who specialises in Movies and TV. After graduating with a degree in Film Studies and Journalism from De Montfort University, in which he analysed the early works of Richard Linklater for his dissertation, he wrote for several websites for GRV Media. His film tastes vary from blockbusters like Mission: Impossible and John Wick to international directors such as Paolo Sorrentino and Hirokazu Kore-eda, and has attended both the London and Berlin film festivals.
