BLOODLANDS: BBC DRAMA 'AXED' AFTER TWO SERIES

Bloodlands, the BBC One drama written by Chris Bandon, will not be returning for a third series.

Casting was led by James Nesbitt who took on the lead role of DCI Tom Brannick alongside Charlene McKenna, Lorcan Cranitch (The Last Kingdom, The Dig), Lola Petticrew (Tuesday, Dating Amber), Chris Walley (The Young Offenders, 1917) and Victoria Smurfit (Marcella, Once Upon a Time) j

When the murder of a crooked accountant unravels a trail of greed that threatens to expose his identity as legendary assassin, Goliath, DCI Tom Brannick (James Nesbitt) and the accountant’s widow, Olivia Foyle (Victoria Smurfit) must keep each other dangerously close.

The first series of Bloodlands launched with an average of 8.2 million viewers (30-day consolidated) and was Northern Ireland’s most watched BBC drama launch on record.

One of the stars, Charelen McKenna previously said: "I want a series three so much, but, no, I don’t think so. 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."

TV Zone approached the BBC for comment.