Hope Street | Series 5 Preview (BBC One)

Donaghadee, on Northern Ireland’s coastline, will once again be transformed into the fictional Port Devine, a close-knit community where the local police team solves a crime in each episode.

In another eventful year of drama, series five also sees the show reach a milestone – its 50th episode. This series introduces two new faces to Port Devine - Constable Donal Gallagher, played by Cameron Cuffe (Krypton) and Doctor Sasha Cookson, played by Jenn Murray (The Lovers).

Confident and charming, Donal is a well-known local rugby player, whose career was cut short by injury. As the newest member of the Port Devine Police department, Donal has found a new vigour for life and is soon set to make his mark.

Meanwhile Sasha Cookson, a local doctor, has recently taken over her father’s GP surgery. Sasha is direct and straight talking, which rubs some people up the wrong way, but it’s not a problem for Donal.

Returning for this eight-part series are Kerri Quinn (Marlene Pettigrew), Tara Lynne O’Neill (Eve Dunlop), Aaron McCusker (Clint Devine-Dunwoody), Niamh McGrady (Nicole Devine-Dunwoody), Marcus Onilude (Luke Jackson), Finnian Garbutt (Ryan Power), Katie Shortt (Brandi McClure), Eleanor Methven (Lois Dunlop), Paddy Jenkins (Seamie McCarthy), RhéAna Kamalu (Chloe Jackson) and Jonny Grogan (Ross Dunlop).

Episode 1: The whole town has turned out for a half marathon. When an under-prepared Clint collapses, Port Devine’s newest police officer – hunky ex-rugby player Donal – carries him over the finish line. Clint needs a doctor, so glamorous GP Sasha hurries over to assist – and the attraction between herself and Donal is instant. But as the pair help Clint towards Sasha’s car, the vehicle explodes.

Episode 2: When the local head teacher is threatened, new boy Donal takes charge of the investigation – and Chloe worries that her secret boyfriend is the culprit. Lois spots Luke with a woman. She warns Eve to take care of her marriage, leaving Eve wondering if Luke’s having an affair. Meanwhile, Lois has problems of her own as she faces a health scare.

Seamie gets news that his wife wants to meet up with him, but will it be good news or bad? Clint is still refusing to give Brandi her job back. So, when a bus load of pensioners descends on the bar, Nicole comes up with a cunning plan to change Clint’s mind. Will Clint fall for it? Then Donal and Ryan are called out to a shooting. When they discover who the victim is, they’re horrified.

Episode 3: The community is shocked that one of their own has been shot. As Marlene heads up the investigation, Chloe’s boyfriend Shane confesses that he pulled the trigger. But some of his account doesn’t ring true. Is Shane lying – and, if so, why? When Eve discovers that Chloe has been seeing Shane in secret, she’s furious. Then she finds out that Marlene advised Chloe to keep the relationship secret – and feels doubly betrayed.

Seamie is still in shock that his wife is seeing someone else. Lois is devastated that he’s so jealous; maybe they’ve got no future as a couple after all. Behind Nicole’s back, Clint continues to give Brandi a hard time. But she refuses to take this lying down – and comes up with a plan to pay him back… Marlene discovers that Donal is falling for doctor Sasha – and warns him that’s against the rules.

Episode 4: When one of the lads in a local rugby team is attacked, Donal wonders if it’s a case of jealousy between the players, or whether there’s something more serious going on. Marlene and Eve aren’t getting on, so when Marlene sees Eve’s husband looking intimate with another woman, she wonders what she should do. Then Eve pushes her over the edge…

In the pub, Brandi’s plan to wind Clint up falls flat, but she has the last laugh when she discovers Clint’s got himself into serious trouble. Will Brandi tell Nicole?

Donal is faced with a terrible choice. He knows that seeing Sasha is against the rules, but can he resist her?

Episode 5: When a classic car is stolen from a local showroom, it looks like a disgruntled employee Aaron has taken his revenge after being sacked. The cops soon discover that bodybuilder Aaron has been displaying aggressive behaviour – has he been taking steroids? Donal is horrified when his secret girlfriend Sasha is implicated in the supply of the steroids; has Doctor Sasha been involved in criminal activity?

Brandi thinks Clint should tell Nicole he’s lost twenty five thousand pounds, but Clint is hoping he’ll get the cash back before she finds out. Then Marlene spills the beans… Seamie has promised Lois a ‘bling’ first date to remember. To no-one’s great surprise, the day doesn’t pan out as Seamie had planned.

Episode 6: When recently-widowed Judith is assaulted she gives the police a description of her attackers, but something about her account doesn’t ring true. Then the officers discover that a mysterious stranger has been trying to track down Judith’s son; are the two things connected?

Doctor Sasha has been suspended from her job and is taking it out on her ex, Donal – which is breaking his heart. When Marlene tries to talk to Sasha about the kiss they shared, Sasha admits that she’s in love with someone else. Surely it’s only a matter of time until Donal and Sasha get back together?

Clint is devastated when he discovers that his wife Nicole has gone behind his back. Meanwhile, Eve is convinced that something’s going on between her husband Luke and his ex girlfriend. When Eve and Clint find themselves alone together, sparks fly. Are they about to make a terrible mistake?

Episode 7: When a High Court judge is badly injured after a fall, witnesses report he argued with someone beforehand. Was he pushed? Then the police discover that the judge is presiding over a big organised crime case; does that mean he’s the victim of a targeted attack? Eve and Clint are dealing with the fall out of last night’s disaster. As Luke issues Eve with an ultimatum, Clint struggles to keep the truth from Nicole.

Marlene confronts Sasha about her secret relationship with Donal; for the sake of the young police officer’s career, Sasha needs to back off. But Sasha offers Marlene a deal; if Marlene turns a blind eye to their illicit relationship, Sasha will tell her about the major crime that local loan shark Heidi is planning. Lois is regretting that she told Seamie his poems are rubbish. Has she killed their romance stone dead?

Episode 8: When Eve and Marlene discover that Sasha has been attacked, they’re convinced loan shark, Heidi Holmes, is to blame. Then their investigations confirm that Heidi is planning a much bigger crime. Can the police officers intercept ruthless Heidi before it’s too late? Eve is far from pleased when Luke’s ex Aine gets involved in the investigation. As Aine gets on everyone’s nerves, however, Eve finally sees a chance to get her marriage back on track.

Meanwhile it’s Brandi’s day off and she’s bored. Little does she know that a trip to a local beauty spot with Chloe and Ross will lead to her being hailed as a crime-fighting hero. As the series draws to a close, a long-standing relationship falls to pieces, someone receives an unexpected marriage proposal – and Port Devine is rocked by a shocking death.

Hope Street returns Friday 31st October at 2pm on BBC One.