Belfast patrols are rarely a quiet shift, and the people behind the badge face plenty of tough calls. This personality quiz brings you into a procedural crime drama to see which character you might connect with most. Think about your instincts, priorities and reactions, then find your place in the high-pressure workplace around them.
About Blue Lights
Set in present-day Belfast, Blue Lights follows rookie Police Service of Northern Ireland officers as they learn the realities of frontline response work in a city marked by unique pressures and dangers, giving the series the tension of a gritty thriller. The 2023 drama focuses on probationers Grace Ellis, Annie Conlon and Tommy Foster, alongside the experienced colleagues who train and work with them. Between demanding calls, tense encounters and complicated local dynamics, including the reach of family crime, the series offers a grounded look at policing and the people navigating it.
Blue Lights Character Profiles
Grace Ellis
Grace Ellis is a Police Service of Northern Ireland constable and former social worker, whose empathy shapes how she approaches frontline policing. Originally from England, she brings a distinct perspective to the demands of Belfast response work. Now past her probation, Grace faces new challenges in her career and in her relationship with Stevie Neil, her former mentor. Her instinct to understand people remains central to the way she navigates a demanding job.
Tommy Foster
Tommy Foster is a probationary constable in the PSNI, joining around the same time as Grace Ellis and Annie Conlon. A former fast-track graduate, he enters police work with a strong academic background but must still learn its realities on the streets of Belfast. Tommy is in a relationship with fellow officer Aisling Byrne, and the pressures of the job test their connection. His story explores the distance between preparation and experience.
Annie Conlon
Annie Conlon is a constable in the Police Service of Northern Ireland and joined the force around the same time as Grace Ellis. As a relatively new officer, she faces the difficult transition from training to frontline work in Belfast, where each shift can bring unfamiliar pressures. Annie is part of the same probationary cohort as Grace and Tommy Foster. Her place in the team reflects the personal and professional adjustments involved in beginning a police career.
Stevie Neil
Stevie Neil is a sergeant in the PSNI and Grace Ellis’s former mentor, tasked with guiding her through probation. The professional bond between them has since become a romantic relationship, and they live together. Stevie’s role places him in a position of responsibility within a demanding police team, while his connection with Grace brings their personal lives close to the pressures of the job. He is a seasoned figure in her journey from recruit to established constable.
Sandra Cliff
Sandra Cliff is a PSNI sergeant whose responsibilities have shifted from custody work to leading a response section. Her role calls for sound judgment and a steady hand in a high-pressure environment. Sandra is married to Gerry Cliff, an experienced response officer, and her place in the team connects her professional duties with the close-knit relationships at the station. She brings the perspective of a senior officer to the daily demands facing frontline policing in Belfast.
Helen McNally
Helen McNally is a senior PSNI officer who leads the team at the station, taking on the inspector role after Jonty’s departure. Her position requires her to oversee officers working in a difficult frontline environment and to make decisions that affect the wider team. Helen’s progression through the ranks places her at the centre of the station’s leadership, balancing operational demands with the needs of the people under her command.
