Blue Lights star Katherine Devlin: ‘I love that Taylor Swift has found her person’ 

For its incredible third series, Blue Lights expanded its scope and deepened its examination of modern Belfast and the echoes from its complex history. Comparisons to all-time TV classic The Wire are now both routine and justified.  

Katherine Devlin has been at the heart of the action as PC Annie Conlon, dealing with end-of-life within her family, defying death threats to see her stricken mother, and at work, responding to a fatal car wreck that left long-lasting trauma for all involved.  

Her evolution from trepidatious probationary officer to battle-hardened ‘peeler’ has been a joy to watch in Blue Lights. And there’s more to come, she says, with series four of the BBC One series filming from January. We asked Devlin about her Big Year… 

“It’s been such a whirlwind. A lot of heavy topics. All of us had to dig deep,” Devlin tells Big Issue, before flying off to New York to launch the series there.  

“It’s great to see everyone connecting with the characters on a deeper level. We’re in the belly of the beast this season. It’s scoped out. It’s fully fleshed. We’re starting to colour within the lines and Annie has shown immense resilience.  

“Being from Northern Ireland, there’s a mindset of brushing things under the carpet and not talking about things because of our history and the heartache we’ve went through. Blue Lights allowed important conversations to be started. 

“A lot of people have been affected by that car crash scene. It’s a huge problem in the north, especially around country roads, so we are addressing important issues. The show really allows the characters to breathe within these situations. It’s visceral and intimate.” 

What has been your cultural highlight of 2025?

I watched Bugonia with Emma Stone recently. It was wild. I loved the first half and the second half felt like a fever dream or an acid trip. But I love arthouse films. And I’m not sure if this is culture, but I’ve been on a big wellness thing and got into doing saunas and steam rooms. There’s a really beautiful one in Peckham where they have lovely meditation spaces, you can have green tea and go for a sauna.  

Did you watch Adolescence and did it affect you?

I loved it. The camera work was very smartly done, it was uncomfortable, but in the right way – to the point where it’s started a bigger conversation on toxic masculinity and Andrew Tate, particularly when it comes to teenagers. 

Team Taylor or Charli XCX?

Oh, I love this question. I’m a huge Charli XCX fan. I was a huge fan even before Brat. I’ve seen her a couple of times and I love her. Everything she does is invigorating, she’s just so forward thinking. But on the flip side, Taylor is very intelligent, a great storyteller, and people don’t give her enough credit. It’s too easy to jump on the ‘I don’t like Taylor Swift’ bandwagon, so I’m more Team Charli, but happy for the Swifties to do their thing. 

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Where were you when you found out Taylor Swift was engaged?

I remember seeing the photo and thinking it was AI. I don’t know why – Taylor Swift is so good at telling heartbreak stories and writing heartbreak songs that she’s almost become that character, hasn’t she? But I love that she’s found her person.

Would you rather be a Traitor or Faithful? 

I love The Traitors. It’s such an insight into psychology, human behaviour, how we jump on bandwagons and perceive certain people and stereotypes. It’s excellent! With the celebrities, they’re all freakin’ media trained but I absolutely loved Alan Carr.

Is your job at risk from AI? 

A lot of positives can be taken from AI but it is scary. We have to tread very cautiously, particularly creatives. Actors, directors, storytellers, musicians are talking about the human experience, and that’s something AI can’t emulate. 

What did the world get right in 2025?

To be honest, Blue Lights getting a freakin’ Bafta. They did good there. 

What did the world get wrong in 2025?

On a serious note, what the world got seriously wrong this year is what’s happening in Palestine and the genocide. Watching it happen is horrifying.

What’s your big idea to make 2026 better than 2025?

Trusting myself and having more confidence. I’m a spontaneous person anyway, but I want to make a point of seeing my friends and having new experiences. I also need to remind myself to get up early in the mornings because I’m such a night owl. I do all my work at night, learn my lines at night. Someone told me it’s an evolution thing – where some people are more used to being awake at night because they have to look after other people in the tribe.

Blue Lights is available on BBC iPlayer

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