Blue Lights is back for its third series - and viewers couldn't be more thrilled as they hailed its return as a triumph by the BBC.

The police drama broadcast its premiere on September 29 and since then fans have been avidly streaming the remaining episodes on iPlayer.

Following on from its debut series in 2023 and follow-up in 2023, series three's opener saw the squad of coppers ambush a drug-filled gathering as part of a narcotics investigation.

Elsewhere, a man died from a suspected overdose at a high-end nightclub and officer Grace Ellis (Sian Brooke) was devastated to learn that a teenager she cared for during her days as a social worker was in danger.

Immediately, X users raved over the episode, sharing how thrilled they were to have the show back on the box after two years of waiting.

'What a start to Blue Lights series three,' one gushed.

A second wrote: 'Welcome back to without doubt one of the best TV series ever broadcast by the BBC.'

A third chimed in: 'Blue Lights is simply magnificent.'

While a fourth echoed: 'Blue Lights proving - yet again - to be right up there as one of the very best programmes on British TV.'

Another opined: 'What an opening episode - so good to have it back.'

Others agreed: 'Here we go. One of the best shows of the year starting,' and 'Damn, this is such a good show.'

Looking forward to the upcoming episodes, another penned: 'Shaping up to be a great season of Blue Lights. Great to have it back.'

A particularly emotional fan exclaimed: 'GRACE ELLIS WELCOME HOME OH MY GOD I'M SOBBING.'

Meanwhile one keen viewer admitted: 'Binged watched series three of Blue Lights in half a day as I do every series. Gutted as now I have to wait. Roll on series four!'

The Bafta-winning show, which is set in modern-day Belfast and follows rookie cops, has reeled audiences in over two dramatic series since its launch back in 2023. 

Series three follows the no-longer newbie officers, joined by a host of familiar faces, as well as a handful of new recruits, for the latest storyline, based in the sinister world hidden behind the shiny front of middle-class life.

The trio take a deep dive into the murky world of the accountants and lawyers who facilitate organised crime in the city.

The synopsis reads: 'The old political and criminal order has gone and a new global gang rule Belfast, bringing danger closer to home for our officers than ever before.'

It also continues to track the fallout from Grace's former career as a social worker, which has seen the police officer come face to face with children from the system caught up in organised crime after suffering difficult upbringings.

The new episodes see Grace encounter a child she formerly worked with, Lindsay, who has been caught up in the web of one of the gangs.

Plus Grace's romance with Stevie is picked up where things are left off, following their romantic smooch at the end of series two.

Actress Sian previously teased that season three will be 'intense' and 'surprising'.

She told the RadioTimes that the series 'blows it out the water' compared to previous series, adding: 'I don't know how these guys get better and better, but they do.

'There's a lot of care that's gone into making them and they're very individual and so people have related to them, they want to know what happens, where the story ends.'

Her co-star Nathan added: 'It's the best so far this next one, I would say, so we're all super excited for everybody at home to see it.'

Alongside the familiar three main charcters, Joanne Crawford will return as Helen McNally, Andi Osho as Sandra Cliff and Frank Blake as Shane Bradley.

While Dune: Prophecy's Cathy Tyson and Bad Sisters star Michael Smiley, have been confirmed to be part of the new faces joining the cast.

Written by the team behind Novichok drama The Salisbury Poisonings, fans previously compared the high-octane drama to fellow popular BBC cop series, Line of Duty.

All three series of Blue Lights are available to stream in full on BBC iPlayer.