Did you love Blue Lights? The BBC’s six-part documentary, Peelers: The PSNI for Real, is a real-life deep dive into frontline policing in Northern Ireland

BC viewers have been binge-watching Peelers: The PSNI for Real, the six-part crime series that has been compared to hit drama Blue Lights.

Presented by Northern Irish broadcaster Stephen Nolan, the documentary brings Blue Lights into the real world as the presenter joins officers from the police force in Northern Ireland.

Peelers: The PSNI - For Real© BBC/ Third Street Studios
Stephen Nolan presents Peelers: The PSNI For Real

Witnessing the stark realities of 24/7 policing on the streets of Belfast, the series aims to raise awareness of the daily challenges, which many viewers saw fictionalised through the characters of Grace, Annie and Tommy in Blue Lights.

Since landing on the streamer on 27 April, BBC viewers have been bingeing the episodes in one go. Keep reading to find out what they’ve said about the series.

What have viewers said about Peelers: The PSNI for Real?

Viewers have praised the series as an excellent depiction of the realities of policing, with one viewer penning on X: “Brilliant show, loved it. Binge-watched the whole series. Hope there’s more.”

Meanwhile, another said: “Just finished watching all six episodes of Peelers: The PSNI for real with @StephenNolan and I have to admit it’s one of the best documentaries I’ve ever seen on TV. Honestly, I had tears in my eyes one minute and laughed the next.”

Constable Jade and Sergeant Dave © BBC/ Third Street Studios
Constable Jade and Sergeant Dave

A third wrote: “Finished Peelers: The PSNI for Real and loved it. It’s important the people of Northern Ireland see what officers have to deal with and out of their uniforms, they are human like all of us.”

A fourth added: “Absolutely brilliant series!! These men and women of the PSNI work their [explicit] off day in day out!”

What is Peelers: The PSNI for Real about?

The six-parter follows Stephen as he joins the police forces in Belfast, who are tasked with dealing with everything from street disorder and substance abuse to domestic violence.

The synopsis reads: “It also gives viewers a revealing sense of what it’s like to be a police officer and the teamwork that’s required in fast-changing and often uncertain situations.

Stephen Nolan with officers from the PSNI in Peelers: The PSNI - For Real© BBC/ Third Street Studios
Stephen Nolan with officers from the PSNI in Peelers: The PSNI – For Real

“Peelers: The PSNI – For Real is an up close, questioning and important series. It explores vital issues and tells us much about wider society – something that will be developed further in associated coverage on BBC News NI.”

What has Stephen Nolan said about Peelers: The PSNI For Real?

Reflecting on his experience that spanned two years among the police in Northern Ireland, Stephen Nolan said: “Peelers is an unfiltered insight into the reality of front-line policing. It’s based on the hundreds of hours that I spent with officers going about their everyday work.

Constable Nigel,DESCRIPTION:,COPYRIGHT:Third Street Studios,CREDIT LINE:BBC/ Third Street Studios© BBC/ Third Street Studios
Constable Nigel in Peelers: The PSNI – For Real

“I’ve been with them as they tackled drug dealers, chased stolen cars and dealt with hostile crowd situations. What I saw was fascinating and unexpected. It blew my mind and I know that BBC audiences will feel the same.”

All six episodes of Peelers: The PSNI For Real are available to watch on BBC iPlayer.