Who Is James Nelson-Joyce? This City Is Ours Star’s Age, Roles and Bond Odds
James Nelson-Joyce is a Liverpool-born actor best known as gangster Michael Kavanagh in BBC One’s This City Is Ours, which returned for its second series on 25 October 2026. A BAFTA nominee who is also being tipped by bookmakers as a future James Bond, he keeps his private life out of the spotlight and has no publicly confirmed partner or children.
Why is James Nelson-Joyce trending?
Series 2 of This City Is Ours began on BBC One on Sunday 25 October, the same weekend he was quoted at around 16-1 to be the next James Bond.
Who does James Nelson-Joyce play in This City Is Ours?
He plays Michael Kavanagh, the long-serving right-hand man of Liverpool drug boss Ronnie Phelan, played by Sean Bean. When Ronnie plans one last big deal before walking away, Michael is drawn into a power struggle with Ronnie’s reckless son Jamie (Jack McMullen). The drama was created by Stephen Butchard, and its first series drew between 3.35 million and 4.11 million viewers an episode in spring 2025.
In series 2, Michael tries to start a new life in Spain with his girlfriend Diana (Hannah Onslow) but is pulled back into the city’s underworld. New faces include Endeavour star Shaun Evans as Ozzie Thompson and Money Heist’s Alvaro Morte as Felipe Guzman. The BBC confirmed a third series on 20 October 2026, before series 2 had even aired.
When is This City Is Ours on?
Series 2 airs at 9pm on Sunday and Monday nights on BBC One, and all eight episodes have been on BBC iPlayer since 25 October 2026.
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Is James Nelson-Joyce the next James Bond?
Not officially. No new Bond has been cast, but bookmakers have made him around a 16-1 shot, a few places behind the favourite. “I didn’t ever think for one second I’d be linked to such an important and iconic role,” he told the Big Issue in October 2026, adding that he winds up his sisters about it.
I like to have fun with it. If they want me, great.
James Nelson-Joyce on the James Bond rumours, Big Issue, October 2026
Did James Nelson-Joyce win a BAFTA?
He was nominated for Leading Actor at the 2026 BAFTA TV Awards for This City Is Ours, alongside Taron Egerton, Colin Firth, Ellis Howard and Matt Smith. Stephen Graham won for Adolescence at the ceremony at London’s Royal Festival Hall on 10 May 2026. The show was also up for Drama Series, which went to Code of Silence.
How old is James Nelson-Joyce?
He is widely reported to have been born on 4 May 1989, which would make him 37, although he has not confirmed his date of birth himself. He was born in Orrell Park, Liverpool, into a working-class family from Walton, and still lives close enough to “see Walton Prison from my house”.
How did James Nelson-Joyce become an actor?
Acting was not an obvious path. He left school without qualifications, not knowing at the time that he was dyslexic, and started working on building sites with his dad at 13. “Where I was from, lads like football or boxing,” he has said.
His English teacher, Miss Griffiths, saw his potential and pushed him to study at City of Liverpool College, and he went on to train at the Italia Conti Academy in London. He now campaigns for more arts in state schools, asking: “So why have the arts been taken off the syllabus in schools?”
Who are James Nelson-Joyce’s family?
He credits his parents, and especially his dad, with teaching him to respect people, and he has sisters. He has not made their names public.
Is James Nelson-Joyce married?
There is no public record of him being married, and he has never confirmed a partner or children in interviews. He talks about his work and his upbringing but keeps his relationships private.
What has James Nelson-Joyce been in?
He made his TV debut in Shameless in 2013 and spent a decade playing tough guys and villains before leading roles arrived. His breakthrough was Steven Knight’s Victorian boxing drama A Thousand Blows in 2025, as Edward “Treacle” Goodson, followed weeks later by This City Is Ours.
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Little Boy Blue | James Yates |
| 2021 | Time | Johnno |
| 2021 | The Outlaws | Spider |
| 2022 | Industry | Jamie Henson |
| 2023 | The Covenant | Jack-Jack |
| 2023 | The Gold | Brian Reader |
| 2024 | Bird | Skate |
| 2024 | Strike | Pez Pierce |
| 2025 | A Thousand Blows | Treacle Goodson |
| 2025 | This City Is Ours | Michael Kavanagh |
| 2025 | Black Mirror | DCI Kano |
What is James Nelson-Joyce’s net worth?
There is no reliable published figure. The numbers on celebrity net worth sites are not backed by any named source, so we do not repeat them. His income comes from more than a decade of TV and film work, now including two lead roles in major BBC and Disney+ dramas.
James Nelson-Joyce rumours, checked
Some websites say he dated Love Island’s Samantha Kenny. Neither of them has ever confirmed it.
Claims that he was engaged to actress Olivia Frances Brown appear only on unverified sites, with no statement from either.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. He has not appeared in Peaky Blinders, but he starred in A Thousand Blows, which comes from Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight.
He has appeared in Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds' Blue Moon Rising (2020), Madeon's Miracle with Maisie Williams (2020), Fontaines D.C.'s Bug (2024) and Louis Tomlinson's Imposter (2026).
He plays Karl in the film Amazing Grace, which is in post-production.
Not so far, but James has joked that he would offer the former Everton and Manchester United striker a cameo as a policeman in series 3, saying: "He'd be a brilliant copper."