BBC iPlayer is home to some of the best British dramas, it’s difficult to keep up with what’s actually worth watching. I’ve gathered the best dramas, everything from award winning to critically acclaimed and ranked them according to their IMDb score. I can personally recommend Happy Valley, Line of Duty and Ashes To Ashes.
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Documentaries On BBC iPlayer ~ Films On BBC iPlayer ~ Comedies On BBC iPlayer
Line of Duty – IMDb 8.7
AC-12 investigates police corruption in this gripping thriller created by Jed Mercurio. Starring Vicky McClure, Martin Compston, and Adrian Dunbar, it became one of the UK’s most-watched dramas and won multiple BAFTAs.
Happy Valley – IMDb 8.5
Sarah Lancashire stars as a West Yorkshire sergeant haunted by personal tragedy. Created by Sally Wainwright, this BAFTA-winning series blends emotional depth with gritty crime storytelling across three acclaimed seasons.
Normal People – IMDb 8.4
Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones lead this tender adaptation of Sally Rooney’s novel, tracing a complex relationship from school to university. BAFTA-winning and internationally praised for its intimacy and realism.
Time – IMDb 8.2
Sean Bean and Stephen Graham deliver standout performances in this prison drama written by Jimmy McGovern. A BAFTA-winning exploration of guilt, justice, and survival behind bars.
Gentleman Jack – IMDb 8.2
Suranne Jones plays Anne Lister, a 19th-century landowner and diarist navigating love and legacy in Halifax. Created by Sally Wainwright, this period drama earned BAFTA nominations and LGBTQ+ acclaim.
I May Destroy You – IMDb 8.1
Michaela Coel writes and stars in this genre-defying series about sexual assault, consent, and recovery. Winner of BAFTAs and a Peabody Award, it’s bold, inventive, and emotionally resonant.
Jonathan Creek – IMDb 8.1
Alan Davies stars as a magician’s assistant who solves baffling crimes using logic and illusion. Created by David Renwick, this cult favourite won a BAFTA for Best Drama Series in 1998.
Spooks – IMDb 8.3
This fast-paced MI5 thriller follows agents tackling terrorism and betrayal. With stars like Matthew Macfadyen and Keeley Hawes, it became a benchmark for British spy drama over ten seasons.
Strike – IMDb 7.9
Tom Burke and Holliday Grainger star in this adaptation of Robert Galbraith’s detective novels. Set in London, each case explores fame, trauma, and murder with sharp writing and strong performances.
Wallander – IMDb 7.9
Kenneth Branagh leads this moody adaptation of Henning Mankell’s Swedish detective novels. BAFTA-winning and introspective, it explores justice and isolation in a bleak Nordic landscape.
Merlin – IMDb 7.9
Colin Morgan plays the young warlock protecting Prince Arthur in this BBC fantasy adventure. With John Hurt voicing the dragon, it’s a family favourite blending magic, myth, and destiny.
Bodies – IMDb 7.9
Four detectives across different timelines investigate the same corpse in this Netflix sci-fi crime thriller. Featuring Stephen Graham and Amaka Okafor, it’s a genre mash-up with high concept ambition.
Ashes to Ashes – IMDb 7.8
DI Alex Drake wakes up in 1981 after being shot, landing in a world of glam rock and old-school policing. Keeley Hawes and Philip Glenister star in this stylish sequel to Life on Mars.
The Musketeers – IMDb 7.7
Tom Burke, Santiago Cabrera, and Luke Pasqualino star in this swashbuckling BBC adaptation of Dumas’ classic. With swordplay and political intrigue, it’s a lively period romp.
Kin – IMDb 7.7
Charlie Cox and Clare Dunne lead this Irish crime saga about a Dublin family caught in a gangland war. A tense, character-driven drama with emotional stakes and strong performances.
McMafia – IMDb 7.7
James Norton stars as a London banker drawn into global organised crime. Created by Hossein Amini and James Watkins, this BAFTA-nominated thriller spans Russia, Israel, and the Middle East.
Blue Lights – IMDb 7.6
New recruits face Belfast’s complex policing landscape in this BBC drama. With strong ensemble performances and sharp writing, it’s been hailed as one of the UK’s standout recent crime series.
Wisting – IMDb 7.6
Sven Nordin plays a Norwegian detective tackling cross-border cases and personal demons. Based on Jørn Lier Horst’s novels, this Scandi noir blends procedural grit with emotional depth.
The Cops – IMDb 7.6
A BAFTA-winning police drama set in northern England, known for its documentary-style realism and moral ambiguity. A precursor to The Bill and Line of Duty, it starred Katy Cavanagh and John Henshaw.
The Game – IMDb 7.6
Set in 1970s London, this Cold War spy thriller follows MI5 agents hunting a Soviet mole. Created by Toby Whithouse and starring Tom Hughes, it’s a stylish, cerebral drama with period flair.
The Fades – IMDb 7.6
Paul (Iain De Caestecker) discovers he can see spirits in this BAFTA-winning supernatural thriller. With apocalyptic stakes and sharp writing, it’s a cult favourite that ended too soon.
The Newsreader – IMDb 7.6
Anna Torv and Sam Reid anchor this Australian newsroom drama set in the 1980s. With Logie wins and critical acclaim, it explores media ethics, ambition, and gender politics.
Small Axe – IMDb 7.6
Steve McQueen’s anthology of five films explores Black British life from the 1960s to the 1980s. Mangrove and Red, White and Blue earned BAFTAs and international acclaim for their historical power.
The Night Manager – IMDb 7.6
Tom Hiddleston infiltrates Hugh Laurie’s arms empire in this glossy Le Carré adaptation. Directed by Susanne Bier, it won Golden Globes and Emmys for its sleek production and gripping performances.
Annika – IMDb 7.3
Nicola Walker stars as a Glasgow marine homicide detective who breaks the fourth wall while solving cases. Based on a BBC Radio 4 drama, it blends dry humour, literary references, and emotional subplots.
Rillington Place – IMDb 7.3
Tim Roth and Samantha Morton star in this chilling retelling of the Christie murders. Set in post-war London, it recreates the infamous crimes with psychological intensity and historical precision.
Dublin Murders – IMDb 7.3
Killian Scott and Sarah Greene play detectives investigating two linked cases in this adaptation of Tana French’s novels. Atmospheric and layered, it explores memory, trauma, and buried secrets.
The Gold – IMDb 7.3
Based on the 1983 Brink’s-Mat robbery, this BBC drama stars Hugh Bonneville and Dominic Cooper. It follows the laundering of stolen gold and the ripple effects across British society and law enforcement.
The Sixth Commandment – IMDb 7.3
Timothy Spall and Anne Reid star in this true-crime drama about a manipulative killer targeting vulnerable victims. Written by Sarah Phelps, it earned praise for its sensitivity and restraint.
Sherwood – IMDb 7.3
David Morrissey and Lesley Manville star in this Nottinghamshire-set murder mystery rooted in political history. Created by James Graham, it explores community divisions and legacy tensions.
Black Snow – IMDb 7.2
Travis Fimmel stars as a detective reopening a cold case in a North Queensland town. This Australian noir blends murder mystery with Indigenous history and community tensions.
Beyond Paradise – IMDb 7.2
Kris Marshall reprises his Death in Paradise role in this Devon-set spin-off. With weekly cases and a warm tone, it’s a cosy procedural with strong ratings and family appeal.
The Gone – IMDb 7.2
A New Zealand-Ireland co-production starring Richard Flood and Michelle Fairley. When a couple vanishes in a rural town, cultural tensions and buried secrets surface in this atmospheric mystery.
The Gallows Pole – IMDb 7.2
Michael Socha stars in Shane Meadows’ adaptation of Benjamin Myers’ novel about 18th-century coiners. Gritty, folkloric, and experimental, it blends historical drama with surreal flourishes.
The Salisbury Poisonings – IMDb 7.2
Anne-Marie Duff and Rafe Spall lead this dramatisation of the 2018 Novichok attack. Focused on public health and community response, it earned praise for its restraint and factual clarity.
New Tricks – IMDb 7.1
Retired detectives solve cold cases in this light-hearted procedural starring Dennis Waterman, Amanda Redman, and James Bolam. A BBC staple with a loyal fanbase and gentle humour.
Father Brown – IMDb 7.1
Mark Williams plays the crime-solving priest in this 1950s-set mystery series. Based on G.K. Chesterton’s stories, it’s a daytime favourite with moral themes and village intrigue.
Atlantis – IMDb 7.1
Jack Donnelly stars as Jason, who washes up in a mythical city populated by heroes and monsters. A family-friendly BBC fantasy blending Greek mythology with action and adventure.
The Jetty (2024) – IMDb 7.1
Jenna Coleman plays a detective investigating a suspicious fire at a holiday home in this recent BBC mystery. As she uncovers links to a missing persons case, the story explores memory, trauma, and moral ambiguity.
Vienna Blood (2019– ) – IMDb 7.1
Set in 1900s Vienna, this period detective series pairs a young psychiatrist with a seasoned inspector. Based on Frank Tallis’ novels, it blends psychological insight with murder mystery and stars Matthew Beard and Juergen Maurer.
The Tourist (2022) – IMDb 7.0
Jamie Dornan wakes up in the Australian outback with no memory and dangerous enemies. Created by the Williams brothers (The Missing), it’s a twisty, stylish thriller with international appeal and a second season underway.
The Control Room (2022) – IMDb 7.0
Iain De Caestecker plays a Glasgow emergency call handler drawn into a mystery from his past. A taut thriller exploring memory, guilt, and moral choices, with strong performances and a compact narrative.
Granite Harbour (2022– ) – IMDb 7.0
Romario Simpson stars as a former Royal Military Police officer adjusting to civilian life in Aberdeen CID. A procedural with scenic backdrops and a fresh perspective, co-starring Hannah Donaldson and Dawn Steele.
The Pact (2021–2022) – IMDb 7.0
A group of women cover up a death in this Welsh thriller starring Laura Fraser. Secrets unravel as guilt and suspicion mount, with strong regional viewership and a second season featuring a new cast and storyline.
Keeping Faith (2017–2021) – IMDb 7.0
Eve Myles stars as a lawyer whose husband disappears, triggering a spiral of secrets and danger. Set in Wales and bilingual in English and Welsh, it became a breakout regional hit with emotional storytelling and legal intrigue.
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