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.
More best lists on BBC iPlayer:
Documentaries On BBC iPlayer ~ Films On BBC iPlayer ~ Comedies On BBC iPlayer
WYALAN star rating explained:
- 5 stars – Highly enjoyed and would highly recommend as a must watch
- 4 stars – Enjoyed and would watch again in the future
- 3 stars – Glad I watched it once, but I’ll probably never watch it again
- 2 stars – Watched to the end, but I wouldn’t watch it again
- 1 star – DNF (did not finish)
Line of Duty (2012) – Crime/Thriller
For fans of: Bodyguard, The Responder, The Shield
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. WYALAN Rating – 5/5
Happy Valley (2014) – Crime/Drama
For fans of: Broadchurch, The Missing, Mare of Easttown
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. WYALAN Rating – 4.5/5
Bodies (2004) – Medical/Drama
For fans of: Cardiac Arrest, This Is Going to Hurt, ER
Created by Jed Mercurio, this uncompromising hospital drama exposes systemic failures, moral compromise, and surgical horror behind NHS doors. It’s a visceral, ethically charged look at life and death on the ward.
Normal People (2020) – Romance/Drama
For fans of: Conversations with Friends, One Day, Skins
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.
Spooks (2002) – Spy/Thriller
For fans of: MI-5, Homeland, The Game
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.
Time (2021) – Prison/Drama
For fans of: Criminal Justice, The Night Of, Oz
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. WYALAN Rating – 4/5
Gentleman Jack (2019) – Historical/Drama
For fans of: Victoria, The Confessions of Frannie Langton, Anne+
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 (2020) – Psychological/Drama
For fans of: Fleabag, Euphoria, Chewing Gum
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 (1997) – Mystery/Comedy
For fans of: Death in Paradise, Midsomer Murders, Sherlock
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.
Strike (2017) – Crime/Drama
For fans of: Luther, Sherlock, The Fall
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 (2008) – Crime/Drama
For fans of: Broadchurch, Shetland, The Bridge
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 (2008) – Fantasy/Adventure
For fans of: Robin Hood, Atlantis, The Witcher
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.
Ashes to Ashes (2008) – Crime/Sci-Fi
For fans of: Life on Mars, The Sweeney, The Professionals
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. WYALAN Rating – 4/5
The Musketeers (2014) – Historical/Adventure
For fans of: Versailles, Black Sails, Poldark
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 (2021) – Crime/Drama
For fans of: Gangs of London, Love/Hate, Animal Kingdom
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 (2018) – Crime/Thriller
For fans of: The Night Manager, Fauda, Narcos
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 (2023) – Crime/Drama
For fans of: Line of Duty, The Responder, The Cops
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 (2019) – Crime/Drama
For fans of: Wallander, The Bridge, Bordertown
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 (1998) – Crime/Drama
For fans of: The Bill, Blue Lights, Cracker
A BAFTA-winning police drama set in northern England, known for its documentary-style realism and moral ambiguity. A precursor to Line of Duty, it starred Katy Cavanagh and John Henshaw.
The Game (2014) – Spy/Thriller
For fans of: Spooks, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, The Americans
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 (2011) – Supernatural/Thriller
For fans of: Being Human, Misfits, The OA
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 (2021) – Drama
For fans of: The Hour, The Morning Show, A Very British Scandal
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 (2020) – Anthology/Drama
For fans of: Red, White and Blue, Mangrove, Lovers Rock
Steve McQueen’s anthology of five films explores Black British life from the 1960s to the 1980s. BAFTA-winning and internationally acclaimed, it blends historical power with lyrical storytelling.
The Night Manager (2016) – Spy/Thriller
For fans of: McMafia, Homeland, The Honourable Woman
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 (2021) – Crime/Drama
For fans of: Shetland, Vera, Grantchester
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 (2016) – True Crime/Drama
For fans of: Des, The Serpent, The Sixth Commandment
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 (2019) – Crime/Drama
For fans of: The Fall, Broadchurch, Sharp Objects
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 (2023) – Crime/Drama
For fans of: McMafia, The Capture, Sherwood
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 (2023) – True Crime/Drama
For fans of: Rillington Place, The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe, Four Lives
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 (2022) – Crime/Drama
For fans of: The Gold, The Moorside, The Cops
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 (2022) – Crime/Drama
For fans of: Mystery Road, Top of the Lake, Broadchurch
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 (2023) – Crime/Comedy
For fans of: Death in Paradise, Father Brown, Shakespeare & Hathaway
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 (2023) – Crime/Drama
For fans of: The Bay, Dublin Murders, The Missing
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 (2023) – Historical/Drama
For fans of: Peaky Blinders, Taboo, The Village
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 (2020) – True Crime/Drama
For fans of: Four Lives, The Moorside, The Sixth Commandment
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 (2003) – Crime/Comedy
For fans of: Midsomer Murders, Vera, Father Brown
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 (2013) – Mystery/Drama
For fans of: Grantchester, Miss Marple, The Bletchley Circle
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 (2013) – Fantasy/Adventure
For fans of: Merlin, Robin Hood, The Librarians
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) – Crime/Drama
For fans of: The Control Room, The Pact, The Bay
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) – Historical/Crime
For fans of: Sherlock Holmes, Ripper Street, Freud
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) – Thriller
For fans of: The Missing, The Capture, The Fall
Jamie Dornan wakes up in the Australian outback with no memory and dangerous enemies. Created by the Williams brothers, it’s a twisty, stylish thriller with international appeal and a second season underway.
The Control Room (2022) – Thriller
For fans of: Trigger Point, The Jetty, The Pact
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) – Crime/Drama
For fans of: Shetland, Blue Lights, The Bay
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) – Crime/Drama
For fans of: The Control Room, The Jetty, Keeping Faith
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) – Legal/Drama
For fans of: The Split, The Bay, The Fall
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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