Best BBC shows: All the best dramas on BBC iPlayer

Over the years we’ve seen countless medical dramas hit our screens, but it’s only now that we realise what so many of them were missing – they haven’t felt real. That’s not a problem for This is Going to Hurt, the perfectly crafted adaptation of Adam Kay’s autobiographical medical book This Is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor. With Kay also on writing duties here, he brings his own wealth of insights to create a series that is at once a loving tribute to the NHS, while also being a searing indictment of the budget cuts and entrenched systems which allow our medical practitioners to go drastically under-supported.

With a never-better Ben Whishaw leading a stellar cast, including Alex Jennings, Harriet Walter and breakout star Ambika Mod, who shines in her first ever TV role, This is Going to Hurt might not be one for the squeamish, but it certainly packs a powerful dramatic punch. – James Hibbs

If you’re aching for a new crime drama to grip you while you’re waiting for Line of Duty series seven to be confirmed, then Mother of God, you need to watch Bloodlands. The James Nesbitt-fronted series comes from Line of Duty and Bodyguard executive producer Jed Mercurio, so just prepare yourself for some shocking twists. The four-part series follows DCI Tom Brannick (Nesbitt) as he connects the kidnapping of a former-IRA member to a mysterious assassin known only as Goliath. It’s very easy to become quickly invested in Bloodlands as the conspiracy presents more layers for audiences to peel back with each new episode.

It’ll definitely keep your eyes glued to the screen – especially when certain revelations come to light. Needless to say, James Nesbitt commands everyone’s attention with this one. This Northern Irish noir (Noirthern Irish, anybody?) also features some of the most intense interrogation scenes to rival the ones seen in the AC-12 offices. There’s only four episodes in the first season, so it’s an easy binge-watch. And yes, season two has already been greenlit, not that we’re excited or anything. – Eammon Jacobs

The premise for Martin Freeman’s latest drama doesn’t sound like much. It’s the story of a police officer in Liverpool who struggles with the pressures of the job and has shady relationships with people on the wrong side of the law. Pitch that to a TV executive and you might get short shrift. But in practice it’s powerful stuff, an unsettling tale written by Tony Shumacher – himself a former policeman – with such a pained performance by Freeman that it makes you want to hug the next copper you see and tell them everything will be OK…

Jimmy McGovern’s prison drama lays bare the brutality of the penal system by following inmates who in different ways seem out of place inside. In the first run, Sean Bean is a man who has made an awful mistake and is as troubled by his conscience as he is by the violent hierarchies in place on his wing, while Stephen Graham co-stars as a prison officer forced into corruption. The second run stars Jodie Whittaker as a harshly imprisoned mum for whom incarceration is a nightmarish extension of her existing parenting woes. – Jack Seale

This drama from The Missing’s Harry and Jack Williams, which has now run for two seasons, stars Jamie Dornan as a man who wakes up in a hospital in a very unenviable position: he has no idea of the circumstances which led to his hospitalisation, suffering from a severe case of memory loss. Referred to initially only as The Man, Dornan’s character slowly tries to piece his life together across the six-episode run, with the series taking plenty of twists and turns along the way.

In addition to the mystery elements, there is also plenty of offbeat comedy to enjoy – with a slew of eccentric supporting characters regularly popping up as The Man attempts to rediscover his identity and recall the events that caused his memory loss. With the first season set against a barren Australian backdrop, and the second in Ireland, it’s a series that at times feels like it’s borrowing elements from various other films and TV shows, but it nonetheless remains very much its own thing – a little overstuffed and tonally muddled perhaps, but extremely enjoyable all the same. – Patrick Cremona

A young, unfamiliar cast bring an unstable energy to an edgy drama, set in the London investment banking sector. The new intake of hopefuls trying to make it in high finance ought to be some of that generation’s brightest and best, but they are still young adults who make mistakes – and often, their high opinion of their own abilities is their downfall. That’s as true in their personal lives as it is in an office environment where extreme pressure is the norm. – Jack Seale

Doctor Who has always been renowned for its scary sci-fi (who can forget the terror of the Weeping Angels, eh?) but Russell T Davies’ Torchwood was given the opportunity to really get gritty. The show plunged its hands into the filth of how the existence of aliens would affect the planet as a time-rift in Cardiff (of all places) kept Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman) and his team plenty busy. Torchwood was sexy, bloody and a lot of fun. If you haven’t seen it before, think of it like a very British take on The X-Files or Buffy the Vampire Slayer, with each episode featuring a monster-of-the-week before tying into an overarching storyline. As the Doctor Who revival of the early 2000s continued to be popular it was no surprise that Torchwood struck a chord with fans as it introduced hordes of new characters and monsters, offering a gory outlet for those who imagined what an adult version of the time-travel show could look like. After an impressive two seasons, it later returned in 2009 and 2011 with two miniseries, Children of Earth and Miracle Day – focusing on two sprawling storylines, with the latter taking the team to America. Many fans still hope for a fifth outing for Torchwood, but nothing has been confirmed as of yet. – Eammon Jacobs

This three-part true-crime drama tells the harrowing story of the four young men who were murdered by convicted serial killer Stephen Port in 2014 and 2015. Written and created by Jeff Pope and Neil McKay, the series shines a light on all four victims and their loved ones whilst also highlighting the missteps made by authorities when investigating the cases.

Stephen Merchant gives a memorably chilling performance as Port, while there are also great turns from the likes of Sheridan Smith, Tim Preston, Jakub Svec, Leo Flanagan and Paddy Rowan. It’s a heartbreaking programme, but very much one worth watching. – Patrick Cremona

Many were sceptical at the idea of a 21^st -century version of Conan Doyle’s detective – but Sherlock is far better than it has any right to be. This fresh, modern and mind-bending reimagining from Doctor Who scribes Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss takes several of Conan Doyle’s famous stories and not only updates them for the modern audience, but adds a truly unique spin with humorous and highly quotable one-liners, a complex and evolving friendship and, of course, some of the best twists and turns to ever grace our televisions.

It’s no wonder that this show helped launch Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman to Hollyood stardom – Cumberbatch excels as the ‘high-functioning sociopath’ with a genius mind but a lack of social skills, and Freeman excellently anchors him as a loyal partner both professionally and more importantly, personally. As well as great turns form the likes of Una Stubbs and Rupert Graves, particular mention has to go to Andrew Scott – before he was Fleabag’s ‘hot priest’, he very nearly stole the show with only a few episodes of screen time as the delightfully malicious mastermind Moriarty.

Sherlock is impressively faithful to Doyle’s original works in many ways, makes some interesting new additions in others but mostly updates to his iconic stories in some seriously clever and creative ways – just wait until you see how the show’s take on The Reichenbach Fall perplexed the internet for years. Its episodic nature means there’s been a few hiccups down the road – but Sherlock at the height of its powers is some of the finest crime drama on British TV. – Daniel Furn

Class politics, pregnancy and the power of reputation collide in this Sydney-set psychological thriller imported from Down Under. The Secrets She Keeps follows forlorn shelf-stacker Agatha who idolises the seemingly perfect life of influencer Meghan, who just so happens to be at the same stage of pregnancy as Agatha. However babies are not all the two are carrying – and after a chance meeting at the supermarket, the explosive secrets weighing down on both expectant mothers will culminate in an unforgivable act.

The plot twists in this may not be all that unpredictable – especially if you’re aware of the true story the show is based on – but that’s not the point. Instead, the show’s charm comes from slow-burn tension and dark humour as well as the expected soapy elements, making for a unique noirish exploration of femininity, motherhood and image.

The true strength in The Secrets She Keeps, however, is the performances from the two leads, namely Arrow’s Jessica De Gouw as Meghan, but Downton Abbey’s Laura Carmichael as Agatha in particular. Worlds away from Lady Edith Crawley, Carmichael plays grippingly against type as the delicate but disturbing supermarket employee determined to have the life she wants – even if belongs to someone else. – Daniel Furn

This heartbreaking drama follows two young students Connell Waldron (Paul Mescal) and Marianne Sheridan (Daisy Edgar Jones) who begin an intense affair at school before their own insecurities get the better of them, causing a rift in their unique relationship. Based on the novel by critically acclaimed author Sally Rooney, the series follows their lives as they grapple with their own emotions while still trying to desperately cling on to one another. At times, Normal People is heartfelt and poignant, and at others it’s emotionally devastating. What’s even more impressive is this was Paul Mescal’s first major television role, and he’s made a sublime impression on audiences with his truly gut-wrenching performance.

Because Sally Rooney wrote the series (alongside Alice Birch and Alice O’Rowe) those who read the 2018 book will recognise just how faithful to the original story Normal People is. And with a brilliant direction from Lenny Abrahamson and Hettie Macdonald, it’s unsurprising that the series was nominated for, and won a collection of awards. – Eammon Jacobs

There’s no way of overselling the impact of the longest-running science-fiction series of all time in Doctor Who.

Now on their fifteenth incarnation, the Time Lord known as The Doctor has travelled through time and space in his ship known as the TARDIS and often takes companions on his travels with him – often from Earth.

This year saw the 60th anniversary of the show and for it, we saw the return of beloved previous showrunner Russell T Davies, David Tennant back as The Doctor, and Catherine Tate back as beloved companion Donna Noble for three specials!

Now, following a revolutionary event known as bigeneration, we have our Fifteenth Doctor, played by the fabulous Ncuti Gatwa from Sex Education.

The hype has never been stronger for Doctor Who and BBC iPlayer now boasts the epic Whoniverse section which includes every available episode from the classic run of the show and every episode since the series was revived in 2005, plus specials and spin-off series including Torchwood, The Sarah Jane Adventures, and the recent Tales of the TARDIS.

As we eagerly anticipate further episodes with Gatwa’s Doctor and new companion Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson) there is tons to whet your appetite until then! – Lewis Knight.

Killing Eve has become a pop culture smash hit on both sides of the Atlantic. It’s easy to see why with its fresh, subversive take on the espionage thriller – being an international assassin has never looked like so much fun.

Bored British Intelligence officer Eve is thrilled to be tasked with tracking down psychopathic assassin Villanelle – but what starts out as your usual cat-and-mouse thriller goes into much more interesting territory when the two develop a mutual obsession for each other.

Stylish, funny, and at times very, very, gory, Killing Eve’s feminist take on the usually male-dominated spy genre provides some very witty and surprising results. This is no small part due to the writers – Phoebe Waller-Bridge was head writer of season one just before Fleabag made her an international star, while Promising Young Woman writer-director Emerald Fennell took over the reins for the similarly critically acclaimed season two.

While Sandra Oh was already known for Grey’s Anatomy, Killing Eve would make stars out of both leads – Jodie Comer has rightfully won an Emmy and a British Television Award for her portrayal of the chameleon-esque Villanelle, while Oh snagged a Golden Globe for her work as titular spy Eve. Though very deserving of their Best Actress awards, the two should really be nominated together rather than against each other – their electric chemistry lifts the whole show. – Daniel Furn

Based on the 1993 novel of the same name, A Suitable Boy is a vast, sweeping period drama following four linked families in post-independence India, with the focus on young university student Lata Rupa. Her mother is determined to pick Lata’s husband for her – so as the entire country goes through a pivotal cultural and political change, will Lata remain loyal to her mother’s wishes or choose her own suitable boy?

Vikram Seth’s towering 1,300 page novel is condensed into a bite-size six-episode series, yet still manages to cover a sizeable amount of ground, with four large families featured (and over 110 characters), as well the historical context, a background general election, a showcase of Indian music and dancing, and, of course, Lata’s central story. Director Mira Nair ensures that not a minute is wasted, however, with stunning set pieces and an overabundance of colour making sure the visuals are just as busy and exciting as the plot.

A Suitable Boy is also notable for being the first BBC period drama to have a non-Caucasian cast – with the actors and actresses involved often highlighted by critics as the best part of the show. Tanya Maniktala delights in only her second on-screen appearance as protagonist Lata, with Indian actor Ishaan Khatter as the wayward Maan Kapoor. Bollywood star Tabu plays his courtesan love interest Saeeda Bai, while Manifest’s Mahira Kakkar portrays Lata’s domineering mother. – Daniel Furn

The BBC often excels at cat-and-mouse crime dramas – with The Fall dominating the genre before Killing Eve came along. Gillian Anderson follows Stella Gibson, a tortured Detective Superintendent who is no stranger to catching serial killers. This particular serial killer, however, is revealed at the outset to be family man Paul Spector, hiding in plain set as he attacks young women in Belfast. Which of these tormented but brilliant minds will come out on top?

Unrelentingly dark, The Fall has proved itself to be a mastermind at building tension and drawing complex characters. It threw the crime drama rulebook out the window by revealing the killer immediately, replacing any whodunit elements with a slow-burn will-they-won’t they between the police’s efforts to catch Paul and his efforts to get away, as well as a psychological study of the killer and what could prompt a seemingly normal and functioning human to kill.

Such a two-hander would of course require two strong leads – and they found movie star choices in Jamie Dornan and Gillian Anderson. Dornan was winning rave reviews as cold serial killer Paul Spector before the Fifty Shades of Grey franchise made him a household name, while the always excellent Gillian Anderson began her recent television resurgence began here with her portrayal of the seemingly cold but passionate Stella Gibson. – Daniel Furn

All aboard The Sacramentum, ship of nightmares – and prepare for fowl play. This high seas horror drama slipped under many viewers’ radars when it launched in the autumn, but it rewards seeking out if you’re a fan of black comedy, conspiracy thrillers or slasher flicks. Searching for answers about his sister Pippa, who disappeared three months earlier, 19-year-old Jamie (Ladhood’s Oscar Kennedy) joins the crew of the vast and mysterious cruise liner where she worked. Pippa was said to have committed suicide but Jamie suspects murder. He soon uncovers an on-board subculture of drug-dealing, debauchery, tribal rivalries and elaborate hazing rituals. Six exuberant episodes of intrigue and jump-scares ensue and unforgettably features the most sinister TV duck since Orville.

Michael Hogan

If you love a good murder mystery with a slice of comedy, then look no further than Death in Paradise. The series is set on a fictional island in the Caribbean called Saint Marie and at first follows Ben Miller’s Detective Richard Poole who’s investigating the murder of a British police officer on the island. Once he solves the bizarrely complicated case, Poole is ordered to stay on the island as the go-to Detective Inspector. The format has worked particularly well with audiences since 2011, as Death in Paradise often rotates detectives in and out to keep the story going, much like in Doctor Who.

So far, Ben Miller, Kris Marshall, Ardal O’Hanlon and most recently Ralf Little have all played the various detectives who are put in charge in Saint Marie, each with their own compelling reasons for staying abroad rather than living in England. Created by Richard Thurgood in 2011, this entertaining comedy-drama has proved that it’s got the legs to keep on going. In fact the BBC has been so impressed with it, that it’s already been commissioned for season 12. To be honest, with that many murders, we’re surprised there’s anyone still alive in Saint Marie… – Eammon Jacobs

Mother of God. If you haven’t seen Line of Duty, perhaps we can persuade you to give it a go… The series from Jed Mercurio follows the anti-corruption officers of AC-12 as they try and root out corrupt police men and women as they work with organised crime gangs. It’s arguably one of the best British shows of the last decade. Each season has an individual case which is inextricably snared in a web of corruption which endangers the lives of everyone involved. But at its core, audiences were enamored by the enduring (professional) partnership of Kate Fleming and Steve Arnott. They’re unstoppable, even in the face of damning odds – and it’s the performances from Vicky McClure and Martin Compston that sell their dynamic so perfectly, “mate”.

But we’d be deranged if we didn’t praise Ted “Yes, like the battle” Hastings. Adrian Dunbar’s ferocious tenacity as the head of AC-12 makes him so, so lovable. Throw in an array of catchphrase-worthy phrases, and he quickly became the face of the show as much as Compston and McClure. This is all without mentioning the insane talent of the guest stars each season, featuring the likes of Lennie James, Keeley Hawes and Daniel Mays – to Thandiwe Newton, Stephen Graham and Kelly Macdonald. The central mystery of H/the Fourth Man does get a little convoluted as time goes on, but putting all the pieces together behind the conspiracy is incredibly satisfying. – Eammon Jacobs

There’s a reason Our Girl ran for four seasons, because audiences just couldn’t get enough of the military drama. It had all the usual trappings of a typical romantic series, but framing it against the backdrop of the war in Afghanistan made every single emotion feel heightened in a way which snared viewers almost immediately. Although it initially followed Lacey Turner’s Molly Dawes who joins the British Army after being unhappy with her life, the show pivoted to Michelle Keegan’s Georgie Lane from season two onwards.

The action in Our Girl is brilliantly entertaining, raising the stakes for every single relationship and character dynamic across the series. Sure, it can feel a little too romanticised at times, but it’s easy to become invested in the diverse cast of characters who show up along the way. It never shied away from the consequences of war, with both Molly and Georgie having to balance their own personal issues alongside their duties. While Our Girl occasionally ponders on the politics of war, it doesn’t disrupt the various romantic relationships. It’s more concerned with the direct consequences of fighting both on the civilians and the soldiers themselves. – Eammon Jacobs