Best BBC shows: all the best dramas on BBC iPlayer during Christmas season

Kin follows a Dublin crime family facing a seemingly impossible gangland war as their reserves and resources hit an all-time low. Will the importance of family triumph over the tide of betrayal and sin?

The series stars beloved actors such as Daredevil star Charlie Cox as recently-released Skinner family sibling Michael and Game of Thrones actor Aidan Gillen as the struggling Frank.

The drama boasts a bevvy of Irish talent across the board - with the rest of the cast rounded out by the likes of Peaky Blinders star Emmett Scanlan, The Tudors actress Maria Doyle Kennedy, and the illustrious Ciaran Hinds. Unmissable. Lewis Knight.

The thrilling crime drama from World Productions returns for its second run with stars Suranne Jones and Rose Leslie.

The first outing of the blockbuster show followed murderous actions in the isolated environment of a submarine, leading Amy Silva (Jones) on a gripping race against time to discover the truth, while her on-off lover Kirsten Longacre (Leslie) grappled with their relationship difficulties whilst also pursuing avenues in the investigation.

The second run moves the action from Scotland to a fictional Middle Eastern country with which the UK has been developing a military drone programme. Topical and tense, this is BBC thrilling drama at its very finest. Lewis Knight.

Can Shetland survive post-Jimmy Perez? Well, based on this first case to feature his successor Ruth Calder (Ashley Jensen, above), I’d say yes. She very quickly forges a strong partnership with show stalwart Tosh (Alison O’Donnell) that feels like Scott and Bailey in scarves and sweaters. But let’s not forget that this is a series that’s always been as much about the scenery as its central character — and for those wanting more of those wild and windswept landscapes, all previous Douglas Henshall-starring episodes are available now. - David Brown

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 new, second run stars Jodie Whittaker as a harshly imprisoned mum for whom incarceration is a nightmarish extension of her existing parenting woes. - Jack Seale

Persistent sleepwalker Lorna Brady (Ruth Wilson) wakes one morning to find a corpse in her house. So, might she be responsible for the woman’s demise? And could Lorna also be linked to another case of untimely death being investigated by Dublin-based Detective Colman Akande (Daryl McCormack)?

Those are the central questions that run through this woozy and unsettling six-part thriller. But also hanging over it like a heavy shroud is the feeling of guilt, both on a personal and institutional scale, with Lorna’s deep-rooted trauma tied to Ireland’s Magdalene Laundries, the details of which are gradually shaded in for those unaware of this macabre scandal.

David Brown

This thriller, based on the Jack Caffery novel by Mo Hayder, comes from Steven Moffat’s production company Hartswood films and it shows – there are people held against their will and two parallel timelines, just like Inside Man, and a chilling figure in a gas mask, just like Doctor Who’s The Empty Child.

However, other than those surface-level aspects, Wolf is a truly unique drama, especially in its tone. The series jumps between genres, featuring elements of horror, thriller, crime drama and even comedy to tell its story of a detective haunted by his past and a family being terrorised, unaware as to why.

Ukweli Roach is phenomenal as detective Jack, making sure his storyline is just as compelling as the other, while Sacha Dhawan and Iwan Rheon are clearly having huge fun as the mysterious captors of a wealthy family. – James Hibbs

Back in the early 2000s, millions of viewers paid Sunday-evening visits to the picturesque Glenbogle estate. Almost 25 years on, this easy-going drama about a young laird is now online, so it’s possible to head to the Highlands whenever you like.

It remains escapist fare with the bonus of a twinkly-eyed role for Richard Briers. And those seeking further Scottish misadventures can find them in the Robert Carlyle-starring Hamish Macbeth, which is also part of the BBC comedy drama box sets that have been rescued from the archives.

David Brown

Anthony Horowitz knows the rules of the whodunnit better than most, and in this lovely Russian doll of a mystery he pulls those elements inside out to deliver a cracking story. Two, in fact. The first is set in the present as editor Susan Ryeland (Lesley Manville) reads the latest typescript by author Alan Conway. But then, Conway’s tale – a 1950s-set story featuring his sleuth Atticus Pünd (Tim McMullan) – is brought to life. As both narratives start to merge, Pünd makes his presence felt in Susan’s life…

David Brown

After Happy Valley came to an end, fans were bereft, unsure where they would next see a crime drama of its pedigree in the near future. Then came The Gold.

Don’t get me wrong, the two are totally different beasts, in many ways they could not be more different. Where Happy Valley was a deeply character-based story, this was all about themes, about its exploration of Britain’s class-system in the ’80s.

The series dramatises the extraordinary true story of the Brink’s Mat robbery, featuring real-life figures alongside fictional and composite characters. It’s a complex, twisting narrative, which manages to deftly explain an elaborate situation and features some exceptional performances from the likes of Jack Lowden and Hugh Bonneville – James Hibbs

Screenwriter Sarah Phelps has adapted plenty of Agatha Christie works, and at the heart of this tragic true story she’s moulded into a four-part drama is a real-life antagonist as calculating and callous as any Christie killer. The pre-titles sequence states this is in memory of Peter Farquhar and Ann Moore-Martin. The deaths of these elderly neighbours, in 2015 and 2017 respectively, were not initially thought to be suspicious. But one man was suspiciously close to both.

Timothy Spall conjures sympathy in spades as the quiet, fragile Peter – a well-respected scholar who lives a solitary and deeply religious life that only begins unravelling once he meets new student Ben (Eanna Hardwicke, exuding cold charm). Emotionally vulnerable, Peter is overwhelmed as the two embark on a relationship. But soon, Peter is having dizzy spells and hallucinating. Unbeknown to the host, he’s welcomed a parasite into his home. – Frances Taylor

Writer Jack Thorne is adept at tackling emotive subjects with depth and authenticity, creating stories that shine a powerful light into dark – and often uncomfortable – corners. Following the likes of National Treasure, Kiri and Help, his latest is this considered, devastating four-parter starring an outstanding Sharon Horgan and Michael Sheen.

Nicci (Horgan) and Andrew (Sheen) are parents to Marnie (Niamh Moriarty), who has a rare form of congenital muscular dystrophy. When her already-deteriorating health falls further, it prompts doctors to say that her care should be withdrawn. Her parents vehemently disagree, and the case ends up going to court.

Although there are some superfluous subplots along the way, the final episode’s denouement is as commanding, moving and unbearable as television can get. – Frances Taylor

Those who have followed the career of director Shane Meadows will recognise many of his hallmarks here. There’s the semi-improvised dialogue and that familiar focus on the left-behinds in society. But what’s entirely new is the setting – 18th century Yorkshire, a time when the weavers who feature in this wild true-life story are facing obsolescence thanks to the merciless force of the Industrial Revolution. What follows is a tale of resistance and forgery, masterminded by the mysterious David Hartley (the magnetic Michael Socha), who’s home for the first time in seven years with a stab wound in his gut and a dark secret in his soul. – David Brown

The to-camera confidences of DI Annika Strandhed (Nicola Walker) aren’t to everybody’s taste, but this dark crime drama, based on Nick Walker’s Radio 4 drama, has much to commend it. There’s a strong cast that includes Paul McGann and Kate Dickie, while Walker is superb as the unconventional single parent who comes over from Norway to head Scotland’s Marine Homicide Unit. She’s sharp, has a dry sense of humour and – unlike your typical Scandi-noir detective – uses literary and historical allusions to solve crimes. A second series is coming later this year. – Jane Rackham

Idris Elba may be a global movie star these days, but he still found time to film five series of this smash-hit BBC One show. Luther sees Elba as the dedicated, obsessive and occasionally violent DCI John Luther, a genius murder detective whose brilliant mind is not immune to the darkness of his job. The series starts with him unable to imprison psychopath and murderer Alice Morgan, leading the two to solve crimes together while he fights his own terrible demons.

Luther has been a smash hit for the BBC over the last decade, with Elba repeatedly garnering rave reviews every time a new season premiered, and the dark tone credited with giving the show more weight and gravitas than most police procedurals. Critical praise has been unanimous – indeed the biggest criticism has been the length of the show, with only twenty-one episodes produced over five seasons.

Elba is the powerhouse of this series, but he’s joined by some fine company. His Dark Material’s Ruth Wilson makes a particularly memorable turn as psychopathic nemesis and companion Alice Morgan, with The Death of Stalin’s Dermot Crawley as the razor-sharp DCI Martin Schenk and comedian Michael Smiley as “Deadhead” Benny Silver. – Daniel Furn

A series that needs no introduction, but we’ll give it one anyway.

Happy Valley stars Sarah Lancashire as Yorkshire police sergeant Catherine Cawood. When we meet her in season 1, she’s investigating former prisoner Tommy Lee Royce (James Norton), whom she believes is responsible for the death of her daughter. The rivalry between these two incredible characters continues for two more outings, the last of which was released earlier this year and brought the story to a dramatic conclusion.

Indeed, Happy Valley season 3 was hailed as some of the best British television ever made, adding yet more prestige to the career of screenwriter Sally Wainwright – also known for Last Tango in Halifax and Gentleman Jack.

If you somehow missed its original run, do yourself a favour and watch now.

In what must have been the easiest commissioning decision of the year, the BBC has ordered a second series of this bracing Belfast-set procedural. And no wonder, as this first run is an admirably unvarnished take on life in the police force. It also feels, thanks to its febrile location, as though the daily patrols of officers can go horribly awry in an instant – a factor that keeps viewers on their toes during the tense interactions between those in unform (Richard Dormer and Sian Brooke, above centre, being two notable standouts) and the career criminals in their sights.

David Brown

BBC iPlayer has both versions of Gossip Girl, labelled according to their original years of broadcast: the influential 2007-12 series about overprivileged, hugely unlikeable teens in New York, and the two-series reboot, which debuted in 2021. The new show still features Kristin Bell in a narrating role as the titular, all-seeing blabbermouth, but now instead of her reading a blog by an unknown student at a Manhattan private school, “Gossip Girl” is an Instagram account run by a teacher. In season two, an uneasy pact between the snitch and the school’s top influencer soon cracks.

Jack Seale

A recent acquisition from HBO Max, Search Party went down a storm in the United States for its biting portrayal of millennial culture. The story kicks off as listless 20-something Dory (Arrested Development’s Alia Shawkat) takes it upon herself to track down an acquaintance from her college years, who has recently been declared missing.

Along for the ride is oblivious boyfriend Drew (John Reynolds) and egotistical friends Elliot (John Early) and Portia (Meredith Hagner). Together, the gang get to the bottom of the perplexing mystery – but in doing so, land themselves in even greater danger.

Search Party delivers on gripping drama – not least through a powerhouse performance from Shawkat – but also delights with its witty satire on the vapid trends of the social media generation. Perfect for those who like a blend of light and dark storytelling.

Oh His Dark Materials, you brilliant piece of fantasy you. Based on the bestselling books by Phillip Pullman the series follows 13-year old Lyra Belacqua (Dafne Keen) who embarks on a dangerous journey through a parallel world to uncover the mystery surrounding Dust and how it affects different dimensions in the universe. It’s a riveting adventure that sweeps audiences up along with Lyra in a grand storyline that never compromises its scale to fit the small screen. The series from writer Jack Thorne struck the perfect blend between realism and fantasy, as Lyra’s world feels familiar to our own but also is vastly different.

And while the first season of His Dark Materials felt a little constricted by setting up all these different characters and plot points about parallel worlds, the second season was so much fun as the cosmic stakes got even bigger. Truthfully, this works so much better than the misaligned cinematic adaptation from 2007. It’s a testament to the stellar cast that all the animalistic Daemons don’t come across as silly or stupid, they’re believable and enthralling. Also what a cast! It boasts the likes of James McAvoy, Ruth Wilson and Lin-Manuel Miranda in supporting roles. The final season is streaming now. – Eammon Jacobs

Colin Farrell is currently working the awards circuit after a stellar year, which saw him give memorable performances in The Batman and The Banshees of Inisherin. It’s a shame that his bleak period drama The North Water, which debuted towards the end of 2021, has comparatively been overlooked.

Set in the 1800s, the show follows the crew of a whaling expedition that goes awry, focusing primarily on the barbaric Henry Drax (Farrell) and traumatised doctor Patrick Sumner (Jack O’Connell). It’s a brutal tale of survival, which is certainly not for the faint of heart.

Remarkably, the cast and crew of The North Water actually travelled to the Arctic Circle to film the series – and it shows! No green screen or studio lot could substitute for the astonishing scenery on display, which only adds to the sense of gritty realism in this brilliant drama.

A brave drama commission, which was even more bravely shown on BBC One during the festive period – if you understandably didn’t fancy it then, catch up now. A wise and sober dramatisation by Andrea Gibb of the novel by Andrew O’Hagan, it stars Tony Curran and Martin Compston as lifelong best pals who, when one of them faces death, have their friendship tested like never before. The story carries a devastating, somehow cleansing sadness, while simultaneously celebrating the glory of friendship as a bond just as strong as romantic love. – Jack Seale

Sherwood does what BBC crime dramas do best. With spectacular pacing, crucial historical context in the form of flashbacks to the past and stellar performances from the cast, there’s no wonder this drama was bestowed with so much praise when it was released in June 2o22.

Throughout the six-parter, we follow DCS Ian St Clair (David Morrissey) as he initially investigates a tragic death by bow and arrow in a small former mining town. Soon, tensions to the police presence arise and so to do memories of the past and the mid-80s miners’ strikes that tore apart a once close-knit community.

More than three decades on, the tensions of the past still remain and the drama feels as emotionally raw (especially from Lesley Manville and Claire Rushbrook’s performances) as it does authentic, the latter boosted by the fact the drama comes from Quiz creator James Graham, who was inspired by true events for this series and based it in Nottinghamshire, where he was raised. – Morgan Cormack

With Anna Torv (Mindhunter) at the helm of this Australian drama, it was always going to be a surefire hit of a series. But even more so, The Newsreader is an intriguing insight into the inner workings of an Australian newsroom – with all the workplace discrimination, misogyny and chaos to ponder over.

Taking us back to 1986, the series follows newsreader Helen Norville and new colleague Dale Jennings (Sam Reid) who are both desperately trying to work their way up the nightly news show ladder. Helen is an established anchor, continually turned down by her manager to cover genuinely thought-provoking stories, while Dale is often overlooked. But when Helen takes a leave of absence from work, the two strike up an unlikely bond. As much as this series is a reflection of the times and the hurdles women had to face in the workplace, it’s also a tale of friendship, career and hopefulness. – Morgan Cormack