Despite being periodically overshadowed by fancier premium competitors, the BBC iPlayer remains one of the best free TV streaming services in the UK. This is due to its expanding library of binge-worthy shows from British television and beyond. It’s even more thrilling because it’s free for anyone who purchases a TV license. It’s a popular destination for anyone looking to catch up on the latest television shows, including the entire run of the well-known British cop thriller Line of Duty.
Critically acclaimed shows such as Fleabag, Normal People, and Killing Eve are also available on the platform. The service has also experimented with on-demand 4K programming, making some shows like His Dark Materials and Black Narcissus available in Ultra HD.
The following is a list of must-see BBC iPlayer shows that you can watch from the comfort of your own home in the United Kingdom.
Peaky Blinders
Peaky Blinders was a small program that managed to rise from the depths of BBC Two to become one of the most well-liked crime dramas of the twentieth century. With all six seasons now available on iPlayer, you can watch Tommy Shelby’s rise from petty gang leader to wealthy Member of Parliament. The Peaky Blinders were a criminal organization that operated in late-nineteenth-century Birmingham. Inspector Chester Campbell apprehends gang leader Tommy Shelby as they navigate the wreckage of World War One in an attempt to put an end to their illegal operations.
It’s time to start watching if you haven’t already, by order of the Peaky Blinders!
Sherlock
Sherlock, a modernized portrayal of the famous investigator Sherlock Holmes by Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, brings him squarely into the twenty-first century. Martin Freeman and Benedict Cumberbatch play Dr. Watson, the savvy detective’s sidekick. During the first 90 minutes, Watson returns from an injury-plagued tour in Afghanistan. He meets Sherlock, who is looking for a roommate after relocating to 221B Baker Street. The police are perplexed by a string of apparent suicides and seek Sherlock’s specialized investigative skills. The broadcast premiered on BBC One in July 2010.
Line of Duty
Line of Duty is a British police procedural television show created by Jed Mercurio and World Productions. The first series of the drama series, which premiered on BBC Two on June 26, 2012, drew 4.1 million viewers, making it the network’s best-performing drama series in ten years. DS Steve Arnott is transferred to the police anti-corruption unit after an unintentional death during a counterterrorism operation. The mistake was made by a different police officer, who had just won officer of the year. If you haven’t seen it yet, you should because it is undeniably wonderful and will not disappoint.
This Is Going To Hurt
We’ve seen countless medical dramas on television over the years, but it’s only now that we realize what they all lacked: a genuine sense of reality. This is Going to Hurt, the expertly crafted film adaptation of Adam Kay’s autobiographical medical book This Is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor, has no such reservations. Kay contributes his own depth of knowledge as a co-writer on this project to create a series that is both a heartfelt ode to the NHS and a stinging critique of the entrenched structures and budget cuts that allow our medical professionals to receive grossly inadequate funding.
Killing Eve
It is a British spy thriller series starring Grey’s Anatomy’s Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer as Eve Polastri, a British intelligence agent tasked with eliminating the psychotic assassin Villanelle. As the chase progresses, both become obsessed with one another. Although the novelty of Season 1 has worn off, Oh, Comer, and Shaw’s consistently excellent performances make Killing Eve worth watching all the way through.
Doctor Who
Is it possible to compile a list of BBC dramas without mentioning this well-known programme? The rebirth of the long-running science-fiction series “Doctor Who” accomplished the seemingly impossible feat of not only successfully updating the vintage program for the twenty-first century, but also potentially increasing the show’s appeal. The basic premise of the show, however, remains unchanged since the 1960s: an eccentric extraterrestrial time lord travels through space and time in a police box with his companions, battling Daleks, Cybermen, and other monsters and injustices along the way.
Shetland
This series, based on Ann Cleeves’ novels, follows DI Jimmy Perez, a plain detective inspector who lives in Shetland and shares Cassie’s childhood with her true father. Shetland’s characters and narrative were excellent, as were the production values. Apart from that, it’s one of the rare television programs that takes the audience to a faraway place he’s likely never heard of and would never see otherwise. Without a doubt, you should see more.
Are you interested in watching more? Check out the best BBC dramas.
Munia Jamal is a freelance content writer and translator with 5 years of experience, working with different clients and agencies. She believes that content is nothing but showing your creativity through words. She can be contacted at muniaj99@gmail.com.