BBC Drama

I have loved The Outlaws, Shetland, This Town, there’s a new Sally Wainwright series coming up, Riot Women…

For me the BBC, including iPlayer is so much better value than Netflix, for example. And cheaper.

Dr Foster ...is that good then ? she lives round here..n london

Completely agree. We give up on so many dramas because they're far too dark (and usually very violent) for us.

I wish they'd make more 'period' stuff.

Sambre was excellent, french drama

By far the best thing I have watched in ages.

Have you watched The Outlaws on iPlayer? It's a drama/comedy but it was very good. Also, we watched Ludwig and it does get better - I find the first episode of a lot of things is always a bit slow because you're being introduced to the characters and the situation, sometimes you just have to get past that to start to enjoy the show!

Just watching nightsleeper because of this thread. I'm enjoying it.

I loved Clocking Off- watched it more than once. And The Street. Loved Dr Foster too
Re watched Spooks recently and had forgotten how gripping it was.
What about Bodies or Cardiac Arrest?? Same writer as Line of Duty
(If you like medical stuff??)
Smother- beautiful scenery
Killing Eve ??
Unforgotten- itv but really good

I enjoyed Whitstable Pearl on BBC
Watching Nightsleeper - it’s ok, not riveting though

I know it's a repeat but I just watched The Chelsea Detective, which I had completely missed when it came out. Starring Adrian Scarborough, who I really like. They are making a third series. I think they still make good stuff but it is periodic - and I suspect it was always so. We never had wall to wall great shows, they always were jewels in the middle of a lot of dross.

I dont watch tv anymore.
But im now hooked on k-dramas.

Worth noting that the BBC does not make as many dramas as they used to. Most of the programmes they show are made by independent production companies who then 'sell' them to the BBC, ITV, Netflix or whoever.

The Responder was made by Dancing Ledge Productions, Nightsleeper was made by Euston Films, Kin was made by RTE... etc...

The BBC do still make many of their own dramas - Sherwood, Time, Silent Witness etc but they certainly don't have the capacity (or money) to make all their own programmes.

I tried to watch Clocking Off recently but it was pretty dull

This is why we stopped our TV licence, four years ago now. I bought some dvd box-sets of old BBC dramas last year, and sighed over past glories.

Less people paying the licence fee and switching to streaming. Less budget.

Isn't there a drama by the same author as Apple Tree Yard coming up? I know that programme isn't totally the same as the book but the new one might be OK

Sherwood will resonate with anyone who lived through, or is interested in the Miners Strikes of 1984. It’s not set in that era, but does flash back. The acting performances, storylines, are excellent. Great actors at their best, and the “who is it” “why did x do it” are not easy to find out so the tension is there. Tenuous family link for us……..a nephew in law directed three of the episodes! We didn’t know until after watching it.

For those who like foreign detective series (subtitled), consider watching the Inspector Montalbano, and Young Montalbano series. Set in Sicily. Think they were first shown on BBC, but Google will help find👍

The Long Shadow (about the Yorkshire Ripper Murders) is very good as well.

Agreed. It’s nothing to do with diversity. It’s the script, plot, production quality and editing that’s the issue. The actors can only work with what they’re given and it’s often of poor quality.

You are right about the lack of drama, but to be honest how can they compete with the likes of Disney and Apple?
When people compare the license fee to other streaming its just not like for like, the BBC offers so much and even though the watchable tv is dwindling I will happily pay it for so many reasons.

The cost of making drama has risen as the BBC's revenue has decreased. So unfortunately they are making less high quality drama (and live sport). It was a Tory strategy to squeeze it till it failed.

its called nightsleeper

I really enjoyed the recent train hijack one - I think it's still running, but was so gripped I watched the first one on live TV, then binge watched five hours worth.
And very spooked by the station internet hacking problems in the week that led to them blocking all the station internets.

the growth of steaming channels in my opinion needs to start a debate about the role of the licence fee.and public sector broadcasting in general. The BBC news is world class and needs to be kept but in all honesty what can't be done better by the private sector now?

I watched Laos on Netflix and it was the kind of large budget drama with British actors that the BBC in yesteryear would have made. The BBC really can't compete with drama.

The BBC as a national public broadcaster seem to restricted in drama production with maybe an over focus on diversity and inclusivity with many dramas now having a diverse cast as a rock box exercise and I think many dramas can seem contrived in this sense.

I think the BBC hanging on to strictly despite the controversies surrounding it shows how desperate they are to hold onto anything they portray as a flagship regardless of quality.

The BBC is simply not the institution of was.

I've not seen a decent bbc drama in years.

Used to love Cranford, lark rise to candleford and their dickens adaptations. Bleak house, little dorrit. Can't recall anything even remotely as good on recent years.