Our Friends in the North, a drama celebrated as "one of the greatest British TV series ever," is now available to stream on BBC iPlayer. The series, which helped launch the careers of stars including Daniel Craig and Christopher Eccleston, follows the lives of four friends from Newcastle upon Tyne over three decades.
Plot and Setting
The series spans more than 30 years, from 1964 to 1995, charting the friends' journey from their teenage years through middle age. Set against real-life events such as miners' strikes, general elections, and the great storm of 1987, the drama also traces the shifting political landscape across Britain. The main characters include university student Nicky (Christopher Eccleston), his companions Geordie (Daniel Craig) and Tosker (Mark Strong), and Nicky's girlfriend Mary (Gina McKee).
Critical Acclaim
First broadcast in 1996, Our Friends in the North has often been hailed as one of the finest television series ever made. "A landmark British series," one viewer wrote on IMDb.com. "This is truly one of the finest series to come out of Britain." Another added: "The acting is outstanding, particularly from Christopher Eccleston, Daniel Craig and Gina McKee who have all become very successful, in part, no doubt, due to this series... Moving, gritty, realistic Our Friends in the North is a must-see."
"What a real tour de force of British television," remarked another viewer. "I love these 80s and 90s dramas and this one is probably one of the best I've seen. It's long, dark, gritty, dialogue heavy and all the characters' stories interact so beautifully. The writing is second to none and when people say 'they don't make them like this anymore' ... with regards to this, never before or since! Just watch it. It's perfect TV."
Viewer Reactions
"This series is excellent, both heartwarming and tragic," observed someone else, while another viewer described it as "an excellent drama" and recommended: "Put aside a weekend... and lock out the world." "One of the finest moments of British television and any other television for that matter," declared another impressed viewer, branding it "a masterpiece". "First class acting, wonderful use of music to depict the time period and marvellous production values make this one of the viewing events that will stay forever in your memory since after watching this, it will be hard to find anything better."
Someone else described the series as "sprawling, epic, jaw-dropping, moving", adding "Our Friends in the North is unparalleled." "Still one of the best pieces of television ever made," one individual posted on Reddit, while someone else concurred: "I'm struggling to think of anything that tops it for me." "One of the greatest British TV series ever," commented another.
"Absolutely stand out TV," shared another fan. "Made a real impression on me as a teenager at the time, and I thought they captured the moments in history perfectly. Real career high performances from the whole cast too, many who went on to do great things as well."
Availability
Our Friends in the North is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
