ITV's forgotten three-part drama Leaving, starring the late Helen McCrory, has arrived on Netflix and fans are praising it as a "perfect binge-watch".
McCrory, best known to BBC viewers as Polly Gray in Peaky Blinders, took on the role of family patriarch 13 years ago. She died from breast cancer in 2021 at the age of 52, with only her closest family and friends aware of her illness. She passed away before filming began on season six of Peaky Blinders, which had been delayed due to the pandemic.
Following her death, her husband and Homeland star Damian Lewis described her as a "beautiful and almighty woman".
A drama from before Peaky Blinders
Fans may not have seen the ITV drama McCrory starred in the year before she joined the world of Peaky Blinders. Leaving sees McCrory play Julie Ranmore, a hotel events manager who continues to ignore the problems in her loveless marriage by focusing on her job.
Her life is turned upside down when she meets Aaron, an unemployed 21-year-old who takes a job at the same hotel. An immediate connection forms between the pair, and their flirtation becomes a full-blown affair with consequences for them both.
Fan reactions to the mini-series
Since its release on ITV and its Netflix debut this week, viewers have been praising Leaving on IMDb. One viewer described it as the "perfect binge-watch", while another hailed the mini-series as a "little gem".
Another commented: "Brilliantly acted, often tense and heartbreaking, this is an outstanding drama...the late Helen McCrory gives an unforgettable performance." A fellow user called it "utterly absorbing", with another labelling it "brilliant, tense and heartbreaking", while someone else said it was "maddening in all the right ways".
McCrory stars opposite Callum Turner, known for shows such as Masters of the Air, Eternity, The Capture and the recent film One Night. Turner is also the husband of singer-songwriter Dua Lipa, with the pair marrying earlier this year. Leaving is now available to watch on Netflix.
