The British crime drama 'Time' on BBC has been hailed as 'the greatest show ever' by fans, rivalling the acclaimed 'Line of Duty'. The series, created by Jimmy McGovern, has garnered a near-perfect 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and is praised as a 'masterpiece of British television'.
About the Series
'Time' is an anthology crime drama conceived by Jimmy McGovern (Cracker, Hillsborough) and co-written with Helen Black. It comprises two unrelated seasons, each with three hour-long episodes. The show features British acting royalty: Series one stars Sean Bean and Stephen Graham, while series two includes Jodie Whittaker, Tamara Lawrance, Bella Ramsey, and Siobhan Finneran. Both series explore life within the British prison system (HMPS).
Critical Acclaim
Series one aired on BBC One on June 6, 2021, and series two on October 29, 2023. A third season was confirmed in November 2025, with Finneran returning and David Tennant joining. The debut series won Best Mini-Series at the 2022 BAFTA TV Awards, and Sean Bean won Best Actor for his role. Critics described the show as 'absolutely breathtaking', 'relentless, unnerving and urgent storytelling', with performances from Bean and Graham described as 'astonishing' and 'brilliantly contained and captivating'.
Viewer Reactions
Fans have called it 'probably the greatest short series ever made', 'absolutely riveting drama', and 'the very best of British drama'. One viewer noted: 'I have yet to find a TV show that touches on what matters in life in a more truthful and raw way.' Another said: 'TV drama doesn't get any better than this.'
'Time' is available to stream for free on BBC iPlayer.
