With a plethora of streaming sites at our fingertips, finding a truly good series to watch can feel like looking for a needle in a haystack.
But fear not, we’ve done the hard for work for you as there a seven shows on BBC iPlayer with perfect scores on review site Rotten Tomatoes ready for you to binge-watch now.
How many of these ‘masterpieces’ have you seen and which ones will you sink your teeth into next?
Boiling Point
Following the success of the 2021 film by the same name, the BBC commissioned a TV miniseries sequel of drama Boiling Point with Stephen Graham returning to his role as chef, Andy Jones.
The culinary drama picks up six months after the film ended, following Andy’s heart attack brought on by the stress of trying to quit drugs and alcohol while running a busy and unorganised restaurant.
He tried to blame the downfall of his eatery on innocent sous-chef Carly, played by Vinette Robinson, but after walking out on the chaos, she is back and better than ever.
Now, Carly is running her own restaurant, Point North, with the help of her former boss Andy’s staff.
Following the success of the 2021 film by the same name, the BBC commissioned a TV miniseries sequel of drama Boiling Point with Stephen Graham returning to his role as chef, Andy Jones
The culinary drama picks up six-months after the film ended, with Carly now running her own restaurant, Point North, with the help of her former boss Andy’s staff
The four-part series focuses on Carly and her team, including new chef Johnny, kitchen porters Jake and Holly, and pastry chef Emily
It explores the challenges of running a restaurant in a difficult climate, and the toll that the pressure of the job can take on people’s personal lives, making for four hours of drama-filled viewing.
On Rotten Tomatoes, reviewers drew parallels between Boiling Point and the hit Disney+ show The Bear.
They gave the show a perfect 100 per cent score on the Tomatoemeter and other viewers gave it an impressive 94 per cent on the Popcornmeter.
One review said: ‘While the venue may have changed, the series has lost none of its high-octane energy in the kitchen, nor the stress and tension that oozes out of every order, leaving audiences feeling anxious … and hungry.’
Another reads: ‘Boiling Point will give you very strong Bear vibes, but that doesn’t mean that it’s a carbon copy. It’s just as pulse-pounding to watch, and you’ll find yourself more involved in what’s going on than you might have expected.’
Fleabag
This Emmy award-winning BBC series follows Pheobe Waller-Bridge’s character Fleabag, a struggling millennial woman who runs a failing guinea pig café that she opened with her best friend Boo, who tragically took her own life.
Across two seasons, the protagonist, who is traumatised and riddled with guilt over the death of her friend, constantly locks horns with her family and jumps from one dysfunctional relationship to the next.
Most notably, her will-they-won’t-they flirty relationship with The Priest, who is not allowed to have sexual or romantic relationships due to his Catholic faith.
The show’s title is inspired by its creator Waller-Bridge’s nickname and shows the character’s journey to loving herself and learning to love others, no matter what pain that could bring.
She starts as someone who hates herself and ends up believing that she can love again and forgive herself.
This Emmy award winning BBC series follows Pheobe Waller-Bridge’s character Fleabag, a struggling millennial woman who runs a failing guinea pig café that she opened with her best friend Boo, who tragically took her own life
Her will-they-won’t-they flirty relationship with The Priest, who is not allowed to have sexual or romantic relationships due to his Catholic faith, has thrilled viewers
Speaking about the show’s plot, Waller-Bridge explained: ‘It was really about a woman who felt she was really valued primarily by her sexual desirability.
‘And I really wanted to write about that in a way that was accessible and funny so people didn’t realise that’s what it was about until it sneaks up on you.’
On Rotten Tomatoes, reviewers called Fleabag ‘a dirtier Bridget Jones’ Diary’ and gave it a sparkling 100 per cent score. Other viewers gave it a 93 per cent score on the Popcornmeter.
One review reads: ‘It’s dirty, it’s sexy, it’s disgusting, it’s hilarious – and it’s about being a girl. As in, a real girl. Scared? You should be.’
Another said: ‘Fleabag starts off like a dirtier Bridget Jones’ Diary, but it soon develops into a more nuanced and heartbreaking (still humorous) novella about a person trying to find her truest self.’
Keeping Faith
This thriller-cum-kitchen sink drama, set in small-town Wales, stars Broadchurch actress Eve Myles as Faith Howells, a lawyer forced to cut short her maternity leave after her husband and business partner suddenly disappears.
When Faith returns to work to defend a homeless person accused of shoplifting, she discovers new information about Evan’s private life and questions how well she knew the man she married.
But when Faith goes on to uncover a dark and seedy criminal network in her home county of Carmarthenshire, Wales, she is accused of being involved and taken into custody.
The show’s central depiction of a mother struggling to keep a family’s life on track despite heartbreak has captured its large fanbase.
This thriller-cum-kitchen sink drama, set in small-town Wales, stars Broadchurch actress Eve Myles as Faith Howells, a lawyer forced to cut short her maternity leave after her husband and business partner suddenly disappears
When Faith returns to work to defend a homeless person accused of shoplifting, she discovers new information about Evan’s private life and questions how well she knew the man she married
The first season broke records in Wales, becoming the most-watched series ever on Welsh TV.
‘Women in the midst of motherhood aren’t seen as sexy or interesting enough to play lead roles, Faith has busted that myth,’ said Pip Broughton, the show’s director.
Keeping Faith received a pristine 100 per cent score on Rotten Tomatoes from critics.
One review reads: ‘What makes this show so good isn’t the naturalism of the dialogue, the easy progression of the mystery, or the inventive use of close-ups and overhead shots. What makes Keeping Faith “must-stream TV” is Eve Myles.’
Another said: ‘Myles is fantastic in the title role, mixing boldness and vulnerability, verve and remorse as she searches for the reason behind Evan’s disappearance. If “Keeping Faith” kept her from quitting acting, that alone justifies its existence.’
Ludwig
This murder mystery series stars David Mitchell as John ‘Ludwig’ Taylor, an introverted and reclusive puzzle setter.
Against his better judgement, he is dragged into an exciting adventure after his identical twin brother goes missing.
He is recruited by his sister-in-law, played by Anna Maxwell Martin, and the two start the hunt to find him.
Ludwig cleverly impersonates his police detective twin brother in order to find out more information about his mysterious disappearance.
This murder mystery series stars David Mitchell as John ‘Ludwig’ Taylor, an introverted and reclusive puzzle setter
Against his better judgement, he is dragged into an exciting adventure after his identical twin brother goes missing
But in a shock turn of events, he excels at solving crime and soon becomes absorbed into living as his brother.
Each episode explores a new murder with mind-bending puzzles for Ludwig to solve.
Ludwig received a golden 100 per cent score on Rotten Tomatoes from critics and a respectable 93 per cent from other watchers on the Popcornmeter.
One review said: ‘It’s a brilliant idea and a lovely bit of casting, and Mitchell is thoroughly convincing as an anxious intellectual struggling to fill his brother’s shoes.’
Another wrote: ‘It’s Kettle Chips viewing, best consumed with a glass of wine and a brain in neutral. Morse wouldn’t like it, or Sherlock, but you might.’
Mr Loverman
This romance drama is based on the acclaimed 2013 novel by the Booker Prize-winning author Bernardine Evaristo and tells the story of Lennie James’ character Barry, a flamboyant 74 year old renowned for his dapper taste and fondness for retro suits.
His wife of 50 years, Carmel , played by Sharon D Clarke, thinks he’s been cheating on her with other women.
However, she is only half correct as Barry has in fact been having a secret, passionate affair with his male best friend and soulmate, Morris, played by Ariyon Bakare.
Now facing the final chapter of his life, Barry has big choices to make that will force his whole family to question their futures.
This romance drama is based on the acclaimed 2013 novel by the Booker Prize-winning author Bernardine Evaristo and tells the story of Lennie James’s character Barry, a flamboyant 74-year-old renowned for his dapper taste and fondness for retro suits
His wife of 50 years, Carmel , played by Sharon D Clarke, thinks he’s been cheating on her with other women. However, she is only half correct as Barry has infact been having a secret, passionate affair but with his male best friend and soulmate, Morris, played by Ariyon Bakare
And the drama has certainly proved a hit with viewers, as it boasts a 100 per cent score on Rotten Tomatoes.
One critic wrote: ‘This is a different, spikier, much braver tale about the Windrush generation than usually makes it on to our screens. There is closeness, vibrancy, violence and sorrow in the mix, plus an examination of many forms of love.’
Another said: ‘Intertwined with Barrington’s relationships with his two adult daughters and grandson, this is a tender, painful portrait of an older homosexual love affair in a drama that shows how bigotry makes people waste years of their lives.’
Life On Mars
This popular drama ran for two seasons between 2006 and 2007 and followed the story of DI Sam Tyler, played by John Simm.
DI Tyler had a car accident in the year 2006 and mysteriously found himself taken back in time to 1970s Manchester.
He wakes up in the year 1973, unsure if he’s in a coma, has time-travelled, or has gone utterly insane.
Sam’s modern, forward-thinking values do not mix well with the old-fashioned policing and technology of the time period he is now in.
He notices a connection between a 1973 murder and a 2006 kidnapping case, but he has to solve the murder to get back to the present time where he can solve the kidnapping.
This popular drama ran for two seasons between 2006 and 2007 and followed the story of DI Sam Tyler, played by John Simm
DI Tyler had a car accident in the year 2006 and mysteriously found himself taken back in time to 1970s Manchester. He wakes up in the year 1973, unsure if he’s in a coma, has time-travelled, or has gone utterly insane
Life on Mars is a touching and funny show about friendship, love, finding your place in the world and adapting to change.
On Rotten Tomatoes it garnered a 100 per cent score on the Tomatometer from critics and a near-perfect score of 98 per cent from other viewers on the Popcornmeter.
One review said: ‘Life On Mars is more than just a jolly, tongue-in-cheek romp into the past. Once there, in 1973, we find ourselves immersed in a reasonably gripping police drama.’
Another wrote: ‘The show and its stars – particularly British TV vet John Simm, who effortlessly toggles Sam from his role as principled, cool cop one minute to that of lost soul in anguish the next – are top-notch.’
Colin From Accounts
This Australian romantic comedy, produced by Binge and Foxtel, has become an international hit in over 100 countries since its first season premiered in 2022.
Set in Sydney, the series follows main character Gordon and Ashley, played by husband-and-wife duo Patrick Brammall and Harriet Dyer.
They are brought together after Ashley flashes her breasts to Gordon while crossing the road.
The distraction leads to him hitting a stray dog with his car, who they take in and name Colin.
This Australian romantic comedy, produced by Binge and Foxtel, has become an international hit in over 100 countries since its first season premiered in 2022
Set in Sydney the series follows main character Gordon and Ashley, played by husband-and-wife duo Patrick Brammall and Harriet Dyer
As they co-parent Colin the stray, they end up falling in love and moving in together whilst they try to find the pooch’s original owner.
On Rotten Tomatoes it scored 100 per cent on the Tomatometer from critics and a score of 95 per cent from other viewers on the Popcornmeter.
One critic said: ‘In today’s despoiled blockbuster landscape, the fact filmmaking this energetic, ambitious and sheerly eccentric remains possible is no cause for complaint.’
Another wrote: ‘It is, in short, a wonderful and hilarious romantic comedy that rightly puts a twist here and there on the conventions of the genre, to build something essential for lovers of this type of fiction.’
All the shows mentioned in this list are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
