'Masterpiece' BBC drama with two 'greatest actors of all time' streaming free on iPlayer

This critically acclaimed BBC prison drama has captivated viewers, with many hailing it as one of the greatest series of all time. Created by Jimmy McGovern, Time takes audiences inside HMP Craigmore, exposing the harsh realities of the British prison system and the lives of those who live and work within it.

Sean Bean stars as Mark Cobden, a former teacher struggling to come to terms with life behind bars. There, he meets Eric McNally, played by Stephen Graham, a dedicated prison officer determined to keep the men under his watch, including Mark, out of trouble. The powerful three-part series went on to win two BAFTAs, including Best Mini-Series and Best Actor for Bean. First broadcast in 2021, Time returned in 2023 for a second series, this time shifting its focus to a women's prison and introducing a stellar new cast.

Jodie Whittaker stars as Orla O'Riordan, a single mother experiencing life behind bars for the first time. Bella Ramsey plays Kelsey Morgan, a pregnant heroin addict and repeat offender, while Tamara Lawrance takes on the role of Abi Cochrane, a woman serving a life sentence.

The three women find their lives intertwined as they navigate the harsh and often unjust realities of incarceration.

Time has been hailed as one of the BBC's most powerful dramas in recent years and currently has a 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

The series made a strong impact on audiences, who flocked to social media to share their praise and admiration.

One wrote: "Time TV series with Sean Bean and Stephen Graham is a poignant masterpiece."

A second echoed: "This is a masterpiece #Time @StephenGraham73 and Sean Bean give gut wrenchingly good performances here. So much detail and realism Every actor is brilliant, the writing phenomenal, my only complaint is there wasn't MORE."

Another penned: "Time is a masterpiece in every respect and it's not just Sean Bean doing the great acting. It's unbearably violent, although some with prison experience suggest this is even understated."

Others hailed Bean and Graham amongst the best actors in the industry, with one writing: "Sean Bean is the greatest actor of all time and that's just the hard facts there is absolutely no argument."

Another posted: "Stephen Graham is one of the best actors of his, or any, generation. arguably the greatest British actor of all-time."

A third added: "Stephen Graham is the greatest actor of our generation. Outstanding in everything he does."