Deadwater Fell
Starring Cush Jumbo (The Good Fight) and David Tennant (Doctor Who, Broadchurch), this four-part crime drama is set in the fictional Scottish town of Kirkdarroch and follows two families in the aftermath of a horrific crime. One night the community is drawn to Tom’s (Tennant) home in the forest by the flicker of flames and the smell of smoke. Amid the confusion Tom’s wife Kate (Anne Madeley) and their 3 children are found dead while Tom, who is found alive, is rushed to hospital. As the fingers of suspicion point first to Tom, then to others as more details of that night emerge, Jess (Jumbo) becomes desperate to understand what could have caused such a tragedy, and what secrets lie at the root of this terrible act…
Deadwater Fell premieres on SBS at 9:30pm Wednesday 21 April, airing weekly. Episodes will be available at SBS On Demand the same day they go to air.
The A Word
A is for autism in this UK drama series, at its heart, young Joe Hughes, played with aplomb by Max Vento. When Joe is diagnosed, his parents, Alison and Paul (Morven Christie and Lee Ingleby) are flooded with worries. As with most families, none of them knows how to talk about it or express their many feelings adequately, causing friction and adding to their stress. This smart contemporary drama is filled with ideas about parenthood, disability, community and communicating. It’s also audacious and funny, raw and loving.
The A Word complete seasons 1–3 are now streaming at SBS On Demand.
Spooks
This seminal UK spy drama ran for 10 incredible seasons and introduced us to a slew of players who would become the who’s who of British actors. Set behind the scenes of the modern British Security Service (MI5), Spooks shows what it’s like to be a spy, through the eyes of the spies themselves, balancing the personal life storylines with the intense and sleek action. The series became known for its shock twists, cliffhanger endings and the feeling that no character is safe (long before Game of Thrones killed off a lead character early, Spooks had already done so and in a completely brutal way).
Jump back to 2002 when in season 1 a young Matthew Macfadyen was the chief of section D, a clandestine counter-terrorism division who work round the clock to safeguard the nation.
Spooks complete seasons 1–10 are now streaming at SBS On Demand.
Beowulf
This UK series is an epic re-imagining of one of literature’s greatest and most enduring heroes, Beowulf. Set in the mythical Shieldlands, a place of spectacle and danger populated by both humans and fantastical creatures, the story begins with Beowulf (Kieren Bew) returning to Herot, after many years wandering as a mercenary warrior, to pay his respects to ailing ward and Thane of Herot, Hrothgar (William Hurt), and to set right past wrongs.
When Herot is attacked by the terrifying monster Grendl, Beowulf has no choice but to hunt it down, winning favour with Herot’s new partner Thane Rheda (Joanne Whalley) and the wider community in the process. And so begins a personal journey that sees this mighty, capable and somewhat isolated man slowly reconnecting with his family and home. Essentially a Western set in Britain’s mythic past, the story unfolds on a huge canvas, filmed among the breathtaking beauty of England’s north east. Get ready for epic fights, thrilling chases, raids, celebrations and battles.
Beowulf is now streaming at SBS On Demand.
Broadchurch
Starring the one and only Olivia Colman and David Tennant as our lead investigators, Broadchurch is set in a small beachside town with wind and cliffs aplenty and a crime that will have you trying to guess who in the town is guilty. In season 1 when the body of 11-year-old Danny Latimer is found on the sand in Broadchurch, DI Alec Hardy and DS Ellie Miller are called to investigate in a case that will change the small Dorset community forever. This slow-burn murder mystery will hook you in and the performances from the incredible cast will make you want to watch just one more episode (and then surprise, you’ve watched them all). This series was so popular it was remade in the US with Tennant reprising his role.
Broadchurch complete seasons 1–3 are now streaming at SBS On Demand.
Years and Years
This series from Russell T. Davies (Doctor Who, Queer As Folk, It’s a Sin) shows how to survive against the backdrop of a frightening political world and the rise of extremism. Years and Years follows the Lyons, a busy Manchester family. Daniel’s getting married to Ralph. Stephen and Celeste worry about their kids. Rosie’s chasing a new fella. Edith hasn’t been home for years. All are presided over by Gran, the imperial Muriel. But when their lives all converge on one crucial night in 2019, the story accelerates into the future, following the lives and loves of the Lyons over the next 15 years. And what a world! Society gets hotter, faster, madder, with the turmoil of politics, technology and distant wars affecting the Lyons in their day-to-day lives. Set against this, the Lyons have to navigate their everyday hopes and fears, knowing that one ordinary family could never change the world. Or could they?
Years and Years is now streaming at SBS On Demand (also available with Simplified Chinese and Arabic subtitles).
The Salisbury Poisonings
This incredible four-part series is based on the real-life 2018 assassination attempt on double agent and spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in the UK. Soon after the attack, it was discovered that a lethal nerve agent called Novichok was used, just half a teaspoon of which could kill 20,000 people, sending the local community into turmoil. Local policeman Nick Bailey (Rafe Spall) and Head of Public Health Tracy Daszkiewicz (Anne-Marie Duff) worked exclusively with producers to capture the fear, uncertainty and immense heroism of the community who ultimately rose to the challenge of overcoming a lethal contagion. Very inspiring stuff, and maybe a little timely too.
The Salisbury Poisonings is now streaming at SBS On Demand.
Butterfly
International Emmy Award-winning Anna Friel stars in a heartfelt story from BAFTA award-winning writer Tony Marchant. The story centres on 11-year-old Max, who identifies as a girl and wants to live her life as Maxine. What follows is the greatest test of family love and understanding imaginable. The visibility and acknowledgement that Butterfly brings for trans children and their families makes it ground-breaking television and a potential lifeline for many people, it is a heartfelt and sensitive family story. British charity Mermaids, a support organisation for young trans people and their families, provided advice and guidance for the Butterfly production and are featured within the series.
Butterfly is now streaming at SBS On Demand.
Trigonometry
Cash-strapped couple Gemma (Thalissa Teixeira) and Kieran (Gary Carr, Downton Abbey) decide to open their small apartment up to a third resident. Their new lodger Ray (Ariane Labed, The Lobster) seems to make things easier for the couple, but they soon enter a polyamorous relationship and each of them must learn how to navigate love and relationships in an entirely new way. Refreshingly original, authentic and funny, this brand-new show from the UK is about love, bravery and following your heart.
Trigonometry is now streaming at SBS On Demand.
Taboo
If you are after a brooding, dark and mysterious British period drama (with added Tom Hardy) then look no further. Set in 1814, Taboo follows James Keziah Delaney (Hardy), a man who has been to the ends of the earth and comes back irrevocably changed. Believed to be long dead, he returns home to London from Africa to inherit what is left of his father’s shipping empire and rebuild a life for himself. But his father’s legacy is a poisoned chalice, and with enemies lurking in every dark corner, James must navigate increasingly complex territories to avoid his own death sentence. Encircled by conspiracy, murder and betrayal, a dark family mystery unfolds in a combustible tale of love and treachery.
Taboo season 1 is now streaming at SBS On Demand.
Stan Lee’s Lucky Man
You can’t have a Best of the Brits list without James Nesbitt. He stars as Harry Clayton, a Central London cop who’s down on his luck. His wife (Eve Best) and child have left him, his boss at the murder squad has no respect for him, to put it mildly, and he owes debts to an underworld figure who routinely threatens his life. But then a mysterious woman gives him an ancient bracelet, with the power to control luck, but at what cost? Harry’s search for answers takes him to Hong Kong where he encounters dodgy characters who are after more than just his lucky charm.
Based on an original idea from Stan Lee, look out for the comic book legend’s cameo appearance in each episode of this intriguing crime drama with a sci-fi twist.
Stan Lee’s Lucky Man complete seasons 1–3 are now streaming at SBS On Demand.
Back to Life
Back to Life is a dark British comedy drama created by Laura Solon and Daisy Haggard who also stars as the lead Miri Matteson. Miri has just returned to her home town after 18 years in prison. Trying to nudge her way back into society, Miri is the ultimate Adult Beginner: a funny, endearing, awkward woman, determined to move on from her violent past. But life after prison makes even the simplest tasks challenging, like getting a licence, a job and trying to make sure the terrible truth doesn’t resurface. But in a small town, nothing is going to be easy.
Back to Life season 1 is now streaming at SBS On Demand.
