David Tennant

People looking for a gripping TV drama to watch have been recommended a BBC show that is leaving people ‘hooked from start to finish’. The programme features stars such as David Tennant and Stephen Graham

Deciding what to watch next has become a daily headache for millions of British viewers, thanks to the sheer volume of streaming platforms now available, including Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and Apple TV+. But one influencer is on a mission to make that choice easier by sharing his top TV and film picks online. EccyReviews’ is the online handle of Luke Eccleston, a well-known UK-based content creator and self-proclaimed “TV fanatic” who regularly shares his must-watch television recommendations with his 5,000+ followers.

In one of his most recent posts, Luke put forward a TV suggestion for anyone “looking for a gripping new TV drama series to go and watch right now”.

He added: “You’ll be completely hooked from start to finish.”

The show in question is BBC prison drama Time. “Season 3 just dropped on BBC and I’ve binge-watched all three episodes and it is my favourite season by far,” he said.

Time is a critically acclaimed, BAFTA award-winning BBC series penned by celebrated British screenwriter Jimmy McGovern.

Each three-part series shines a spotlight on a different setting and ensemble cast within the UK criminal justice system, exploring themes of guilt, punishment, redemption, and institutional failings.

Season 1 centred on Mark Cobden (Sean Bean), a former teacher consumed by guilt after accidentally killing a man while drink-driving, who is subsequently sentenced to four years behind bars. It also features Eric McNally (Stephen Graham), a principled prison officer attempting to safeguard the inmates in his charge.

When a dangerous prisoner uncovers Eric’s weakness, he faces an excruciating decision between his professional obligations and his loved ones.

Series 2, meanwhile, relocated the action to a women’s facility, Carlingford Prison. It follows three women who arrive on the same day: Orla (Jodie Whittaker), a mother who tampered with her electricity meter; Kelsey (Bella Ramsey), a pregnant young drug addict; and Abi (Tamara Lawrance), a woman serving a life sentence carrying a tragic secret.

Compelled to share a cell, they forge an unlikely alliance to endure.

The most recent season, which recently dropped, has shifted attention to a Young Offender Institution. The narrative examines young men ensnared in the justice system following a tragedy, grappling with prison overcrowding and institutional collapse.

This instalment is fronted by David Tennant and Siobhan Finneran, who returns to her recurring role throughout the anthology as prison chaplain Marie-Louise O’Dell.

Since each season presents a self-contained narrative with a different principal cast, viewers can jump into any series without prior knowledge, though chaplain Marie-Louise serves as the connecting element throughout all three.

Discussing the latest series, Luke tells viewers: “I was gripped from start to finish and all the performances are brilliant.

“I guarantee that you will absolutely love this show.”

The recommendation proved a massive hit, with the post amassing more than 7,000 likes.

One person wrote: “Watched it all tonight – best thing I’ve watched for ages. Very violent and very sad. The writer spent a lot of time in these youth offenders prisons and was horrified at the conditions, it was all based on truth.”

Another added: “I have just started watching it, it’s brilliant very gripping.”

While a third added: “Totally hooked from the start! Talent is incredible.”

All series of Time are available to stream on BBC iPlayer now.

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Jimmy McGovern’s BAFTA-winning BBC drama is returning to screens with David Tennant and Siobhan Finneran leading the cast

Time returns tonight for its third but there’s some bad news for fans.

The wait is almost over for a brand new instalment of the gripping BBC drama which first began in 2021 and has featured the likes of Stephen Graham, Jodie Whittaker and Bella Ramsey.

Creator Jimmy McGovern explained that while the first series focused on a male prison and the second series was based on a female prison, he knew he wanted to focus on young offenders next, but didn’t have a story.

That was until he found a real-life story in his research about a mother going to see her son in a young offender institution, whom she hadn’t seen for years. Although she didn’t speak English and he didn’t speak her language, which Jimmy shares is Swahili, in their BBC story.

However, the creator has shared that the upcoming series, which will being on Sunday night (October 11) will be its last. Speaking to RadioTimes, he said: “There’s very little altruism involved with these stories. I do them because I love doing them, although I think this will be the last time. I have said that many a time before, though, because these are also stories I feel bound to tell.”

A synopsis for the third series of Time details that viewers will see two young offenders struggle through the terrifying first weeks and months of their incarceration. However, an unlikely friendship between them looks to shift the trajectory of their futures.

The description further reads: “Meanwhile, Prison Chaplain Marie-Louise (Siobhan Finneran) comes to the young offender institution having lost her faith.

When tragedy strikes in the prison, Marie-Louise clashes with veteran officer Bailey (David Tennant), a man in the midst of his own crisis. Bailey knows more about the circumstances that led to this major incident – but will he come clean before the guilt gets too much?”

Since the series first began five years ago, it’s been highly praised by viewers, with some hailing it as a masterpiece. On Rotten Tomatoes, one person has said: “Absolutely riveting drama, a must-watch from start to finish. Brilliantly acted and excellent plot.”

Meanwhile, on IMDb, another added: “I expected a mediocre show, but got a well-crafted masterpiece. In its two seasons, each with three episodes, ‘Time’ tells the stories of two people who are imprisoned for the first time and, in my opinion, it does this excellently” While a third wrote: “Serious, realistic and brutal. If you want to see something serious and realistic, this is for you.”

Also joining David Tennant and Siobhan Finneran in the third series will be Vinette Robinson, Jo Joyner, Daniel Ryan, Warren Brown, Louis McCartney, Ollie McNulty and Chukwubuikem Molokwu will star in the third series.

Time airs on Sunday, October 11 on BBC One at 9pm