Channel 5 has often been a great place for UK TV enjoyers to watch brilliant documentaries’ and shows alike. Many streaming and TV platforms in the UK boast their own array of different dramas. With long running shows and new upcoming releases it’s time to take a look at the 17 best Channel 5 dramas to watch now.
17. Dalgliesh
The TV series Dalgliesh follows Detective Chief Inspector Adam Dalgliesh as he solves intricate murder cases in 1970s England. Based on P.D. James’ novels, the show features cases such as a student nurse’s suspicious death, a barrister’s murder, and a man granted a final moment with his children before arrest.
Set in the mid-70s, it stars Bertie Carvel as Dalgliesh, with Kate Miskin and D.S. Daniel Tarrant assisting in complex investigations amid a changing political landscape.
16. Night Caller
The Night Caller follows Tony, a lonely Liverpool taxi driver who becomes obsessed with a radio host. Once a respected teacher, Tony lost his job after a scandal and now finds solace in a café worker and DJ Lawrence. As his fixation on Lawrence deepens, he discovers the host isn’t who he claims to be.
https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-4474055489327117 (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Feeling betrayed, Tony’s obsession spirals out of control, leading to dangerous consequences. Starring Robert Glenister, the series explores isolation, obsession, and identity.
15. The Good Ship Murder
The Good Ship Murder follows Jack Grayling, a former detective turned cabaret singer on a luxury Mediterranean cruise. When murders occur onboard, he teams up with First Officer Kate Woods to solve the cases.
Set against stunning Mediterranean locations, the show blends crime-solving with music, as each episode typically ends with Jack performing in the ship’s lounge. Combining mystery and entertainment, the series offers a unique take on the classic whodunit.
14. The Holiday
Our next Channel 5 drama follows is The Holiday, which stars Cameron Diaz and Jude Law.
and needing a change, Iris swaps homes with Amanda, a fellow unlucky-in-love woman from California.
Iris lands in a lavish Hollywood mansion, while Amanda adjusts to life in a charming English village. Despite their heartbreak, both soon cross paths with locals who might just reignite their faith in romance.
13. The Castaways
The Castaways is a very good Channel 5 drama about sisters Erin and Lori, whose trip to Fiji takes a tragic turn when Lori’s plane disappears. After a fight, Lori flies alone, but no wreckage or survivors are found.
Months later, Erin travels to Fiji to investigate after Lori’s missing credit card is used. Told from both sisters’ perspectives, the story unravels the mystery of the crash and their fate on a remote island.
12. The Inheritance
Our next best Channel 5 drama The Inheritance, as suggested in the name, follows a bizarre succession and inheritance plot.
On the night before his 75th birthday, a billionaire gathers his estranged children, convinced that someone—or something—plans to kill him.
https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-4474055489327117 (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});To secure their help, he puts their inheritances on the line, forcing them into a high-stakes fight for his survival.
11. Love Rat
Love Rat is a 2024 Channel 5 drama about Emma, a recently divorced woman who falls for charming hotel owner Niko while vacationing in Cyprus.
When Niko convinces her to lend him money for a villa and then vanishes, Emma turns to her ex-husband Pete for help. Determined to track Niko down, she embarks on a mission to reclaim her stolen savings.
10. For Her Sins
For Her Sins is a psychological thriller about Laura, a successful lawyer and mother whose life unravels after befriending Emily, a charming newcomer.
As Emily gains Laura’s trust, buried memories of a childhood drowning resurface, revealing a dark secret that links them. With sinister motives, Emily manipulates Laura, exposing her vulnerabilities and threatening to destroy the seemingly perfect life she has built.
9. Finders Keepers
Finders Keepers is both a Stephen King novel and a TV series about hidden treasure.
The 2015 novel, part of King’s Bill Hodges trilogy, follows a fan’s deadly obsession with a reclusive writer. After murdering him and stealing his cash, the killer is later released, setting off a new chain of events.
The TV series follows metal detectorists Martin and Ashley, who discover a Saxon treasure hoard. Their find leads to deception, danger, and suspicions of murder.
8. Coma
Coma is a 2024 Channel 5 mini-series about Simon, a family man whose life unravels after a clash with a gang of teenagers. When he confronts their leader, Jordan, outside his home, a split-second decision alters everything.
https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-4474055489327117 (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Caught in a web of lies, Simon deceives the police, his wife Beth, and Jordan’s father, as his once-stable life spirals out of control. Starring Jason Watkins and Claire Skinner, the series explores guilt, consequences, and moral dilemmas.
7. The Drowning
The Drowning follows Jodie, a woman struggling to rebuild her life after her four-year-old son Tom disappeared years ago. She becomes convinced that a teenage boy she sees is actually him. Despite her family insisting Tom is dead, she refuses to let go.
Determined to uncover the truth, she devises a plan, using a private lesson to question the boy about his past. As she digs deeper, her obsession threatens to consume her, blurring the line between hope and reality.
6. Cold Call
Cold Call is a 2019 psychological thriller about June Clarke, a single mother from Manchester who falls victim to a cold-call scam and loses her home. To help her pregnant daughter, June sells her house, only to be swindled.
After her elderly mother’s death, June seeks revenge on those responsible. Each episode delves into how far an ordinary woman will go when pushed to the edge. Starring Sally Lindsey, Daniel Ryan, and Paul Higgins, the series aired on Channel 5.
5. The Catch
The Catch is a four-part Channel 5 drama series, adapted from T.M. Logan’s 2020 novel. Set in the west of England, it stars Jason Watkins, Aneurin Barnard, Poppy Gilbert, and Cathy Belton.
The story follows Ed Collier, a local fisherman struggling with competition. When his daughter Abbie introduces her wealthy, successful boyfriend Ryan, Ed becomes suspicious. Despite his wife Claire’s belief that he’s being overprotective, Ed teams up with Abbie’s ex-boyfriend, George, to investigate Ryan.
Ed uncovers unsettling truths, leading to a confrontation that drives his family against him and a dangerous threat to his life.
4. Too Good To Be True
Too Good to Be True is a psychological thriller about Rachel, a struggling single mother who works as a cleaner.
When a wealthy businessman offers her a seemingly perfect job, she begins to question his motives as she gets deeper into his world.
https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-4474055489327117 (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});As her suspicions grow, Rachel wonders if the opportunity is too good to be true, leading her to uncover a hidden agenda.
The series explores the dangerous allure of tempting offers and the darker truths behind them.
3. The Cuckoo
The Cuckoo is a 2024 TV mini-series and horror film exploring family secrets and the dangers of taking in a lodger. In the TV mini-series, a family opens their home to Sian, a seemingly harmless lodger, but she soon becomes a dangerous force that unravels their lives as they uncover dark secrets.
The horror film follows a teenager who moves to the German Alps with her father, only to get caught in a sinister plot involving her father’s boss.
Both versions delve into themes of maternal love, hidden truths, and the consequences of inviting strangers into one’s home. The TV series stars Claire Goose, Lee Ingleby, Jill Halfpenny, and Freya Hannan-Mills, while the film features Hunter Schafer, Jan Bluthardt, Marton Csokas, Jessica Henwick, and Dan Stevens.
2. The Serial Killer’s Wife
The Serial Killer’s Wife follows Beth, whose life shatters when her husband, Dr. Tom, is arrested for the murder of his office assistant, Katie, at his surprise birthday party. As she investigates, she uncovers troubling secrets about Tom, including his affair with Katie, his hoarding of inappropriate material, and his betrayal of her trust.
As the investigation unfolds, Beth’s own past is revealed, and Tom’s reputation is ruined. Yet, a shocking twist emerges when Beth marries Tom’s friend, Adam, only to discover he’s the real murderer.
In a desperate bid to protect herself and Tom, Beth manipulates Adam into trusting her, then kills him to cover the truth. The story ends with a post-credits scene hinting at more secrets to come.
1. All Creatures Great and Small
All Creatures Great and Small is set in 1930s and 1940s Yorkshire, following James Herriot, a newly qualified veterinarian, as he joins Siegfried Farnon’s practice.
Herriot quickly learns the challenges of rural veterinary work, treating a range of animals from sick dogs to overfed Pekinese. As he grows closer to both the animals and their owners, Herriot also develops feelings for Helen Alderson, the daughter of a local farmer.
The series showcases the trials, adventures, and relationships of a countryside veterinary practice.
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