'Spellbinding' crime drama is the 'absolute best BBC series' streaming on iPlayer

Fans of true crime will be pleased to learn that BBC iPlayer is offering up two seasons of a "spellbinding" series within its catalogue. The popular crime drama has been described as the "best BBC drama" of the moment by Stylist.

Sherwood is a British television crime drama series created and written by James Graham, and starring David Morrissey. It is inspired by real-life murders that took place in Nottinghamshire in 2004. The first episode of the six-episode series aired on BBC One in 2022. Since the second series, a third series has been announced.

The series synopsis reads: "Sherwood is inspired by real events, that is set in a Nottinghamshire mining village that is still divided by the 1984-85 miners' strike. The story begins with the shocking murder of a former union activist, a killing that ignites one of Britain's largest manhunts and threatens to reopen historic rifts within the community, as well as exposing the controversial use of "spycops" by the police. The series explores themes of community, trauma, and police responsibility, blending a whodunit thriller with a social drama about lingering divisions from the past."

Sherwood's first series has an impressive 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The critics' consensus states: "A gripping mystery that draws immense power from its sterling cast and the specificity of its location, Sherwood is such a rich series that it makes the competition look all the poorer."

Lucy Mangan described the first series as an "original masterpiece" and the second instalment as "even more spellbinding".

Stylist highlighted the series in its listing of the "best BBC dramas to binge right now".

One critic said: "As a murder mystery, Sherwood offers everything that a quality crime drama should. It's laced with juicy hooks, twists and revelations, and has a vivid sense of place."

Another reviewer added: "It's such a common commission that the description is almost boilerplate, but in this quietly gripping thriller, it's merely the outline for a story that reveals how the collective trauma of the past can overwhelm the present day."

Sherwood is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.