If you need a bit of light escapism, BBC iPlayer has plenty of meaty dramas you can add to your watch list.

Sometimes, there are just too many television dramas to choose from – and more than anything – you spend more time mindlessly scrolling through BBC iPlayer without making any decisions.

Luckily, we’re here to help. If you need to add a new meaty drama to your watch list, take a look at our hand-picked top 10 series, which are guaranteed to leave you hooked after the first episode.

From historical war dramas to murder mysteries, we’re talking about serious BBC dramas that you can binge-watch in one sitting.

10. Wolf Hall

If you love The Tudors and historical fiction, this BBC series will be up your street. Adapted from Hilary Mantel’s iconic book, Wolf Hall focuses on the scandalous world of Henry VIII’s court and follows his trusted adviser, Thomas Cromwell.

The second season has recently just dropped, and it’s safe to say it was a huge hit with fans. Mark Rylance and Claire Foy star as Cromwell and Henry VIII’s ill-fated second wife, Anne Boleyn.

Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones in Normal People (Image: BBC)

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Ben Wishaw as Adam Kay in This Is Going To Hurt (Image: BBC)

9. Shetland

Add Shetland to your watchlist if you like gritty Scottish crime dramas. DI Jimmy Perez (Douglas Henshall) leads as the main detective as he attempts to unravel a series of mysteries on the Shetland isles – and there are a whopping eight seasons.

Each series follows a dramatic murder investigation, and Shetland was last on our screens two years ago.

8. His Dark Materials

James McAvoy? Tick. Ruth Wilson? Tick. An iconic fantasy novel brought to life? Tick tick tick. Philip Pullman’s epic dystopian adventure trilogy can be streamed on BBC iPlayer.

It’s the perfect winter pick-me-up, providing plenty of escapism and cliffhanger questions.

The epic fantasy series, His Dark Materials, can be binge-watched on iPlayer (Image: BBC)

7. Everything I Know About Love

This heavily relatable series comes from the brilliant mind of Dolly Alderton and explores the complex conundrum of growing up and losing friends. Fans who have read the book know well that the story will take you through an emotional rollercoaster.

Critics praised the series for capturing the universal experience of everything female-friendship-related. There is plenty of comfort and nostalgia, but you might be left sobbing at the end.

6. This Is Going To Hurt

Ben Wishaw has one of the best performances of his career as he plays Adam Kay in this hilarious medical drama. The adaptation from the best-selling book details Kay’s experiences working as a junior doctor in the NHS in the noughties.

You might also recognise the actress who plays Shruti, as she appeared in the hit Netflix series One Day just a few years later.

Line of Duty is one of the BBC’s most popular police dramas on iPlayer (Image: BBC)

5. Normal People

You’ve probably heard of Sally Rooney, who released another book just before Christmas. However, her biggest hit was her 2018 Irish novel Normal People, which was adapted into a series during the pandemic.

Starring Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones, the show was revolutionary for turning them into overnight sensations. Normal People became a quick lockdown trend for TV binge-watchers and depicted brilliantly the themes of first love, mental health and friendship.

4. Our Girl

Michelle Keegan firmly put her EastEnders days behind her in this gritty military drama. Despite being criticised by fans for ‘being too glamourous’ to play an army medic, she ended up being in the role for four seasons.

Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman in the hit series, Sherlock (Image: BBC)

3. Sherlock

This must be one of the best detective series the BBC offers. With a star-studded cast, you can watch all four seasons of Sherlock to your heart’s content. Benedict Cumberbatch stars as the eccentric sleuth, with Martin Freeman as his trusted sidekick, Dr John Watson. With so many cliffhangers – many viewers were left obsessed over its plotlines and red herrings.

2. SAS Rogue Heroes

This war drama offers plenty of guns and punch-ups, with a brilliant soundtrack to top it all off. The programme documents the story of the original SAS, with Connor Swindells as Lt Col David Stirling and Jack O’Connell playing Major Paddy Mayne.

1. Line of Duty

Line of Duty is so popular that the highly anticipated final episode of series six saw 15.24 million viewers tune in to find out the identity of H. According to BBC bosses, it was the most-watched episode of a BBC drama in 20 years.

The award-winning BBC police drama last aired in May 2021, and the sixth series was thought to be the last. Fans have been calling for a seventh series to be made – so keep your eyes peeled for a potential reunion.