Suggested viewing

Brief Encounters (2016)

Bftv 8.5 / IMDb 7.6

Brief Encounters is a comedy drama set in the 1980s that follows a group of ordinary housewives whose lives take an unexpected turn. Facing domestic routines and societal constraints, they find empowerment and personal growth through an unlikely source: selling lingerie and adult toys for a party plan company. This newfound independence challenges their traditional roles and forces them to confront their own desires and aspirations.

Top cast: Sophie Rundle, Angela Griffin, Sharon Rooney, Penelope Wilton, Peter Wight, Karl Davies, Don Gilet, Will Merrick, Ben Bailey Smith, Felicity Montagu, Gina Bramhill.

Dickensian (2015)

Bftv 9.0 / IMDb 7.6

Dickensian weaves together characters from Charles Dickens’ famous novels in a whirlwind of Victorian London life. Inspector Bucket from Bleak House tackles a murder investigation, while Scrooge from A Christmas Carol grapples with the death of his business partner. Meanwhile, Miss Havisham from Great Expectations navigates love and heartbreak, and characters from other Dickens tales cross paths in a web of intrigue, romance and the harsh realities of poverty and crime.

Top cast: Stephen Rea, Tuppence Middleton, Sophie Rundle, Caroline Quentin, Omid Djalili, Anton Lesser, Ned Dennehy, Robert Wilfort, Jennifer Hennessy, Phoebe Dynevor.

Peaky Blinders (2013)

Bftv 9.0 / IMDb 8.8

Peaky Blinders follows a ruthless gang in post-war Birmingham, England, led by the ambitious Tommy Shelby. The gang, known for sewing razor blades in their caps, navigates a world of criminal dealings, political intrigue and social unrest. As they fight to expand their power, they clash with rival gangs, authorities determined to clean up the streets and the Irish Republican Army, all while wrestling with the lingering effects of the war.

Top cast: Cillian Murphy, Sam Neill, Paul Anderson, Helen McCrory, Sophie Rundle, Annabelle Wallis, Alfie Evans-Meese, Joe Cole.

The Bletchley Circle (2012)

Bftv 8.5 / IMDb 7.9

The Bletchley Circle follows four women who used their codebreaking skills during World War II to decipher encrypted messages. After the war, they reunite years later when one of them notices a pattern in a series of unsolved murders. Frustrated by the lack of progress from the authorities, the women use their analytical skills and knowledge gained at Bletchley Park to investigate the case themselves.

Top cast: Rachael Stirling, Julie Graham, Sophie Rundle, Anna Maxwell Martin, Nick Blood.

Gentleman Jack (2019)

Bftv 9.0 / IMDb 8.2

In 1832, after experiencing heartbreak in Hastings, Miss Anne Lister departs for the beautiful surroundings of Halifax, West Yorkshire, England to refurbish her inherited uncle’s estate. Uncovering a coal mine on the family land being illicitly exploited by two brothers, this unique female land owner embarks on a precarious romance with a woman named Ann Walker, detailing their relationship in a secretive journal.

Top cast: Suranne Jones, Sophie Rundle, Gemma Whelan, Gemma Jones, Timothy West, Rosie Cavaliero, Joe Armstrong, Amelia Bullmore, Shaun Dooley, Katherine Kelly.

Similar version

The Nest (2020)

Bftv 8.0 / IMDb 7.1

A wealthy couple yearning for a child enters an agreement with a young woman to be their surrogate. As the pregnancy progresses, dark secrets and unsettling truths emerge, throwing their lives into disarray. The series explores themes of class, desperation, and the complexities of family, all while building suspense with shocking twists and a battle for control over the child’s future.

Top cast: Sophie Rundle, Martin Compston, Mirren Mack, James Harkness, Christine Bottomley, Fiona Bell, David Hayman, Katie Leung, Bailey Patrick.