Broken, a BBC drama that first aired in 2017, appears to be coming to Netflix UK soon – and it boasts an exciting cast of popular actors, including Sean Bean, Adrian Dunbar, Anna Friel, and Rochenda Sandall.
Created by the notable and award-winning Jimmy McGovern, whose other works include the critically-acclaimed prison drama Time and more recently the British TV film Unforgivable, Broken centres on the character of Michael Kerrigan (played by Bean), who is the priest of a Roman Catholic parish in the north of England. Haunted by his own past and childhood, Kerrigan is doing his best to guide his congregation.
Is Broken worth watching, and what did the critics say?
The BBC drama saw Sean Bean scoop the BAFTA for Best Actor, while his co-star Anna Friel was also nominated in the Best Supporting Actress category.
It received widespread praise from critics. "In the hands of anyone other than Jimmy McGovern, this could be a dispiriting watch, but because it is McGovern one knows humanity will find a way through the gloom," wrote The Herald (via Rotten Tomatoes).
Daily Express said: "Deeply sad? Yes. Depressing? Yes. But McGovern's very human dramas, with their beautiful detail, are a necessity in a television schedule full of flash types on reality shows."
Guardian called it "artfully put together, beautifully performed", while The Times said: "There is not a moment, not even a reaction shot, in which Bean fails to give the best and most nuanced performance of his career."
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Broken was hailed by viewers at the time as being "the best thing on TV in years", with Sean Bean's standout performance branded an 'acting masterclass' in the emotional final episode.
Who is in the cast for Broken?
With Sean Bean in the leading role as priest Michael Kerrigan, Broken has an impressive cast of highly-recognisable actors from across a number of popular British dramas.
Line of Duty fan-favourite Adrian Dunbar, who also stars in ITV's crime drama Ridley, plays the role of Father Peter Flaherty. Elsewhere, the cast of Broken includes:
• Anna Friel (Marcella)
• Mark Stanley (Happy Valley)
• Muna Otaru (Silent Witness)
• Aisling Loftus (Sherwood)
• Paula Malcomson (Sons of Anarchy)
• Danny Sapani (Killing Eve)
• Ned Dennehy (Peaky Blinders)
• Rochenda Sandall (Amandaland)
Here are some other shows you can stream now
While you wait for Broken to arrive on Netflix – you can set a reminder to get an alert on the streaming platform, as no date has been given – we've got a few other recommendations for you.
Jimmy McGovern's masterful prison drama Time – which premiered with its first season in 2021, and also starred Sean Bean (only here, he played opposite Stephen Graham) – is a brutal and visceral story set inside a men's prison. The follow-up, which boasted Jodie Whittaker and Bella Ramsey on its cast, held the lens up to women's prisons – and both seasons are streaming now on BBC iPlayer. We also know that a third is on the way.
If another Adrian Dunbar drama is what you're after, ahead of the highly-anticipated return of Ted Hastings in Line of Duty, then let us turn your attention to the actor's highest-rated TV drama (according to critics on Rotten Tomatoes). Blood, a mystery set in a small Irish town, boasts a perfect 100% score on the review platform, and both seasons are streaming on Netflix in the UK.
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TV Editor, Digital Spy Laura has been watching television for over 30 years and professionally writing about entertainment for almost 10 of those. Previously at LOOK and now heading up the TV desk at the UK's biggest TV and movies site Digital Spy, Laura has helped steer conversations around some of the most popular shows on the box. Laura has appeared on Channel 5 News and radio to talk viewing habits and TV recommendations. As well as putting her nerd-level Buffy knowledge to good use during an IRL meet with Sarah Michelle Gellar, Laura also once had afternoon tea with One Direction, has sat around the fire pit of the Love Island villa, spoken to Sir David Attenborough about the world's oceans and even interviewed Rylan from inside the Big Brother house (housemate status, forever pending).
