Time

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Overview

Guilt, violence and impossible choices – what does it take to survive? Tense, gritty and heartbreaking – Jimmy McGovern's award-winning prison drama, with an all-star cast.

Media

Time | Sean Bean and Stephen Graham prison thriller | Trailer - BBC

Cast

Jodie Whittaker

Siobhan Finneran

Tamara Lawrance

Creator:

Jimmy McGovern

Fist Air Date:

2021-06-06

Episode Runtime:

58m

Production Companies:

BBC Studios Drama Productions

Genres:

Keywords:

alcoholic blackmail drugs drunk driver fight mental illness phone call prison prison guard suicide teacher

More Show Details

Vote Average: 7.6/10

Vote Count: 255 Votes

Show Popularity: 4.606

Show Status: Returning Series

Show Type: Scripted

Spoken Languages: English

Review

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Insomniacs Reviews
- 04 May 2026 at 1:56 pm

9 Based on 1 Votes
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⭐ Insomniacs Rating: 9/10 THE SUMMARY Mark Cobden is a "normal" man—a husband and a teacher—who is consumed by guilt after killing a man in a drink-driving accident. Sentenced to four years, he is thrust into the brutal, alien world of the British prison system. On the other side of the bars is Eric McNally, a principled prison officer who tries his best to protect those under his charge. However, when a dangerous inmate identifies Eric’s weakness, he is forced to choose between his morals and the safety of his own family. It’s a harrowing, claustrophobic look at life inside that refuses to look away from the rot in the system. THE PROS This is a 9/10 because it is some of the most powerful television the UK has ever produced. Sean Bean and Stephen Graham are a powerhouse duo; Bean captures the sheer, trembling terror of a man out of his depth, while Graham shows the slow breaking of a good man’s soul. The writing by Jimmy McGovern is lean and devastating, avoiding "prison movie" clichés to show the mundane, everyday cruelty of life behind doors. It hits Epic status because of its honesty—it’s a series that doesn't just entertain you; it leaves you bruised. Season 2 (late 2023) successfully reset the story in a women’s prison, proving the show’s concept has real legs by focusing on the specific, tragic cycles of female incarceration. THE CONS It misses a 10/10 only because it is an incredibly punishing watch. There is zero "relief" here; it is relentlessly bleak and can be physically draining to get through. It settles at a 9 because while it’s a masterpiece, it’s a show you have to mentally prepare yourself for—it isn't something you can just "chuck on" for a light evening in front of the box. THE VERDICT A massive 9/10. It is a genuine titan of British drama that feels more like a documentary than a fiction piece. It isn't a 10 because of the sheer emotional weight it places on the viewer, but for acting and writing, it’s as good as it gets. If you want a drama that actually matters and stays with you for weeks, this is a winner. INSOMNIAC TRIVIA • Realistic Sets: The first season was filmed in the decommissioned HM Prison Shrewsbury. The actors said that being locked in actual, cramped Victorian cells for hours at a time helped them tap into the genuine sense of claustrophobia and isolation needed for the roles.• Family Ties: In Season 2, Jodie Whittaker’s character is a mother of three. To make the family bond feel real, the production cast child actors who spent weeks "hanging out" with Whittaker off-camera before filming even started to build a natural, lived-in rapport.• Award Sweep: The series was a juggernaut at the BAFTAs, picking up Best Mini-Series and a Best Actor win for Sean Bean. It’s widely considered one of Jimmy McGovern’s best works in a career already full of classics. THE VIBE Like the sound of a heavy steel door slamming shut. It smells like industrial floor cleaner and fear. It’s cold, grey, and incredibly moving. It makes you want to hug your family, stay on the right side of the law, and realize that one bad second can change a life forever.

TV Show Poster

Season 1

3 Episodes

Air Date: 2021-06-06

A prisoner consumed by guilt, an officer with an impossible choice. What does it take to survive?

TV Show Poster

Season 2

3 Episodes

Air Date: 2023-10-29

Arriving at Carlingford Prison on the same day, Kelsey, Orla and Abi are thrown together to face an unfamiliar world. But even with the ever-present threat of violence within its walls, they discover that an unexpected sense of community, and a shared understanding, still might be possible.

Videos

Time | Sean Bean and Stephen Graham prison thriller | Trailer - BBC

Cast

Jodie Whittaker

Siobhan Finneran

Tamara Lawrance

James Nelson-Joyce

Related Shows To

Time

Reviews for

Time

Comment (1)

Insomniacs Reviews
- 4 May 2026 at 2:56 PM

⭐ Insomniacs Rating: 9/10
THE SUMMARY
Mark Cobden is a “normal” man—a husband and a teacher—who is consumed by guilt after killing a man in a drink-driving accident. Sentenced to four years, he is thrust into the brutal, alien world of the British prison system. On the other side of the bars is Eric McNally, a principled prison officer who tries his best to protect those under his charge. However, when a dangerous inmate identifies Eric’s weakness, he is forced to choose between his morals and the safety of his own family. It’s a harrowing, claustrophobic look at life inside that refuses to look away from the rot in the system.
THE PROS
This is a 9/10 because it is some of the most powerful television the UK has ever produced. Sean Bean and Stephen Graham are a powerhouse duo; Bean captures the sheer, trembling terror of a man out of his depth, while Graham shows the slow breaking of a good man’s soul. The writing by Jimmy McGovern is lean and devastating, avoiding “prison movie” clichés to show the mundane, everyday cruelty of life behind doors. It hits Epic status because of its honesty—it’s a series that doesn’t just entertain you; it leaves you bruised. Season 2 (late 2023) successfully reset the story in a women’s prison, proving the show’s concept has real legs by focusing on the specific, tragic cycles of female incarceration.
THE CONS
It misses a 10/10 only because it is an incredibly punishing watch. There is zero “relief” here; it is relentlessly bleak and can be physically draining to get through. It settles at a 9 because while it’s a masterpiece, it’s a show you have to mentally prepare yourself for—it isn’t something you can just “chuck on” for a light evening in front of the box.
THE VERDICT
A massive 9/10. It is a genuine titan of British drama that feels more like a documentary than a fiction piece. It isn’t a 10 because of the sheer emotional weight it places on the viewer, but for acting and writing, it’s as good as it gets. If you want a drama that actually matters and stays with you for weeks, this is a winner.
INSOMNIAC TRIVIA
• Realistic Sets: The first season was filmed in the decommissioned HM Prison Shrewsbury. The actors said that being locked in actual, cramped Victorian cells for hours at a time helped them tap into the genuine sense of claustrophobia and isolation needed for the roles.
• Family Ties: In Season 2, Jodie Whittaker’s character is a mother of three. To make the family bond feel real, the production cast child actors who spent weeks “hanging out” with Whittaker off-camera before filming even started to build a natural, lived-in rapport.
• Award Sweep: The series was a juggernaut at the BAFTAs, picking up Best Mini-Series and a Best Actor win for Sean Bean. It’s widely considered one of Jimmy McGovern’s best works in a career already full of classics.
THE VIBE
Like the sound of a heavy steel door slamming shut. It smells like industrial floor cleaner and fear. It’s cold, grey, and incredibly moving. It makes you want to hug your family, stay on the right side of the law, and realize that one bad second can change a life forever.

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