'Masterpiece' BBC TV series hailed 'one of the finest' - Daniel Craig is 'outstanding'

The BBC has produced some amazing shows over the years. Just a few that come to mind are Luther, Sherlock and Happy Valley, which not only took the UK by storm but were loved by audiences around the world. But there is another series that has been described as "one of the finest ever made," and it also gave Daniel Craig his breakthrough role.

The show in question is Our Friends in the North, a "powerful and emotional" BBC drama that first aired on BBC Two in early 1996. Written by Peter Flannery, it follows four friends from Newcastle upon Tyne across three turbulent decades, from 1964 to 1995.

It tells the story of Nicky, Mary, Tosker and Geordie, whose lives intertwine against the backdrop of Britain's political and social change.

The series touches on real events such as the miners' strike, corruption scandals and the Great Storm of 1987.

Starring Daniel Craig, Christopher Eccleston, Gina McKee and Mark Strong, the nine-part serial explores friendship, ambition and loss, set against the shifting landscape of modern Britain.

Craig's performance as Geordie has since been recognised as his breakout role, bringing him to the attention of producer Barbara Broccoli, who later cast him as James Bond.

Audiences around the world have fallen in love with the show over the years, with many rewatching it multiple times.

One reviewer said: "I watched this excellent series when it was first shown. I'm watching it again now and it's as good as I remember.

"The cast are brilliant and it's so well written, with characters you really care about and a gritty storyline that takes you on a journey through Britain's cultural and political past - the good, the bad and the ugly."

Another added: "It's one of the finest series ever made by the BBC. Daniel Craig is outstanding in his breakthrough role. The series has to be watched."

A third person wrote: "This was truly landmark TV with the BBC doing what it does best. A moving and thought provoking series that looked at some of the grittier points of modern Britain's history and the often neglected North."

What's more, the series was met with huge critical acclaim. It won multiple BAFTAs and Royal Television Society awards and was later ranked by The Guardian as the third greatest British television drama of all time.

The British Film Institute named it one of the 100 Greatest British Television Programmes of the 20th century, while The Daily Telegraph hailed it as "a production where all worked to serve a writer's vision".

Our Friends in the North is currently available to stream with ITVx's premium subscription.