If you've finished Happy Valley and are craving your next slice of binge-worthy tele, you can at least look forward to Better, the BBC's next buzzy series in the pipeline.
Set to be a “thrilling redemption story”, we're all in on the police show, which is said to explore corruption, gang crime and loyalty. Who doesn't love a GBD (Gritty British Drama)?
Per the synopsis: “We follow DI Lou Slack’s epic battle towards redemption, by bringing down Col McHugh; the man she has come to love like a brother and the man she has helped place at the head of Leeds criminal underworld.”
It continues: "19 years ago, when Lou was a young police officer at her lowest ebb and Col a low-ranking but ambitious newcomer to the Leeds underworld, their paths crossed, and they struck a deal that changed their lives forever.
Recent hits like Stranger Things and Wednesday mixed with classics such as Grey’s Anatomy and Gilmore Girls.
“The bargain allowed Col to become very rich and very powerful, and Lou to turn around her failing career. A complex but special bond between the pair was forged, and so began Lou’s gradual slide into corruption. But now, when Lou’s family is brought to the brink of a tragedy, she must put right the wrongs that she has spent years rationalising and excusing, to have a second chance at a new, better life.” Ooh.
The cast looks pretty stellar, too, with I Hate Suzie's Leila Farzad leading the show alongside Broadchurch star Andrew Buchan. The new series comes from the same producers as Chernobyl and This Is Going To Hurt, and is co-written by Jonathan Brackley and Sam Vincent (of Humans and Spooks fame). There's not long to wait until it airs, either, so here's everything you need to know about Better…
What is the plot of Better?
If bent copper storylines are your thing (Ted Hastings voice), Better should be, too – as it follows DCI Lou Slack (played by Leila), a corrupt policewoman who has spent decades lying for her friend Col McHugh (Andrew Buchan), who has since risen to to the top of the Leeds criminal underworld.
As the show progresses, she grapples with her loyalty towards Col and whether she can find redemption for everything she has done.
According to co-creator Sam Vincent, this isn't your traditional hero-villain story. “Better is absolutely not a police procedural, certainly not a whodunit, because the person who ‘done it’ is the hero. They are in one person and that's very clear from the first moment. It really is about exploring who she is, why she did these things and how she's going to turn back if she can,” he said.
What do an accountant, a police officer, and a pharmacist have in common?
Who's in the cast of Better?
Alongside Leila Farzad and Andrew Buchan is Anton Lesser (Game Of Thrones), Samuel Edward-Cook (Peaky Blinders), Zak Ford-Williams and Ceallach Spellman. The full main cast is below:
- Leila Farzad as Lou Slack
- Andrew Buchan as Col McHugh
- Samuel Edward-Cook as Ceri Davies
- Carolin Stoltz as Alma
- Zak Ford-Williams as Owen
- Kaya Moore as Noel Wilkes
- Anton Lesser as Vernon
- Ceallach Spellman as Donal
- Olivia Nakintu as DC Esther Okoye
- Joseph Steyne as Joleon
- Anthony Lewis as DC Niall Ibbotson
- Junade Khan as DS Pritam Khan
- Gavin Spokes as DI Phil Cowper
- Charley Webb as Elise
- Jamie Dorrington
Is there a trailer for Better?
There is. A short teaser has been released by the BBC, and it's all kinds of gripping:
When is the release date of Better?
There's not long to wait, because Better will air on BBC One on Monday 13 February, with episodes airing every week from then. You will also be able to watch the whole series (five episodes) on BBC iPlayer.
Please don’t mind us while we *scream* from excitement.
