Time (2021 TV series)

British TV series

Time

Official poster for Series 1 (2021)

Genre| Crime drama
Created by| Jimmy McGovern
Written by|

* Jimmy McGovern
* Helen Black

Directed by|

* Lewis Arnold
* Andrea Harkin

Starring|

* Sean Bean
* Stephen Graham
* Jodie Whittaker
* Tamara Lawrance
* Bella Ramsey
* Siobhan Finneran

Music by| Sarah Warne
Country of origin| United Kingdom
Original language| English
No. of series| 2
No. of episodes| 6
Production
Executive producers|

* Lewis Arnold
* Sean Bean
* Stephen Graham
* Jimmy McGovern
* Michael Parke
* Lucy Richer
* Tom Sherry

Producers|

* Simon Maloney
* Mark Hedges

Cinematography| Mark Wolf
Editor| Sacha Szwarc
Running time| 56–67 minutes
Production companies| BBC Studios Drama Productions
BritBox[1]
Original release
Network| BBC One
Release| 6 June 2021 (2021-06-06) –
present

Time is a British anthology drama television series[2] created and co-written by Jimmy McGovern, with Helen Black. Each series presents a new scenario following the lives of inmates and staff in His Majesty's Prison Service. Its first series, starring Sean Bean and Stephen Graham, was first broadcast on BBC One on 6 June 2021 and concluded on 20 June 2021.[3] Its second series, starring Jodie Whittaker, Tamara Lawrance and Bella Ramsey, was broadcast, also on BBC One, on 29 October 2023 and concluded on 12 November 2023.[4][5]

The first series received largely positive reviews, with many praising the performances of the two leads.[6][7] At the 2022 BAFTA TV Awards, the first series won Best Mini-Series and Bean won Best Actor, whilst Graham was nominated for Best Supporting Actor. The second series received similarly positive reviews.[8]

## Plot

[edit]

### Series 1

[edit]

Mark Cobden is newly imprisoned, consumed by guilt for his crime, and way out of his depth in the volatile world of prison life. He meets Eric McNally, an excellent prison officer doing his best to protect those in his charge. However, when one of the most dangerous inmates identifies his weakness, Eric faces an impossible choice between his principles and his family.[7][9][10]

### Series 2

[edit]

Orla, a single mother serving her first sentence, Abi, who is incarcerated for life, and Kelsey, a pregnant heroin addict and repeat offender, begin their sentences at a women's prison.[11]

## Cast

[edit]

### Series 1

[edit]

#### Main

[edit]

* Sean Bean as Mark Cobden, a prisoner and former teacher
* Stephen Graham as Eric McNally, a prison officer and Mark's supervising officer

#### Supporting

[edit]

* James Nelson-Joyce as Johnno
* Siobhan Finneran as Marie-Louise O'Dell, the prison chaplain
* Nabil Elouahabi as Patterson
* Natalie Gavin as Jardine, a prison officer
* Hannah Walters as Sonia McNally, Eric's wife
* Nadine Marshall as Alicia Cobden, Mark's wife
* Jack McMullen as Daniel, Mark's cellmate
* Sue Johnston as June Cobden, Mark's mother
* David Calder as John Cobden, Mark's father
* Bobby Schofield as Barry Schofield
* Jonathan Harden as Brendan Murphy
* Kadiff Kirwan as Pete
* Aneurin Barnard as Bernard
* Cal MacAninch as Galbraith
* Brian McCardie as Jackson Jones, a prisoner
* Michael Socha as Kenny Meadows, a drug dealer
* Jason Done as PO Banks

### Series 2

[edit]

#### Main

[edit]

* Jodie Whittaker as Orla O'Riordan
* Tamara Lawrance as Abi Cochrane
* Bella Ramsey as Kelsey Morgan
* Siobhan Finneran as Marie-Louise O'Dell

#### Supporting

[edit]

* Julie Graham as Lou Harkness
* Karen Henthorn as Elizabeth O'Riordan
* Faye McKeever as Tanya Helsby
* Sophie Willan as Maeve Riley
* Matilda Firth as Nancy O'Riordan
* Danielle Henry as Tess Palmer
* Maimuna Memon as Tahani
* Angela Wynter as May Sinclair

## Production

[edit]

Most of the filming of the first series took place in the Liverpool City Region, with the prison wings and cells filmed at HM Prison Shrewsbury, a former prison which was decommissioned in 2013. The cameras moved to Liverpool to create the rest of the prison using courtrooms, police stations and educational buildings, as well as exterior locations such as the Silver Jubilee Bridge in Widnes and Southport Pier.[12]

## Episodes

[edit]

Series| Episodes| Originally released| Average viewership
(in millions)

|
|
|

First released| Last released| Network
1| 3| 6 June 2021 (2021-06-06)| 20 June 2021 (2021-06-20)| BBC One| 6.09
2| 3| 29 October 2023 (2023-10-29)| 12 November 2023 (2023-11-12)| 3.89

### Series 1 (2021)

[edit]

No.| Directed by| Written by| Original release date| UK viewers
(millions)

|
|
|
|

1| Lewis Arnold| Jimmy McGovern| 6 June 2021 (2021-06-06)| 8.04[13]

En route to Craigmore Prison, a former teacher, Mark Cobden, hears a raging argument between two prisoners, Johno and Baz, and a fight breaks out between the prisoners. Prison officers question and strip-search him. Mark calls his wife and gets placed in a first-night cell. Eric McNally is a prison officer at Craigmore Prison. On the first day, Eric does the induction. He meets his cellmate, Bernard, a schizophrenic prisoner. Mark tells Bernard he is doing four years for killing someone by dangerous driving. Bernard says he is doing 10 years for his father's manslaughter. At night, Mark sees Bernard's self-inflicted wounds and presses the emergency button. Eric brings armed guards to take him to segregation.

Irwine tells Eric that his son, David, is in Lowood Prison and indirectly threatens Eric to give him "protection", making Eric anxious. In prison, Johno bullies Mark. Eric meets David and plans to transfer him to another prison. In the morning, Johno throws scalding sugary water on Baz. The prison governor tells Mark that they will move him to Chapel Grove. Mark witnesses Bernard’s suicide, and the chaplain informs that he overdosed on his medication. Armed men arrest Irwine. Johno punches Mark, giving him a bloodied nose. Irwine tells Eric that David is in Chapel Grove, where he fights Irwine.

2| Lewis Arnold| Jimmy McGovern| 13 June 2021 (2021-06-13)| 5.18

Mark expresses his desire to write a letter to the wife of the man he killed. He meets his new cellmate, Daniel, who is serving a 21-year sentence for murder. The governor informs Eric that his son has been attacked and is critically injured, leading Eric to promise his wife he'll “play ball” to keep their son safe.

Mark hands his letter to Eric, who later meets Mrs. Hughes, Bernard's mother, and apologises, but she angrily destroys his blinker. Mark assists a fellow inmate, Kavanagh, in writing an anniversary message to his wife. Eric gets involved with drug dealing, receiving drugs from Kenny to smuggle. Mark's wife, Alicia, asks for a divorce and tells him she met someone. Mark convinces Daniel to meet the parents of the man he killed. On day 88, they meet Gerald Wilson’s parents, who ask Daniel why it happened. Eric tells Mark that the letter has been rejected. Daniel saves Mark from Johno's threat. Daniel saves Mark when Johno threatens to set his feet on fire. Mark meets Jackson to toughen him up. Eventually, Mark fights Johno and bites his ear. Kenny gives Eric another parcel and explains that his son is in jail. A police officer pulls him over for the smashed rear light.

3| Lewis Arnold| Jimmy McGovern| 20 June 2021 (2021-06-20)| 5.06[14]

Brendan reveals his dark past of murdering his best friend at 13. Mark teaches Kavanagh and informs Daniel to dispose of a phone he found. Eric meets David and tells him that his father has been supplying drugs for months. Mark requests the chaplain to contact his mother, who then informs him of John's death. As Mark leaves prison for the funeral, police find the phone during a cell search. Mark returns to his cell, and Daniel moves out. On day 509, Mark watches the New Year fireworks. Brendan reveals to his victim’s brother that he confessed his love to him. The governor and chaplain invite him to a conference. Jackson offers Mark a smuggling job. At the conference, he shares his drinking problem and a previous accident that led to a death, ultimately resulting in a court confrontation with the victim's wife.

Jackson and Flanagan beat Mark, but Kavanagh saves him. The governor meets Eric to search him. They find the drugs, and the police arrest Eric, and he tells his wife. After 730 days, Mark gets released. He hugs Kavanagh, says goodbye to Daniel, and meets Eric. The judge sentences Eric to four years in prison. After 1 year, Mark has an emotional meeting with the victim’s wife.

### Series 2 (2023)

[edit]

No.| Directed by| Written by| Original release date| UK viewers
(millions)

|
|
|
|

1| Andrea Harkin| Jimmy McGovern & Helen Black| 29 October 2023 (2023-10-29)| 4.14

Single mother Orla, heroin addict Kelsey and lifer Abi are sent to prison. While Orla loses control of her old life, Kelsey makes a personal discovery and Abi attempts to hide a terrible secret.

2| Andrea Harkin| Jimmy McGovern & Helen Black| 5 November 2023 (2023-11-05)| 3.71

Several months after she's released, Orla is sent back to prison and her children remain in care. While Abi confides in Marie-Louise about her past, Kelsey thinks about the future of her unborn child.

3| Andrea Harkin| Jimmy McGovern & Helen Black| 12 November 2023 (2023-11-12)| 3.78

Orla faces consequences while trying to reconnect with her children, Abi attempts to overcome her unresolved grief and Kelsey hopes to move on from her old life and plan a future with her child.

## Reception

[edit]

Writing in The Guardian, Lucy Mangan wrote: "The performances of Bean and Graham are, even though we have come to expect brilliance from them both, astonishing. So, too, are those from everyone in smaller roles, none of which is underwritten or sketchy, and who thicken the drama into something more profoundly moving and enraging at every turn".[6] Billie Schwab Dunn, writing for Metro, praised the show, which was "elevated by the central performances – particularly Bean, who gently grounds us and provides a beam of light in all that darkness".[7][8]

Camilla Long of The Times says Bella Ramsey's performance was "transfixing, screaming and huffing through the first episode like a scab-infested skunk, going from spitting rage to wide-eyed giggles in a glimmer."[15]

For series one, review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 100% approval rating based on 23 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "Time's heavy load can be challenging, but strong writing and a magnificent performance from Sean Bean make for an incredible, thought-provoking watch."[16] For series two, Rotten Tomatoes reported a 93% approval rating based on 15 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "Time's second season can be grinding and grueling, but its exemplary ensemble ensures that it is never less than riveting."[17] On Metacritic, series one scored 82 out of 100, based on 7 critics, indicating "universal acclaim",[18] and series two scored 80 out of 100, based on 9 critics, indicating "generally favorable".[19]

## Awards and nominations

[edit]

Year  | Award  | Category  | Nominee  | Result  | Ref.

|
|
|
|
|

2022  | BAFTA TV Awards | Best Mini-Series | Time | Won  | [20]
Best Actor | Sean Bean | Won
Best Supporting Actor | Stephen Graham | Nominated
BAFTA TV Craft Awards | Director:Fiction | Lewis Arnold | Nominated  | [21]
Photography & Lighting:Fiction | Mark Wolf  | Nominated
Scripted Casting | Beverley Keogh, David Marin  | Nominated
2024  | BAFTA TV Craft Awards | Editing:Fiction | Alex Mackie  | Nominated  | [22]
Scripted Casting  | Amy Hubbard  | Nominated
RTS Awards | Leading Actor:Female  | Tamara Lawrance | Won  | [23]
Leading Actor:Female  | Jodie Whittaker | Nominated
Supporting Actor:Female  | Bella Ramsey | Won

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Goldbart, Max (13 June 2023). "'Time': Bella Ramsey Prison Drama Boarded By BritBox North America For Season 2, Reveals More Cast". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
2. ^ "BBC Series 'Time' Season 2: Anthology Cast | Telly Visions". tellyvisions.org. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
3. ^ Vassell, Nicole (4 June 2021). "Time release date: Cast, plot and trailer for new BBC One series". Radio Times. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
4. ^ "Four of the BBC's biggest dramas The Tourist, The Responder, Vigil and Time to return for a second series on BBC One and BBC iPlayer". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
5. ^ "Time: Jodie Whittaker set to star in second series". TV Zone. 2 April 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
6. ^ a b Mangan, Lucy (6 June 2021). "Time review – Sean Bean and Stephen Graham astound in enraging prison drama". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
7. ^ a b c Schwab Dunn, Billie (6 June 2021). "Time review: Sean Bean's prison drama is a hard watch – but worth every minute". Metro. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
8. ^ a b Mangan, Lucy (29 October 2023). "Time series two review – Jodie Whittaker shines a light on the idiocy of our legal system". The Guardian.
9. ^ Chilton, Louis (4 June 2021). "Time: Cast of BBC prison drama endured Covid scares and real prison experiences". The Independent. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
10. ^ Lally, Kate (6 June 2021). "BBC's Time viewers are all hoping for one thing from tonight's show". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
11. ^ Hilton, Nick (29 October 2023). "Time season 2 review: Bella Ramsey steals the show as a hard-bitten addict". The Independent. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
12. ^ Carr, Flora (4 June 2021). "Where is Time filmed? All the locations in the BBC drama". Radio Times. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
13. ^ "7-DAY RATINGS: 31 MAY-06 JUNE 2021". tvzoneuk. 14 June 2021. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
14. ^ "7-DAY RATINGS: 14-20 JUNE 2021". tvzoneuk. 29 June 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
15. ^ Long, Camilla (5 November 2023). "Time review — women aren't just angry and mad". www.thetimes.com. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
16. ^ "Time: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
17. ^ "Time: Season 2". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
18. ^ "Time: Season 1". Metacritic. CBS. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
19. ^ "Time: Season 2". Metacritic. CBS. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
20. ^ "Bafta TV Awards 2022: The winners and nominees". BBC News. 8 May 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
21. ^ Ritman, Alex (24 April 2022). "BAFTA TV Craft Awards: 'Landscapers,' 'We Are Lady Parts' Among Top Winners". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 15 January 2025. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
22. ^ Yossman, K. J. (20 March 2024). "'Black Mirror,' 'Silo' and 'The Last of Us' Among Winners at BAFTA TV Craft Awards". Variety. Archived from the original on 4 March 2025. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
23. ^ Szalai, Georg (27 March 2024). "Hannah Waddingham, 'Happy Valley,' Bella Ramsey Among Winners of Royal Television Society Awards". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 10 July 2025. Retrieved 2 April 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* Time at IMDb

* v
* t
* e

BAFTA TV Award for Best Limited Drama

* This Is England '88 (2012)
* Room at the Top (2013)
* In the Flesh (2014)
* The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies (2015)
* This Is England '90 (2016)
* National Treasure (2017)
* Three Girls (2018)
* Patrick Melrose (2019)
* Chernobyl (2020)
* I May Destroy You (2021)
* Time (2022)
* Mood (2023)
* The Sixth Commandment (2024)
* Mr Bates vs The Post Office (2025)

* v
* t
* e

Jimmy McGovern

TV series created by|

* Cracker (1993–1996, 2006)
* Hearts and Minds (1995)
* The Lakes (1997–1999)
* Gunpowder, Treason & Plot (2004)
* The Street (2006–2009)
* Moving On (2009–2021)
* Accused (2010–2012)
* Banished (2015)
* Broken (2017)
* Time (2021–present)

Films written|

* Priest (1994)
* Go Now (1995)
* Hillsborough (1996)
* Dockers (1999)
* Liam (2000)
* Sunday (2002)
* Common (2014)
* Reg (2016)
* Unforgivable (2025)

Remakes|

* Accused (2015–2016, France)
* Accused (2023–present, USA)

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