9 terrific Olivia Colman dramas to binge on ITV, Netflix, the BBC and more

Olivia Colman is fantastic in The Night Manager and, of course, she’s an Oscar winner (The Favourite!), but she’s been in many other excellent shows that didn’t get as much attention as they deserved. Not every show can be a hit like Broadchurch.

Now that the second season of The Night Manager is almost here, we’re sharing some of the show’s best-kept secrets!

We looked through Olivia’s previous work and picked out some of her best dramas you might not have seen yet. Whether you enjoy realistic stories like Run, which follows a struggling single mother, or lighter, funny dramas like Rev, there’s lots to watch while you wait for season two of The Night Manager.

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Here are nine fantastic Olivia Colman shows that you might have missed, available on streaming services like Netflix, ITV, and the BBC.

Accused

First shown on the BBC in 2010, the series Accused remains compelling viewing. Created by Jimmy McGovern (known for Time and Unforgivable), it’s an anthology drama where each episode focuses on a different person facing criminal charges and awaiting the jury’s decision.

Olivia Colman doesn’t play the accused in this episode. Instead, she portrays Sue Brown, a mother mourning the loss of her son, who was killed in broad daylight. Her close friend, Mo Murray (played by Anne-Marie Duff), is facing a potentially long prison sentence because she’s accused of helping cover up the crime committed by her own son.

Seasons one and two of Accused are available to stream on Netflix.

Landscapers

It’s hard to imagine a more fitting actor to handle the delicate and disturbing story at the heart of Landscapers – and that’s why you should definitely check it out. This four-part series, from director Will Sharpe (also appearing in Amadeus on Sky this Christmas), tells the chilling true story of Susan Edwards (played by Colman) – a convicted murderer – and her husband, Christopher (David Thewlis).

In 1998, the couple killed Patricia and William Wycherley, then buried their bodies in the backyard, where they weren’t found for more than ten years.

Catch up on Landscapers on NOW.

Run

Olivia gives a standout performance in Run, a compelling four-episode series that follows four people whose lives unexpectedly intersect as they grapple with major choices.

I’m playing as Carol, a single mom who’s just trying to hold everything together with these two wild teenage sons of mine. Life’s already chaotic, dealing with the usual everyday stuff like little thefts and the occasional shady deal going on around town. But when someone gets murdered, that’s when things really get crazy, and it’s way more than I bargained for.

The Channel 4 series Run, which first appeared in 2013, remains outstanding even now, over a decade later. Some might even say it’s comparable to The Night Manager in quality.

Run is available to watch on ITVX.

Rev.

Olivia first gained recognition for her comedic talent in the show Peep Show and has consistently appeared in humorous, often unconventional, British television since. This talent is especially clear in the BBC sitcom Rev, which aired from 2010 to 2014, where her timing is impeccable.

Here’s an interesting bit of trivia: the show was co-written by Tom Hollander, who stars in both The White Lotus and as the lead actor in Rev. The story is inspired by the real lives of vicars, including Reverend Richard Coles. Olivia plays Alex Smallbone, the wife of vicar Adam Smallbone (played by Hollander), as they begin a new chapter at a church in London.

While it seems like a charming story about someone in an unfamiliar situation, this show is actually quite insightful and complex. It keenly observes people’s flaws, like the difficulties Adam faces with his church and bossy superior, or the self-destructive behavior of local troublemaker Colin.

You can watch Rev. seasons one to three on BBC iPlayer.

Flowers

Flowers is a darkly funny and moving drama series created by Will Sharpe. Olivia Colman gives a brilliant performance as Deborah, a music teacher trying to manage her difficult family life, including a troubled marriage to Maurice (Julian Barratt), a children’s author battling depression.

Add in some quirky twenty-something twins, unusual neighbors, and a habit of creating their own problems, and you’ve got a show that’s unlike anything else – it explores love and life in hilariously over-the-top ways.

You can watch Flowers seasons one and two on Prime Video.

Heartstopper

Olivia shines in the new LGBTQ+ drama, Heartstopper, which tells the sweet and touching love story of high school students Charlie Spring (Joe Locke) and Nick Nelson (Kit Connor).

Olivia portrays Nick’s mother, Sarah, a warm and accepting character who wholeheartedly supports him when he comes out as bisexual. Like Olivia in real life, Sarah is portrayed as a genuinely kind and lovely person.

I’m so excited to see Olivia joining the cast of Heartstopper alongside some incredible actors like Stephen Fry, Eddie Marsan, Hayley Atwell, and Jonathan Bailey! It’s a really fantastic show – it’s won a ton of awards from Digital Spy readers over the years, and honestly, everyone seems to love it. It really deserves all the praise it gets!

Heartstopper seasons one to three are available to watch on Netflix.

Mr Sloane

I just finished watching Mr Sloane, and honestly, it’s a bit heartbreaking at first. The main character, Jeremy Sloane – Nick Frost plays him – is really going through it. He’s super down, lost his job as an accountant, and his marriage with his wife, Janet (played by Olivia), has fallen apart. It’s a rough start for him, that’s for sure!

Things start to improve for him when he meets Robin (Ophelia Lovibond), a quirky and charming American woman. But, as you might expect, trouble isn’t far behind. Despite dealing with some weighty themes, Mr Sloane is a consistently funny show, thanks to director and co-writer Robert B Weide, who’s famous for his work on Curb Your Enthusiasm.

You can watch Mr Sloane on NOW.

The Night Manager

With the return of The Night Manager approaching, it’s a great time to rewatch the first season – or watch it for the first time! It’ll refresh your memory of the thrilling story and remind you just how good the show is. Olivia Colman stars as Angela Burr, a high-ranking official at the Foreign Office who leads the investigation to stop the ruthless arms dealer Richard Roper (played by Hugh Laurie).

Featuring a stellar cast including Tom Hiddleston, Elizabeth Debicki (known for The Crown), and Tom Hollander (The White Lotus), The Night Manager is simply outstanding television.

Watch The Night Manager season one on BBC iPlayer before season two arrives on New Year’s Day.

Joyride

I just saw Joyride and it’s a wild ride! Olivia Colman plays Joy, a woman really struggling with being a new mom who’s trying to give her baby to her sister. But her trip gets totally derailed when a 12-year-old boy named Mully, who’s running away from his awful dad, actually steals her taxi! It’s a crazy situation and I was hooked from the start.

Joy and Mully make the surprising choice to run away together, traveling through the beautiful Irish countryside. As they spend time together, an unexpected mother-son bond develops, fulfilling a hidden need for both of them. Be prepared to cry!

Joyride is available to watch on Netflix.

Enjoy the holidays with the Good Housekeeping Christmas TV Guide! It’s packed with 14 days of listings to help you plan your festive viewing, and it’s available now for just £4.75 at Morrisons, TG Jones, and other magazine shops.

2025-12-25 12:21