The Night Manager (and the rise in British TV)

Arguments have made about the state of British TV drama and how it falls under the might of what the US now produce, sometimes stating the lack of funding. Other issues include broadcasters cutting original programmes before their time and I would argue that is a lack in memorable shows the US seem to achieve. Besides the soap operas, Jane Austin adaptations and comedies, very few dramas with the odd exception of Doctor Who, Spooks, etc have lasted more than a few seasons. They come and they go and are soon forgotten, which can be a shame when we have produced great content and started the careers of many great homebred actors, but where is our Breaking Bad that everyone sits down and listens carefully to?

It sounds pessimistic but with more people turning to the internet and reality TV, great dramas like Ripper Street are being dropped or not even green-lit. Thankfully Amazon later claimed that show for their own and produced a great third season. However, despite that recent scare, just last year there have been many great shows on our screens, most recently with the fantastic The Night Manager.

Taking a note from the US, The Night Manager stars a very charming Tom Hiddleston working in-between the Marvel superhero films, Olivia Colman, Elizabeth Debicki, Tom Hollander, David Harewood and a dastardly Hugh Laurie. Based on the John le Carré novel, the story involves Hiddleston going undercover for Colman in order to thwart Laurie's luxurious criminal empire. It's simple in a sense and not always that original, but boy was it a blast to watch.

What has made this show a success nationally and internationally comes down to many reasons. The author's name, an established cast and positive reviews from critics certainly helped, but it is also lavish in its design and boasts a very well-structured story that make it such a crowd-pleaser. The visuals alone trump much of what we've come to expect from the usual British thriller as well.

While Sherlock and Luther continued to impress, 2015 saw the introduction of several other great additions to the BBC. That said, it was not all smooth sailing and the attempted new series Banished was proof of that. Cancelled after one series, this starred Russell Tovey, Julian Rhind-Tutt, MyAnna Buring and David Wenham in the Australian-set drama. Following the lives of convicts and the soldiers around them, there were signs of promise throughout the show, but was weighed down all too quickly by frequent heavy-handed emotional scenes that felt lifted from a drama school exercise. The majority of these ended with someone in blind fury or tears, which soon became exhausting and damaged the pacing of the show to the point of dullness.

That aside, the BBC in 2015 offered a variety of new and engaging shows, which I hope we can see more of again soon. One in particular was Wolf Hall, starring powerful performances in the shape of Mark Rylance as Thomas Cromwell and Damian Lewis as King Henry VIII. The result was a very smart and gripping drama grounded in reality, but also making for a refreshing experience.

The next was Poldark, a very popular period drama set in and around Cornwall as a veteran of the American Revolutionary War returns home to find it all in ruins. Starring another potential Bond in the shape of Aidan Turner, this proved not to be your typical fluffy period drama offering many moments of gripping and exciting drama. With a second season on the horizon, I am sure we will see more of this in the years to come.

Changing course for the more fantastical, there was also the great Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell. Set around the Battle of Waterloo, this saw two magicians come together in London but soon find their intentions turn one against the other. Featuring a very impressive cast (Bertie Carvel and Eddie Marsan in lead) and equally impressive visuals, this was a brilliant, witty adaptation that offered something new to the period drama selection.

Going even further from the formula, I was very sceptical about The Last Kingdom. Historical epics can be costly and I feared a messy, Vikings wannabe but was so very wrong. Set in the 9th century, this one involved the Danish invasion on the kingdoms that now consist of England. Based on a novel of the same name and taking elements from historical facts, this was a surprisingly solid, earthy and entertaining programme, aided by great writing and acting. The cast includes Alexander Dreymon, Matthew Macfadyen and David Dawson, who all help bring the show to life and each episode never failed to impress, resulting in one of my favourite shows for last year.

Concluding the programmes I have selected (or had time to watch!) is And Then There Were None, starring Aiden Turner again, Maeve Dermody, Charles Dance, Sam Neill and Toby Stephens as a small party brought to a mysterious island by an unknown guest. From there, the guests are quickly picked off one by one leaving the survivors to figure out who is responsible. This was a great slice of murder mystery around the Christmas season, if not entirely memorable. That said, it is still a fine example of a genre piece crafted so very well.

All in all, British TV is getting better with each year despite challenges coming in from all corners, and I have enjoyed many of the above. Those were just a handful of what has been on offer and hopefully there are more shows of this calibre to come soon.