5 Reasons to watch 'The Responder'

Martin Freeman stars in this hit BBC One drama series about a “crisis stricken” urgent response officer. Here’s 5 reasons you need to watch this show!

What is The Responder about?

The Responder was one of the most highly anticipated BBC dramas of 2022, with a second season hitting screens in 2024. It follows the story of a “crisis-stricken”, “morally compromised” urgent response officer juggling his failing marriage and mental health issues when he discovers a path to redemption in the form of Casey, a young heroin addict. 

5 Reasons to watch The Responder 

1. It stars A-List Hollywood actor Martin Freeman 

From humble beginnings as Tim, a sales rep at Wernham Hogg in The Office UK, to BBC’s hit series Sherlock and onto Hollywood fame as none other than Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit franchise, Martin Freeman has the perfect range to tackle such a heavy subject matter, while also being able to bring his own charm to the character he’ll be taking on in The Responder. Want to watch something else with Martin Freeman in the meantime? The Office UK is currently streaming on BBC iPlayer, and you can watch it right now on your 4K TV Box.

2. It was written by a real ex-police officer 

What makes The Responder stand out from other police dramas is it's been written by ex-Merseyside Police officer Tony Schumacher, who drew on his personal experiences from his time working as a response officer in St Helens. In a statement about the drama, he said: 

"I'm so incredibly fortunate to be writing for a cast as amazing as the one we've assembled for The Responder. From legends at the top of their game, to young talents who are legends in waiting, it's a writer's dream come true."

3. Freeman with a Liverpudlian accent 

We’ve heard Freeman tackle many accents over the years, from his time in Sacha Baron-Cohen's Ali G skits all the way to his Minnesota accent in Fargo, but we’ve never heard him take on the difficult-to-master-unless-you're-from-there Liverpudlian accent. Here’s a sneak peek!  

4. It’s not all doom and gloom 

While the official trailer promises to tug at our heart strings this January, it doesn’t just settle for the difficult parts of life. The Responder successfully blends humour and uplifting themes with the heavy subject matter, which is correlative to real life. Speaking about his thoughts on the tone of the script, Freeman said: 

"What I loved about The Responder, from first reading it, was its world in which there are laugh-out-loud moments, but it so quickly turns into something else. And it's not, 'Here's a funny bit, now here's a tragic bit.' It's all mixed together." 

5. It comes from the same creators as another huge BBC drama 

What makes The Responder even better than ever, is that it comes from the same creators that made BBC’s hit drama The Sailsbury Poisonings, so if you were a big fan of that, we guarantee The Responder is right up your alley. If you haven’t watched The Sailsbury Poisonings, it’s currently streaming on BBC iPlayer so be sure to check it out. Check out the trailer below:

Where can I watch The Responder? 

Both seasons of The Responder are available to watch now on BBC iPlayer, and we're very much hoping for a season 3!