Time is a British anthology crime drama television series 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. The first series, starring Sean Bean and Stephen Graham, was first broadcast on BBC One on 6 June 2021 and concluded on 20 June 2021. The second series, starring Jodie Whittaker, Tamara Lawrance, Bella Ramsey and Siobhan Finneran, was first broadcast on 29 October 2023 and concluded on 12 November 2023. A third series was confirmed in November 2025, with Finneran set to reprise her role and star alongside David Tennant.
The first series received largely positive reviews, with many praising the performances of the two leads. 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.
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.
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.
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.
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". Billie Schwab Dunn, writing for Metro, praised the show, which was "elevated by the central performances â particularly Bean, who gently grounds us and provides a beam of light in all that darkness".
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."
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 heavy load can be challenging, but strong writing and a magnificent performance from Sean Bean make for an incredible, thought-provoking watch." For series two, Rotten Tomatoes reported a 93% approval rating based on 15 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "Time second season can be grinding and grueling, but its exemplary ensemble ensures that it is never less than riveting." On Metacritic, series one scored 82 out of 100, based on 7 critics, indicating "universal acclaim", and series two scored 80 out of 100, based on 9 critics, indicating "generally favorable".