“His best role since Grantchester”: 7 “underrated” James Norton dramas to watch on ITV, Netflix, BBC and more

When a cast list includes James Norton, you know you’re onto a winner. From his turn as a crime-solving clergyman in Grantchester to that as creepy psychopath Tommy Lee Royce in Happy Valley, he’s delivered some truly one-of-a-kind performances – but not all of them have received the attention they deserve.

We’ve watched virtually all of James’s performances (someone had to do it!) to bring you the unsung gems that might have passed you by – including one that’s his best role since Grantchester. From a 5-star period drama to a chilling spy thriller and one of his most heartbreaking roles yet, these are the 7 underrated James Norton dramas to watch now on ITV, Netflix, the BBC and more. Happy watching!

Nowhere Special

If you want to see one of James’s most heartbreaking performances, look no further than Nowhere Special. His character, John, is a 35-year-old window cleaner who’s diagnosed with terminal brain cancer and only has weeks left to live. He has one final mission before he says his goodbyes and that’s to find a new family to take care of his four-year-old son. It’s as gut-punching as you might imagine and even James says reading the script broke his heart. Available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.

Mr Jones

Have you heard the real-life story of journalist Gareth Jones? James hadn’t before he played him in Mr Jones and yet he brings his story to the small screen in spectacular fashion. The World War II-set story follows Jones as he travels to Soviet Russia and proceeds to sneak into Ukraine where he exposes the truth about the Holodomor famine and the horrific impact of Stalin's policies. It’s a jaw-dropping film that sheds a light on an important piece of history that shouldn’t be forgotten. Available to watch now on Prime Video.

The Nevers

We already know James is good at period dramas thanks to Grantchester, but The Nevers blends period drama and sci-fi – and it really works. Set in Victorian London, the drama follows a group of women known as the Touched, who have strange, supernatural abilities. James is the charismatic yet morally ambiguous aristocrat who's fascinated by them – and yet he also wants to exploit them for entertainment and a profit. Think Downton Abbey meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer and you’re getting warm. Available to watch now on ITVX.

Playing Nice

What would you do if you found out that, due to a hospital mix-up, you’d been raising a child who wasn’t biologically your own? That’s the situation two couples, Pete (James Norton) and his wife Maddie (Niamh Algar), and Miles (James McArdle) and his wife Lucy (Jessica Brown Findlay) find themselves in in ITV’s Playing Nice. Devastating, yes, but when Miles decides he wants custody of both children, things take an even more shocking turn. James's best role since Grantchester. Available to watch now on ITVX.

Life in Squares

Long before star James stepped foot in the Cambridgeshire village of Grantchester, the actor flexed his acting chops in a period drama of a different kind – and it’s just as good. Norton plays a member of the renowned Bloomsbury group - the group of British writers, artists and thinkers, who were united by a desire for freedom in the early 20th century – and it makes for a series in which there’s rarely a dull moment. The drama explores the tumultuous relationship between painter Vanessa Bell and her sister Virginia Woolf, as well as Vanessa’s sexually complicated alliance with gay artist Duncan Grant – not to mention the escapes of many other members of the group, including Norton’s Duncan Grant. Well worth an evening in for. Available to watch now on Prime Video.

Joy

Ever wondered how the world’s first “test-tube baby” was produced? In Joy, James embodies real-life scientist Bob Edward who, along with obstetrician Patrick Steptoe (Bill Nighy) and embryologist Jean Purdy (Thomasin McKenzie), worked tirelessly to find ways to help infertility. The result was the birth of Louise Joy Brown, who was the first person to be born through IVF in 1978. A moving, sensitively handled drama. Available to watch now on Netflix.

Rogue Agent

Another real-life story is brought to life in Rogue Agent, which stars James as Robert Hendy-Freegard, a con artist who tricked people into believing he was an MI5 agent and kidnapped multiple victims along the way. But when he tries to scam a quick-witted lawyer, she decides to take him down. A thrilling story that will make you think twice about what - and who - you choose to believe. Available to watch now on Netflix.