“Nicola Walker at her best”: Heading Out is the Unforgotten star’s “superb” drama to binge tonight

More often than not, the best TV is found deep in the archives – and Heading Out is a case in point. The superb drama, which was a huge hit with viewers when it first aired more than a decade ago, stars Nicola Walker as a loyal friend who gives her longtime pal Sara (Sue Perkins) quite the ultimatum – and, in our opinion, it’s an example of Nicola at her absolute best.

What’s the ultimatum, you ask? Well, Sara is 40 and gay, and yet her parents still don’t know it. So there's no better time to tell them than when they visit in six weeks’ time - at least, that's what her friends think. “It's been a joy to work on, and I hope that joy proves to be infectious,” said Sue Perkins, who also wrote the series - and we can confirm, it certainly is.

With the series now available to binge in full, here’s everything you need to know about Heading Out before you tune in, including the full cast, plot and how to watch it.

What is Heading Out about?

The six-part sitcom, which first aired on the BBC in 2013, introduces us to Sara (Sue Perkins), a highly skilled and popular vet who’s too scared to tell her parents she’s gay. On the evening of her 40^th birthday, however, her friends Jamie (Dominic Coleman) and Justine (Unforgotten star Nicola Walker) give her an ultimatum: either Sara tells her parents when they come to visit in six weeks’ time – or they’ll do it for her.

It’s not quite as brutal as it sounds. To help Sara do it, her adoring friends have saved up to buy a series of sessions with Toria (Joanna Scanlan), an eccentric and mildly qualified lifestyle coach. Toria believes that anything can happen if you believe it can happen – and so her mission begins.

Sue Perkins, who also wrote the show, told the BBC of her character: “Sara’s someone who’s managed to get to the age of 40 without really changing or challenging herself in any way whatsoever. She works hard and is very good at her job as a vet, but she hasn’t developed personally in any way.

She has a series of encounters, not really relationships because she’s too scared to let anyone get close to her. This is an increased source of frustration for all of her friends who feel she’s wasting her life by not being true to herself. Sara’s overriding story is to come to terms with who she is and to stop being so neurotic and ashamed of herself.”

Joanna Scanlan added that saying yes to the series was a no-brainer: “I happened to go and see a radio show Sue did in the Nineties for Radio 4 and I just thought she was amazing. I was literally blown away by her the very first time I ever saw her. And then when I got the scripts through and I couldn’t believe that I was being asked to read them. I just loved them, I thought they were everything Sue is; brave, funny, quirky and totally individual and honest.”

Who’s in the cast of Heading Out?

The cast of Heading Out includes:

• Sue Perkins (Hitmen) as Sara
• Nicola Walker (Inside Men) as Justine
• Dominic Coleman (Porridge) as Jamie
• Steve Oram (Sightseers) as Daniel
• Joanna Scanlan (pictured above in Missed Call) as Toria
• Dawn French (Lark Rise to Candleford)
• Shelly Conn (Marchlands, Mistresses)
• Mark Heap (Lark Rise to Candleford)
• Raquel Cassidy (Lead Balloon)
• Harriet Walter (The Wedding Video)
• Steve Pemberton (Benidorm)
• Jeff Rawle (Doc Martin)
• June Brown (EastEnders)
• Anna Skellern (Parade’s End, Lip Service)
• Mel Giedroyc (Light Lunch)

Is Heading Out any good?

Yes – despite the fact it only ran for six episodes, it’s a fun, upbeat series featuring some unmissable early performances from the likes of Nicola Walker, Sue Perkins and Dawn French. While it clearly didn’t have a huge budget behind it (unlike a lot of shows these days), it’s charming, funny and you can’t help but really get behind each of the characters – flaws and all. If you’re looking for something easy and light-hearted to watch, Heading Out would do perfectly.

How can I watch Heading Out?

All six episodes of Heading Out are available to watch now on Prime Video and Apple TV.

What other Nicola Walker dramas can I watch now?

If you’re a fan of detective dramas, we’d recommend Annika. Nicola plays DI Annika Strandhed who heads up the Marine Homicide Unit (MHU) and is tasked with investigating the mind-boggling murders that wash up Scotland’s waterways. She also breaks the fourth wall, sharing her wry and humorous observations along the way. You can watch Annika now on BBC iPlayer. For those who love Slow Horses, we’d suggest Spooks, which might just top it. The series lets us into the inside secrets of ‘Section B’ – the counter-terrorism department of MI5. Headed up by Senior Case Officer Tom Quinn (Matthew Macfadyen). All 10 series are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.