“More watchable than Happy Valley”: 7 “5-star” Sarah Lancashire dramas to watch on ITV, Netflix, BBC & more

When you think of Sarah Lancashire’s best performance, your mind probably goes straight to Happy Valley. While she’s absolutely phenomenal as Sergeant Catherine Cawood, she has some other characters you ought to get to know. We’ve had the joy of watching her entire back catalogue to bring you our pick of her best work.

From a drama in which her performance is every bit as mesmerising as Happy Valley to a spy hit (which is coming back soon) and an underrated classic – she impresses in every role. So, remotes at the ready, these are the seven 5-star Sarah Lancashire dramas to watch now on ITV, Netflix, the BBC and more.

Black Doves

Sarah Lancashire takes on her most secretive role as enigmatic spymaster Mrs Reed. Her job is to oversee mother, wife and spy Helen Webb (Keira Knightley), who’s been passing on her politician husband Wallace’s (Andrew Buchan) secrets for the past decade to a secret organisation, known as the Black Doves. When Helen’s secret lover, Jason (Andrew Koji), is killed, Reed recruits her old friend, Sam Young (Ben Whishaw), to protect her. After the first series’ success, Sarah and Keira are returning for a new explosive chapter. The stakes are higher than ever, with Wallace preparing to become Prime Minister and Mrs Reed ensnared in a ruthless plot. Black Doves series 1 is available to watch now on Netflix. Series 2 will arrive on the platform on Thursday 5 November.

Last Tango In Halifax

Sarah is every bit as watchable here as she is in Happy Valley. She stars alongside Nicola Walker in Sally Wainwright’s feelgood romantic comedy. Alan (Derek Jacobi) and Celia (Anne Reid) are both widowed and in their 70s. The pair were teenage lovers who fell out of touch, until their grandsons put them on Facebook and they reconnected. The reunion isn’t all harmonious, though. Alan’s daughter Gillian (Nicola) and Celia’s daughter Caroline (Sarah) are like chalk and cheese. Chaotic Gillian runs the family with her teenage son, Raff, after the death of her husband. Meanwhile, Caroline is an arrogant high-flying headmistress dealing with the fallout of her husband’s affair. Last Tango In Halifax is available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.

Julia

Feeling hungry? Sarah steps into the shoes of renowned TV chef Julia Child, whose long-running series The French Chef pioneered cooking shows. The drama unfolds in 1962, a time when the women’s rights movement was taking off, and America became the cultural centre of the world. The warm and exuberant Julia is married to Paul (David Hyde Pierce). They have a solid marriage, but he has to adjust to being thrust into the spotlight and the new pressures that his wife’s fame brings. It’s absolutely charming. Julia is available to watch now on HBO via Prime Video.

Clocking Off

The brilliant anthology series centres around a Manchester textile factory and the tumultuous personal lives of its workers. Sarah plays Yvonne Kolakowski, a single mother-of-three whose abusive boyfriend kicks them out. She comes up with a fiery revenge plot that doesn’t go to plan. Meanwhile, she starts seeing a new man, but she has trouble opening up to him. It’s a relatable, poignant and funny drama that is still as good today as it was in the early 2000s. Clocking Off is available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.

The Accident

Haunting yet important, the next pick will leave its mark on you. Adolescence creator Jack Thorne created the drama, which is every bit as moving as the Netflix hit. Set in a neglected Welsh town, the residents are offered fresh hope with a large construction project. But then a large explosion, followed by a catastrophic collapse, leaves several children dead, and the community is torn apart. Sarah plays Polly, the wife of the local politician who championed the project. The Accident is available to watch now on Channel 4.

Coronation Street

As with so many other national acting treasures, Sarah started her illustrious career on the cobbles. From 1991 to 1994, she became a household name as Raquel Watts. Many will remember her pulling pints in The Rovers Return, her big personality and even bigger hair. It’s worth going back to the classic episodes for a healthy dose of nostalgia. Coronation Street is available to watch now on ITVX.

Kiri

Sarah works with Jack Thorne again in another thought-provoking drama. Miriam Grayson (played by Sarah) is a social worker in the midst of a harrowing ordeal. Kiri is a young Black girl who’s about to be adopted by a white foster family. Miriam arranges for her to have an unsupervised visit with her biological grandparents, but when she disappears – fingers point towards Miriam. Kiri is available to watch now on Channel 4.