You know that feeling when you finish a show and just sit there in the dark, staring at the credits, wondering why nobody makes TV like that anymore? That's the state of play bbc tv series in a nutshell. It aired back in 2003, which feels like a lifetime ago in the streaming era, but honestly, it’s aged better than almost anything else from that decade.
It’s six hours of pure, unadulterated tension.
The story starts with two seemingly unrelated deaths in London. A young man is gunned down in an alley, and a political researcher named Sonia Baker falls under a Tube train. Most shows would treat these as separate "monster of the week" cases, but Paul Abbott—the genius behind Shameless and Cracker—writes with a much bigger scope. He weaves them into a massive, terrifying web involving Big Oil, high-ranking government ministers, and the messy, blurred lines of investigative journalism.
The Cast That Captured Lightning in a Bottle
Looking back at the cast list now is kinda insane. It’s like a "who’s who" of British talent before they all became global superstars. You’ve got John Simm leading the pack as Cal McCaffrey, a journalist who’s way too close to the story. He’s not your typical "hero." He’s rumpled, morally flexible, and happens to be the former campaign manager for the very politician at the center of the scandal, Stephen Collins.
David Morrissey plays Collins with this perfect mix of vulnerability and "is-he-actually-a-villain?" energy.
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Then you have the newsroom.
- Bill Nighy as Cameron Foster, the editor. He won a BAFTA for this, and you’ll see why. He manages to be both hilariously dry and incredibly authoritative.
- Kelly Macdonald as Della Smith. She’s sharp, skeptical, and carries the emotional weight of the investigation.
- James McAvoy as Dan Foster. He was basically a kid here, playing the editor’s son and a freelance journalist. You can already see the "movie star" charisma leaking out of every scene.
The chemistry between these people is what makes the state of play bbc tv series work. It’s not just about the plot; it’s about the way they bicker in the office, the way they trade favors with the police, and the way they realize that the truth might actually get them killed.
Why the BBC Original Beats the Hollywood Movie
Most people probably know the 2009 movie starring Russell Crowe and Ben Affleck. It’s... fine. It’s a decent two-hour thriller. But trying to squeeze six hours of Paul Abbott’s intricate plotting into a movie is like trying to fit a whole Sunday roast into a sandwich. You lose all the flavor.
In the TV series, the investigation breathes. You see the "grunt work" of journalism—the endless phone calls, the stakeouts, the tiny details that don't make sense until episode four. The movie turned it into a sleek, Americanized conspiracy. The BBC version kept it British, gritty, and deeply cynical about how our institutions actually function.
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One of the biggest differences? The character of Dominic Foy.
Marc Warren plays him in the series as this sleazy, paranoid PR guy who is absolutely captivating to watch. He’s a coward, a liar, and somehow you still can't look away. Jason Bateman was great in the movie, but he didn't have the five episodes of build-up that Warren had to really make your skin crawl.
Does It Still Hold Up in 2026?
Honestly? More than ever.
We live in an age of "fake news" and collapsing local journalism. Watching Cal and his team fight for a story while the corporate board of their own newspaper tries to shut them down feels incredibly relevant. It’s a "state of the nation" drama that actually has something to say about power.
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The direction by David Yates—who went on to direct most of the Harry Potter movies—is surprisingly energetic. It doesn't look like a dusty 20-year-old drama. It feels immediate. The pacing in episode three, specifically the sequence where Scotland Yard tries to track down a killer, is as good as anything on Netflix or HBO today.
What most people get wrong about the ending
A lot of viewers remember the big "whodunnit" reveal, but they miss the point of the final scenes. The state of play bbc tv series isn't just about catching a murderer. It’s about the cost of the truth. By the time the credits roll, lives are ruined, friendships are permanently broken, and the "victory" for the journalists feels incredibly hollow. That's the realism Paul Abbott brings to the table.
How to experience it today
If you want to dive into this masterpiece, here is the best way to do it:
- Watch the BBC Original first. Don't touch the movie until you've seen the six-part series. It’s currently available on platforms like Apple TV and sometimes pops up on iPlayer or BritBox depending on your region.
- Pay attention to the minor characters. Keep an eye out for a young Benedict Wong and Tom Burke. The show is packed with talent in even the smallest roles.
- Binge it in pairs. The episodes are designed to be watched in chunks. Episodes 1 and 2 set the stage, 3 and 4 ramp up the paranoia, and 5 and 6 are the payoff.
- Look for the dialogue. Listen to how Bill Nighy delivers his lines. Abbott’s ear for dialogue is legendary, and Nighy makes every syllable count.
The state of play bbc tv series remains a high-water mark for British television. It’s a reminder that you don’t need a massive budget or CGI to tell a world-shaking story; you just need a brilliant script, a cast that gives a damn, and a story that refuses to pull its punches.