The BBC has made a quiet but significant move for crime drama fans, dropping the entire first season of the new Irish detective series Blackshore onto its iPlayer streaming service. This allows viewers to binge all six episodes of the show, which has been hailed as "gripping from beginning to end" by early audiences.
A Compelling Small-Town Mystery
The series, which first debuted in Ireland on RTÉ in February 2024, made its UK television debut on BBC Four with a double bill on Saturday, 17 January. Episodes one and two aired at 9pm and 9:55pm respectively. The story follows DS Fia Lucey, played by Lisa Dwan of Bloodlands and Top Boy fame.
Fia is a Dublin detective whose career is under threat due to allegations of undue force. She is sent back to her hometown of Blackwater to investigate a missing persons case, forcing her to confront a traumatic family past and a tight-knit community riddled with secrets.
Acclaimed Cast and Viewer Reaction
The ensemble cast features several familiar faces, including Rory Keenan (Striking Out), Amy De Bhrún (Line of Duty), and Aidan McArdle (Ridley). The show has quickly garnered a strong response from viewers who have discovered it on iPlayer or BBC Four.
On IMDb, the series holds a solid user rating of 6.8 out of 10. Social media platform X has seen praise from fans, with one calling it "bingeworthy with plenty of cliffhangers" and praising Dwan's "brilliant" lead performance. Another viewer noted the plot felt "pretty authentic" and perfect for a winter's evening.
Demand for a Second Season Grows
Interest is already building for the future of the series. Several viewers who have consumed the full season on iPlayer are actively calling for a second run. "Loved it - hope there will be more," wrote one social media user, while another expressed disappointment that a follow-up "hasn't been produced yet."
For those preferring weekly broadcasts, episodes three and four of Blackshore will air on BBC Four at 9:25pm on Saturday, 24 January. However, the entire series is available to stream immediately on BBC iPlayer.
