What Remains is the 'creepy and compelling' whodunnit fans are only just discovering: 'By chance I found it and it is amazing'
"One of the best series I have seen"
What Remains is an “amazing” drama series that first aired on BBC One more than a decade ago – but drama-starved fans are only just discovering the hidden gem on free-to-air.
Those of us who love an intelligent drama with some twists and turns have every right to be feeling a little bit miffed, with sport dominating our screens what feels like 24/7. So now is the time to hunt for long-forgotten masterpieces we may have missed the first time around.
Channel 5 is promoting worthy repeats such as Riptide, but repeats all the same. While Netflix has delivered some cracking thrillers like I Will Find You, but we’ve binged those already.
So what’s next? Well now is the time to watch forgotten crime drama What Remains on iPlayer…
What is the drama What Remains on BBC iPlayer about?
BBC iPlayer viewers are only just discovering What Remains, and have described it as a “creepy” and “compelling” whodunnit.
When the badly decomposed body of Melissa Young is found by a couple in their new flat, Detective Len Harper is determined to discover what happened to her. A single woman in her early 30s, how did nobody notice she was missing for two years? What does that say about the life she lived or the society we occupy? And what of her killer?
Much of the action centres around the house-share at No 8 Coulthard Street, and its residents who all seem to have something to hide in one way or another.
In episode one of a four-part series, viewers follow Michael and his pregnant girlfriend Vidya as they move into a flat and discover leakage coming through the ceiling. To their horror they discover, in the attic, the remains of Melissa Young, a previous tenant, who has been dead for over two years.
Detective Len Harper digs into the house’s secrets – and goes to extreme lengths to solve the case. Was one of the residents of the house responsible for her death? Short answer: Yes.
How and where can I watch it?
All four episodes of What Remains is currently available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
The series first aired in 2013, and became water cooler TV.
Who’s in the cast?
This crime drama is more a case of who ISN’T in the cast. For a TV drama, it is bulging with names, many of whom went on to become huge stars – even if they weren’t already famous yet.
Shameless star David Threlfall led the cast as Len Harper, the detective determined to seek justice for Melissa. Melissa, meanwhile, was portrayed by Jessica Gunning, before her Baby Reindeer fame.
Other massive stars who appeared in the cast include:
- Father Brown’s Claudie Blakley.
- The Stolen Girl‘s Denise Gough as Liz Fletcher.
- Rome’s David Bamber as Joe Sellers.
- The Teacher’s Victoria Hamilton as Peggy Scott.
- Lucky Man’s Steven Mackintosh as Kieron Moss.
- Coldwater’s Indira Varma as Elaine Markham.
- Him & Her’s Russell Tovey as Michael Jenson.
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The Night Manager’s Paul Chahidi as Bill Hallcombe.
Reviews of the BBC drama What Remains
The Guardian wrote a very snobby review at the time, calling the series “almost unwatchable”. Critic Sam Wollaston went on to call it a “string of tired cliches, an unbelievable situation, with dull dialogue”.
But fans totally disagreed both then and now. On IMDB, one new-fan gave the series 10/10, writing: “Somehow missed this first time around, but have recently watched on catch-up. Truly excellent acting and gripping story. An absolute delight to watch. Direction and photography excellently crafted.”
Another new-found fan wrote on Facebook: “Very good! Very interesting! Very impressive! There are no other words I can say other than that. All the stories, the acting, the drama and the actors are absolutely perfect. I love this series and I enjoy it a lot.”
A third said: “By chance I found it and thought it was amazing. One of the best series I have seen.”
“Just watched it this week for the first time,” said another. “Excellent whodunnit that’ll keep you guessing right to the end, fab cast too.”
Others called it “amazing”, “brilliant”, and “ahead of its time”. Another simply urged others to “watch this, it’s bloody brilliant”. Some praised it for its “unexpected ending”.
Lastly, one fan wrote: “Really enjoyed this and can’t understand how I missed it in 2013. Creepy dark and compelling, ending was a bit gothic […]. A really good watch.”
Read more: The 15 best BBC dramas to stream on BBC iPlayer right now
