The Responder is finally streaming on BBC iPlayer

Let us be honest — you have never seen Martin Freeman like this before. Forget Bilbo Baggins or Watson, in The Responder, he is a broken copper sprinting through Liverpool at 3 AM, emotionally combusting while rats scurry past him in alleyways. And now, after shaking things up on BBC One back in 2022, this gritty fever dream of a drama is finally dropping on BBC iPlayer from April 25th, ready to break new viewers all over again.

The Responder is finally streaming on BBC iPlayer | Credit: X

What is The Responder about?

Inspired by real-life ex-cop turned screenwriter Tony Schumacher, The Responder is not just another police procedural. It is part-nightmare, part-existential crisis, and completely unskippable. Think Line of Duty meets Fleabag's internal monologue, but set entirely in the chaotic underbelly of Merseyside.

The Responder’s star cast

Freeman plays Chris Carson, a morally messy, emotionally wrecked urgent response officer who is barely hanging on — at work, in his crumbling marriage, and definitely in his own head. Enter Rachel, a rookie partner played by the electric Adelayo Adedayo, who is thrown into the madness and forced to figure out whether she will save Chris or end up as collateral damage.

The Responder’s story line

Across five brutally intense night shifts, the series rips into toxic masculinity, mental health, broken systems, and that very British habit of bottling it all up until it explodes. Yes, there are crimes to solve. But The Responder is more about the internal ones — and how close someone can get to total collapse while still showing up in uniform.

The Responder is finally streaming on BBC iPlayer | Credit: X

Tony Schumacher, who actually lived this life, has admitted that Chris Carson is basically a version of himself. He said writing it felt like telling his own story — the late-night chases, the breakdowns, the numbness — it is all there. And it feels real, because it is. That’s the trauma talking, and you are going to feel every second of it.

The directing reins were held by Tim Mielants, with Ian Hart and MyAnna Buring rounding out the phenomenal cast. Honestly, this series could teach a masterclass in emotionally-charged storytelling — with a Liverpool accent and a broken soul.

The Responder is finally streaming on BBC iPlayer | Credit: X

Is there a Season 2 for The Responder?

Oh, and before you ask: YES, Season 2 is officially happening. Chris Carson’s descent is far from over, and according to whispers from BritBox and BBC, we will be diving even deeper into his haunted psyche and post-shift meltdowns very soon.

So if you missed it the first time, or you are simply ready to spiral (again), catch The Responder on BBC iPlayer starting 25th April, Friday. Bring snacks, tissues, and maybe a support group.