BBC fans praise 'fantastic' iPlayer show for controversial 'ahead of its time' scene

A TV show available to stream on BBC iPlayer has been praised for being "ahead of its time" thanks to its controversial first series. The second ever episode of the show - which ran for 10 seasons - attracted hundreds of complaints to the Broadcasting Standards Commission when it first aired.

At the time of its release, it received the highest amount of complaints for a television programme that year. Though it was controversial at the time, the television watchdog suggested the polarising scene was necessary to the narrative. Spooks, featuring Matthew Macfadyen, ran from 2002 to 2011 but landed itself in hot water almost immediately.

A post to the r/BritishTV Reddit page had users praising the show, decades after it was first aired. One user wrote: "I'm super late to the party but this was a great show during its run. Definitely ahead of its time. I recommend!" The show is still available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

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Fans believe Spooks was "ahead of its time" may be because of the very scene which landed the show its 250 complaints.

The second episode of their first series depicted the harrowing death of character Helen Flynn, played by Lisa Faulkner. Faulkner, who had taken part in press interviews in the lead-up to broadcast and was advertised as a main cast member, was bumped off early into the show's run.

Viewers at the time were stunned, with critics at the time saying the show's early controversy cemented its place as one of the must-watch shows from the BBC.

TV critic and Black Mirror writer Charlie Brooker wrote at the time: "...Here was a major BBC drama series that actually had the nerve to confound expectation."

Fans have since agreed with the need for a bold opening for the show, with many saying they still have flashbacks to the brutal scene.

One fan wrote: "That was such a clever move, she was well known and you would not have guessed they’d kill her in episode two, really good way of telling the audience that main characters were not safe."

Another added: "I still have flashbacks to the face in the deep-fat fryer scene." Other users are noting the strong cast is a reason to return to Spooks, with many careers launched by the show.

A fan wrote: "People don’t realize this launched the careers of so many big names; Mathew Macfayden and Keeley Hawes (who are married), David Oyelowo, Rupert Penry Jones, Richard Armitage, Nicola Walker, Miranda Raison, Max Brown, Raza Jaffrey, Hermoine Norris.

"The cast was absolutely stacked as is also had established stars like Peter Firth, Robert Glennister, Tim Mcinnerny, Anna Chancellor, Jenny Aguter, etc."

Another agreed, adding: "Benedict Cumberbatch was in this, AND Alexander Siddig (Bashir from DS9). Was a fantastic show for breaking out lots of actors and actresses and putting in some fantastic storylines."