{"id":392113,"date":"2026-04-10T19:43:10","date_gmt":"2026-04-10T19:43:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/392113\/"},"modified":"2026-04-10T19:43:10","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T19:43:10","slug":"line-of-dutys-adrian-dunbars-highest-rated-drama-is-a-perfect-thriller-to-watch-this-weekend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/392113\/","title":{"rendered":"Line of Duty’s Adrian Dunbar’s highest-rated drama is a perfect thriller to watch this weekend"},"content":{"rendered":"

Adrian Dunbar became a household name thanks to his iconic one-liners as fan-favourite Ted Hastings in Line of Duty (which we’ll be seeing more of soon, thanks to the long-awaited season seven return<\/a>). But while many may still be thinking there’s more to the saga of unmasking<\/a> the mysterious “H” on the BBC cop show, according to Rotten Tomatoes, Dunbar’s highest-rated TV drama is actually another mystery. <\/p>\n

Blood, which first premiered on Channel 5 in 2018 and is also now streaming on Netflix<\/a>, sits with a perfect 100% score thanks to some strong critic reviews. <\/p>\n

The premiere season was praised<\/a> as “gripping”, with Sydney Morning Herald<\/a> going on to say it “wastes no time in ratcheting up the tension”. Meanwhile, The Irish Times<\/a> said: “There are plenty of reasons to watch Blood, from its fine casting of unfamiliar faces to its supple command of plot and pace…” <\/p>\n

\"adrian<\/p>\n

Channel 5<\/p>\n

Related: Best streaming services UK 2026 \u2013 including Disney+, Netflix, iPlayer and Apple TV<\/a><\/p>\n

When it comes to the show’s second outing, which debuted in 2020, The Guardian<\/a> awarded four out of five stars (via Rotten Tomatoes<\/a>), with its review arguing: “Anyone wondering if the show’s writer and creator, Sophie Petzal, could wring more out from the family saga need not have worried…”<\/p>\n

The Times<\/a> is quoted as saying, “The new series is a handsome and hook-rich thriller that seems carefully engineered to deliver a decent supply of twists, shocks and cliffhangers. But it bears only a passing resemblance to the original.”<\/p>\n

Blood centres on the character of Cathleen ‘Cat’ Hogan (Unforgotten’s Carolina Main) who returns to her hometown in Ireland following the mysterious death of her mother. But as she starts to recall things from her childhood, she begins to wonder if her father Jim (played by Dunbar) may have been involved in his wife’s death. He was, after all, the last person to see her alive…<\/p>\n

The cast also includes Gr\u00e1inne Keenan (Irish Blood), Diarmuid Noyes (The Walsh Sisters), Fiona Bell (Shetland) and Ian Lloyd Anderson (Magpie Murders). <\/p>\n

With only two seasons each made up of six episodes, Blood could just be your perfect weekend binge watch. <\/p>\n

\"vicky<\/p>\n

BBC<\/p>\n

Related: 10 underrated detective dramas to watch on BBC, ITV, Netflix & more<\/a><\/p>\n

Meanwhile, as we previously noted, Dunbar has most recently reunited<\/a> with his Line of Duty co-stars, as AC-12 dust off their uniforms and prepare for a brand-new season of Jed Mercurio’s popular police procedural. <\/p>\n

Announcements have been coming in<\/a>, with confirmation that popular actor Mark Bonnar (who also took part in the hit series of The Celebrity Traitors) will be reprising his role as former Deputy Chief Constable Mike Dryden, along with a number of other exciting returning cast members<\/a>. <\/p>\n

A new detective has also been<\/a> revealed to be joining the ranks, played by Robert Carlyle \u2013 the latest in a string of brilliant guest stars who have taken part in the series over the years. <\/p>\n

Lots to look forward to. <\/p>\n

Blood aired on Channel 5 and is now also on Netflix. <\/p>\n

The new edition of Living Legends, a 100-page all-colour celebration of Sir David Attenborough, is here! Buy Sir David Attenborough in newsagents or online<\/a>.
<\/p>\n

\"Headshot<\/p>\n

TV Editor, Digital Spy<\/a> Laura has been watching television for over 30 years and professionally writing about entertainment for almost 10 of those. \u00a0Previously at LOOK and now heading up the TV<\/a> desk at the UK’s biggest TV and movies site Digital Spy, Laura has helped steer conversations around some of the most popular shows on the box. Laura has appeared on Channel 5 News and radio to talk viewing habits and TV recommendations. \u00a0As well as putting her nerd-level Buffy knowledge to good use during an IRL meet with Sarah Michelle Gellar, Laura also once had afternoon tea with One Direction, has sat around the fire pit of the Love Island villa, spoken to Sir David Attenborough about the world’s oceans and even interviewed Rylan from inside the Big Brother house (housemate status, forever pending).\u00a0<\/p>\n

linkedIn<\/a>
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