If you want to revisit Jodie Comer’s 2016 drama Thirteen, it’s available to stream on BBC iPlayer right now.
The mini-series, which consists of five episodes, first aired on BBC Three near the start of that year (marking its first original online drama), and had been on BBC iPlayer until May 2025 when it was widely reported that it would be leaving the streaming service.
But it couldn’t have been gone for too long, because we’re here to tell you that Thirteen is once again on the BBC platform, so there’s no better time to catch up if you haven’t already.
The fictional British drama was created and written by Marnie Dickens, whose other TV credits include Prime Video’s psychological thriller Wilderness, starring Jenna Coleman.
Thirteen’s description reads: “After 13 years held captive by her kidnapper, Ivy Moxam escapes. Piecing back together the version of family life that existed before is no easy task….”
BBC
The BBC described the drama series as one that “leaves you on absolute tenterhooks”, with the story “twisting and turning at every corner.”
Comer – who went on to take the breakout role of Villanelle in Killing Eve a few years after – led the cast of Thirteen as the main character Ivy Moxam, while Richard Rankin (Outlander, Rebus), Valene Kane (The Fall, Blue Lights), Natasha Little (The Night Manager) and Katherine Rose Morley (The Last Tango in Halifax) also starred.
Thirteen was largely well received by critics at the time (via Rotten Tomatoes), with many praising Comer’s performance. The Australian called it “stunning”, while Boston Herald described her portrayal as “beautiful” before later adding: “She’ll keep you coming back to a mystery that grows darker with every revelation.”
David M. Benett//Getty Images
The show was a hit with audiences too, dominating BBC iPlayer for its first month post-premiere (along with BBC One’s hit The Night Manager).
At the time of its release, Comer spoke of what drew her to the project. “It’s completely different to anything else I’ve done and nothing like the characters I played in My Mad Fat Diary and Doctor Foster,” she said (via the BBC).
Comer also said it was “really tough” but “a great challenge”, before adding: “When you get scripts and you really enjoy reading them, you know it’s a good project. I was so keen to read more of them after the first script which we auditioned with. Playing Ivy, I had to imagine the unimaginable – it pushed me to my limits as an actress and it’s been a real challenge.”
Thirteen aired on BBC Three and is now on BBC iPlayer.
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TV Editor, Digital Spy Laura has been watching television for over 30 years and professionally writing about entertainment for almost 10 of those. Â Previously at LOOK and now heading up the TV 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. Â As 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).Â