Sheridan Smith and Stephen Graham's Forgotten Gem: The Anthology Series 'Accused' Is Now Streaming Free – And It's a Masterclass in British Acting

Two names consistently dominate when discussing the absolute best of British television: Sheridan Smith and Stephen Graham. These actors are notoriously prolific, each leaving an indelible mark across film and TV. Now, a forgotten gem from 2010 that brought them together is back in the spotlight, streaming completely free on ITVX. Critics and fans alike are calling it their finest collaboration to date.

What Is 'Accused'? A Case Study in Edge-of-Your-Seat Storytelling

Created by the legendary writer Jimmy McGovern (The Street, Cracker), Accused is a gripping anthology series that premiered on ITV in 2010. Over two seasons, it delivered 10 standalone episodes, each a self-contained, high-stakes drama centered on the victims and the accused in various criminal cases. The format is pure television excellence: every hour opens with the accused sitting in a courtroom dock, awaiting a verdict, and then flashes back to the desperate, often heartbreaking circumstances that led them there.

McGovern's signature style—uncompromising, raw, and deeply human—is on full display. The series strips away the procedural gloss and plunges viewers straight into the messy, chaotic lives of ordinary people pushed to extraordinary limits. It's not a whodunit; it's a why-they-did-it. And with this cast, every minute is riveting.

A Stellar Cast: Who's Who in This Anthology Triumph

The ensemble of Accused reads like a who's-who of British acting royalty. Many performers were already established; others were on the cusp of global stardom.

• Sheridan Smith delivers a career-defining performance as Charlotte, a woman entangled in a harrowing domestic situation. Smith, known for her emotional depth in Mrs Biggs and The C Word, brings a devastating vulnerability.
• Stephen Graham plays Tony Baines, a role that showcases his signature intensity and vulnerability. Graham, currently wowing audiences in Peaky Blinders and Boiling Point, proves he was always a force of nature.
• Olivia Colman appears as Sue Brown, years before her Oscar-winning turn in The Favourite. Her episode is a masterclass in quiet desperation.
• Peter Capaldi and Juliet Stevenson portray Frank and Helen Ryland, a couple facing a devastating crime that tests their marriage to the breaking point.
• Christopher Eccleston, Andy Serkis, Naomie Harris, Sean Bean, Anne-Marie Duff, Robert Sheehan, John Bishop—the list goes on. Each actor delivers a performance that is both raw and nuanced, making every episode a standalone mini-masterpiece.

This is the kind of casting that makes television history. It's a showcase of the sheer depth of talent in the UK, and it's utterly mesmerizing to watch these artists do what they do best.

Where to Watch – Free Streaming on ITVX

All 10 episodes of Accused are now available to stream on ITVX at no cost. Each episode runs roughly an hour, and because the stories are not connected, you can dip in and out without any binge-watching pressure. The platform has been steadily unearthing buried treasures from the ITV archives, and Accused is arguably its crown jewel.

This is a perfect weekend viewing plan: pick an episode based on your favorite actor, or start from the beginning and let McGovern's masterful storytelling take you for a ride. The performances are so compelling that you'll likely watch the entire series in one sitting.

Critical Reception and Why It's a Must-Watch

When Accused first aired, it didn't dominate the ratings—a tragic oversight given the quality on display. But critics were effusive. The Guardian called it “a compelling dissection of the fragility of ordinary lives,” though they noted the unrelenting bleakness. Metro mourned the low viewership, writing: “Despite good reviews, a touch of controversy and International Emmy awards, Accused's first six episodes didn’t notch up great ratings in 2010. A shame, as there is some tremendous acting on display.”

Indeed, the series won International Emmy Awards, and its reputation has only grown over time. Fans now champion it as one of the most underrated British dramas of the 2010s. Social media is buzzing again, with viewers rediscovering the show and praising its raw authenticity.

For anyone who loves character-driven drama, Accused is an absolute must-watch. It's dark, it's uncomfortable, and it's impossible to look away. McGovern's scripts dig deep into the human soul, asking uncomfortable questions about justice, guilt, and the thin line between victim and perpetrator. And with Sheridan Smith and Stephen Graham at the very top of their game, this series is a powerful reminder of why British television remains the best in the world.

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