Watch Five Days

Five Days is a gripping mystery drama from the BBC One network, which originally aired from 2007 to 2010. The show features an all-star cast, including the likes of Hugh Bonneville, David Oyelowo, Sarah Smart, and Edward Woodward, and follows the investigation into the disappearance of a young mother in the UK.

The story is told over a five-day period, with each episode focussing on one day of the investigation. The story opens with the disappearance of a woman named Leanne Wellings, who vanishes without a trace while on her way to pick up her daughter from school.

As the days progress, we see the impact of her disappearance on her family, her friends, and the wider community. The police investigation is led by Detective Sergeant Barney Jones (David Oyelowo), who is struggling with his own personal demons, including a strained relationship with his wife and young daughter.

As the investigation unfolds, new leads emerge, including a potential suspect in the form of a local handyman, and a conflicting witness statement from a teenage girl. The tension builds as the days tick by, with each character coming under suspicion at some point or another.

Throughout the show, we see the impact of the investigation on the characters' personal lives. Leanne's mother, played by Susan Lynch, is a powerful figure, consumed by grief and desperate to find her daughter. Her estranged husband, played by Hugh Bonneville, is forced to confront his own failings as a husband and father.

Meanwhile, Sarah Smart's character, a social worker named PC Laurie Franklin, becomes increasingly involved in the case, forming an unexpected connection with one of Leanne's friends. And the late Edward Woodward, in one of his final roles, plays an elderly man who gets caught up in the investigation after making a chance discovery.

What sets Five Days apart from other crime dramas is its focus on character development. Each character is given time to develop and evolve as the investigation progresses, allowing the audience to become invested in their stories and relationships. The show also weaves in social issues, such as child welfare and mental health, into the storyline, giving it a sense of social relevance.

Overall, Five Days is a tense and emotionally charged drama that keeps the audience guessing right up until the end. The performances are outstanding, particularly David Oyelowo's multi-faceted portrayal of Barney Jones. The show is a must-watch for fans of the crime drama genre, and those who enjoy character-driven storytelling.

Five Days is a series that ran for 2 seasons (10 episodes) between October 9, 2007 and on BBC One