'Masterpiece' BBC drama based on book that fans hail 'best series ever' - free on iPlayer

An epic crime thriller has been hailed as the "best series ever", and it is available to stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

Killing Eve is a British spy thriller television series that stars Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer. It is based on the Villanelle novel series by Luke Jennings, and each of the show's series is led by a different female head writer. The first series had Phoebe Waller-Bridge as the head writer, the second series had Emerald Fennell, the third series had Suzanne Heathcote, with the fourth seriesbeing heading up by Laura Neal.

The series synopsis reads: "Eve's life as a spy is not adding up to what she had hoped it would be when she started. She is a bored, very smart MI5 security officer who is very desk-bound. Villanelle is a very talented killer, mercurial in mood, who clings to the luxuries of her job. Eve and Villanelle go head to head in a fierce game of cat and mouse, each woman equally obsessed with the other as Eve is tasked with hunting down the psychopathic assassin."

Sarah Barnett, BBCA president, said: "Killing Eve stands out in a sea of scripted stories as refreshingly entertaining and great fun."

The first series has an impressive 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with the critics' consensus stating: "Seductive and surprising, Killing Eve's twist on the spy vs. spy conceit rewards viewers with an audaciously entertaining show that finally makes good use of Sandra Oh's talents."

One reviewer on Rotten Tomatoes said Killing Eve was the "best series I have ever seen", while another labelled it a "masterpiece".

A third reviewer said: "Fresh, weird, strange and absolutely incredible. Not one wasted moment. Incredibly good acting with outstanding storylines. Fantastic series."

"This is probably the best TV show I have ever seen. Oh and Comer are absolutely fabulous together, and the story is fascinating and unpredictable," added another audience member.

A final reviewer added: "Now this is exactly my cup of tea. And needless to say, Jodie Comer's performance as Villanelle is one of the best I've ever seen. WOW."

Killing Eve is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.