The BBC’s hit drama series, The A Word, is just weeks away from arriving on Netflix – and if you like heartfelt dramas about complicated family relationships, then it might be one for you.

The drama, which ran for three seasons from 2016 to 2020, features a stellar cast including Morven Christie (Grantchester), Christopher Eccleston (Doctor Who) and Vinette Robinson (Boiling Point), and follows the lives of the Hughes family, whose youngest son is diagnosed with autism.

Not only does the series boast an impressive cast of stars, but it’s also penned by BAFTA-winning Peter Bowker, who created the BBC’s hit war drama, World on Fire.

The drama has been praised for its raw and realistic depiction of a family coming to terms with an autism diagnosis, while also portraying the messy realities of parenting. A mix of drama and comedy, this beautifully-shot series won’t disappoint.

What is The A Word about?

Set against the idyllic backdrop of the Lake District, the series centres around the Hughes family, whose youngest son is diagnosed with autism and they “don’t feel like every other family anymore”.

man and child indoors© Everett Collection Inc / Alamy Stock Photo
Lee Ingleby and Max Vento star in The A Word

The synopsis continues: “They realise that if their son is ever going to communicate, they are going to have to learn how to communicate themselves. It’s a funny and thought-provoking series about parenthood and childhood.”

Writer Peter described the series as “full of ideas about parenthood, about disability, about communication, about community”.

“We have the opportunity here to make something funny, tough, realistic and inventive about contemporary family life and autism,” he said in a statement ahead of the show’s release. “In a society where imperfection increasingly comes with blame attached, it seems timely to look at how autism is regarded both within a family and the wider community – and to give some insight into how that experience might be for the child on the autism spectrum.”

Who stars in The A Word?

Morven Christie (Grantchester) and Lee Ingleby (Our Zoo) star as Joe’s mother and father, Alison and Paul, while Max Vento plays Joe.

Meanwhile, Christopher Eccleston (Doctor Who) plays Alison’s father Maurice, alongside Greg McHugh (Fresh Meat) as Alison’s brother Eddie, Vinette Robinson (Sherlock) as Eddie’s wife, Nicola.

Lee Ingleby and Morven Christie in The A Word© BBC
The series follows the lives of the Hughes family, whose youngest son is diagnosed with autism

Ralf Little (Death in Paradise) and Julie Hesmondhalgh (Mr Bates vs The Post Office) also appear as guest stars for a few episodes.

What have viewers and critics said about the show?

The series, which boasts a Rotten Tomatoes score of 89 per cent, has been hailed by viewers as a “wonderful” programme.

One person described the show as “the best drama I’ve seen,” adding: “I have just binge watched the three series over the past few days. Couldn’t stop watching it. It was so well acted by all. So believable.”

woman and man indoors© BBC
Vinette Robinson and Greg McHugh also star in the drama

A second viewer described the show as a “must-watch for every family,” while another added: “Wonderful programme, wonderfully acted, wonderful locations, a tour de force.”

Meanwhile, the show was met with four-star reviews from critics, with The Hollywood Reporter hailing the show as an “absolute gem, delightful and thoughtful, serious, sad and also ridiculously funny,” while The Telegraph described the drama as “full of heart and warm humour,” in its three-star review.

How to watch The A Word

The A Word arrives on Netflix on 1 March. All three seasons are also available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

More dramas like The A Word

There She Goes – This BBC comedy-drama follows the life of a severely learning disabled nine year-old girl Rosie and her family. The show is inspired by the real-life experience of writer Shaun Pye, whose daughter was born in 2006 with an extremely rare and to date undiagnosed chromosomal disorder.

there she goes© Photo: BBC
David Tennant and Jessica Hynes star in There She Goes

Atypical – This heartfelt and funny Netflix drama follows a teenager on the autism spectrum whose decision to start dating girls has a butterfly effect on his family.