A missing 13-year-old girl. A father accused of abducting his own daughter, despite not having seen her in 10 years. And a cast featuring some of Britain’s finest acting talent. This gripping Sky crime drama has all the ingredients of an unforgettable weekend binge.
Originally released in 2018, Save Me remains one of those British mysteries that deserves far more attention. With Lennie James, Stephen Graham and Suranne Jones leading an extraordinary ensemble, the six-episode first series delivers a disturbing disappearance case packed with unexpected turns, complicated relationships and secrets from the past.
Created and written by Line of Duty star Lennie James, the drama centres on Nelson “Nelly” Rowe, a charismatic but deeply complicated South Londoner whose life takes a devastating turn when the police suddenly arrive at his door.
Their accusation is extraordinary: his estranged 13-year-old daughter, Jody, has vanished, and they believe he may be responsible.
But there’s one crucial detail that changes everything.
Nelly hasn’t seen his daughter in a decade.
A FATHER ACCUSED OF ABDUCTING A DAUGHTER HE BARELY KNOWS
The disappearance of Jody throws Nelly into a nightmare he never saw coming.
Despite convincing the police that he had nothing to do with her disappearance, he quickly becomes frustrated with the investigation and its progress. Unable to sit back and wait for answers, he decides to take matters into his own hands.
His determination to find Jody becomes the driving force of the series, but the deeper he gets into the search, the more complicated everything becomes.
This isn’t simply a conventional missing-child investigation. Nelly is forced into increasingly dangerous situations while confronting the mistakes, personal history and broken relationships that have shaped his life.
The mystery surrounding Jody’s disappearance is only part of the story. The drama also explores what happens when a man is forced to face the consequences of the life he has left behind.
STEPHEN GRAHAM AND SURANNE JONES LEAD AN OUTSTANDING CAST
One of the biggest reasons Save Me deserves a place on any British crime-drama watchlist is its remarkable cast.
Lennie James takes centre stage as Nelly, bringing the character to life in a story he also created and wrote. But the supporting performances are every bit as compelling.
Suranne Jones plays Claire, Jody’s mother, who has built a very different life since her relationship with Nelly came to an end.
Her character adds another emotional dimension to the disappearance, particularly as the search forces the people connected to Jody to confront their shared past.
Then there’s Stephen Graham, who plays Fabio “Melon” Melonzola, one of Nelly’s closest friends.
As the investigation takes an increasingly dark direction, Melon becomes an important figure in Nelly’s desperate search.
The cast also features:
- Jason Flemyng
- Kerry Godliman
- Susan Lynch
- Camilla Beeput
With so many established British actors sharing the screen, the series has an ensemble that would be difficult for crime-drama fans to overlook.
CRITICS PRAISED ITS STORY, PERFORMANCES AND AUTHENTICITY
When Save Me first arrived, critics were particularly impressed by its combination of a compelling central mystery and powerful acting.
The Guardian praised the “excellent” cast and described the mystery as “strong”, while The Times highlighted the drama’s authenticity and dialogue.
ScreenUK also singled out the series for refusing to rely on familiar missing-child storytelling clichés, praising its “heartbreaking drama” and “tour-de-force performances”.
That balance between an unsettling investigation and deeply human character drama is what helps distinguish Save Me from more conventional crime thrillers.
There’s also an impressive production pedigree behind it. The series comes from World Productions, the company responsible for the hugely successful Line of Duty.
For anyone who enjoys tightly constructed British mysteries, that’s another reason to give it a chance.
WHERE CAN YOU WATCH SAVE ME? AND IS THERE A SECOND SERIES?
The good news is that viewers don’t have to stop after the first six episodes.
Save Me has two seasons, with both currently available to stream on NOW and Sky.
The second instalment returns under the title Save Me Too and also features acclaimed actress Lesley Manville.
Rather than starting an entirely separate story, the follow-up continues the events of the original drama, picking up 17 months after the first series.
Here’s what you need to know:
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Original release | 2018 |
| Genre | British crime mystery / Drama |
| Creator and writer | Lennie James |
| Main cast | Lennie James, Stephen Graham, Suranne Jones |
| Season 1 | 6 episodes |
| Season 2 | Save Me Too |
| Where to watch | NOW and Sky |
With two seasons of tense storytelling, a seriously impressive cast and a mystery that goes far beyond a simple disappearance, Save Me is an excellent choice for anyone looking for their next British television obsession.
And with Stephen Graham and Suranne Jones delivering standout performances alongside Lennie James, this is one crime drama that deserves to be rediscovered.