BBC crime drama set in Edinburgh leaves viewers hooked with dark twists and gripping mystery
A seemingly simple drive home from a wedding sets off a chain of events that quickly spirals beyond two brothers’ control.
That is the premise behind BBC crime drama Guilt, which follows Edinburgh brothers Max and Jake after they accidentally kill an elderly man and make the dangerous decision to cover up what happened. Across three series, the drama mixes crime, dark humour, family tensions and increasingly complicated twists.
First airing in 2019, the four-part first series stars Mark Bonnar as Max and Jamie Sives as Jake. The brothers could hardly be more different. Max is a successful lawyer, while Jake runs a record shop.
Their lives change dramatically when they are driving home from a wedding and accidentally run over and kill an elderly man named Walter.
The situation becomes even more serious when the brothers realise they are uninsured and have been drinking. Rather than report the accident to police, they make the desperate choice to conceal their involvement.
The decision sets them on a dangerous path where every attempt to protect themselves creates another problem.
A crime that becomes increasingly complicated
The BBC’s original premise describes the series as following two Edinburgh brothers who appear to get away with a crime before discovering that they can trust no one, including each other.
As Max and Jake try to keep Walter’s death hidden, they begin to question whether the circumstances surrounding his death are as straightforward as they initially believed.
Suspicion grows, secrets begin to surface and the people connected to Walter threaten to expose what the brothers have done.
What begins as an attempt to hide a single fatal mistake gradually becomes a much larger web of lies. Over the course of the three-series run, Max and Jake are repeatedly forced into increasingly desperate situations as their efforts to escape the consequences of their actions pull them deeper into a dangerous world.
The brothers’ relationship is tested along the way, with trust becoming increasingly difficult to maintain.
The drama was created and written by Neil Forsyth, with the story ultimately developing into a trilogy. The third series, released in 2023, brought the story to its conclusion.
Where was Guilt filmed?
Although Guilt is strongly associated with Edinburgh, viewers may be surprised to learn that much of the series was actually filmed in Glasgow.
Production locations included Parkhouse Business Park, the Clydebank shipyards and Glasgow Caledonian University. Edinburgh locations were also used, including Calton Hill and Charlotte Square.
The decision to film much of the production in Glasgow was partly practical. Production staff previously explained that filming in Edinburgh could be considerably more difficult and expensive, while the city’s tourist traffic also created logistical problems.
Despite the use of Glasgow and other Scottish locations, Edinburgh and particularly Leith remain central to the show’s identity. The city’s streets, architecture and contrasting neighbourhoods form an important part of the atmosphere throughout the series.
Viewers have praised the drama’s twists and performances
Since its debut, Guilt has attracted plenty of praise from viewers, particularly for its writing, performances and unpredictable storyline.
One viewer described the show as having great dark humour, noting that it begins in an amusing fashion before becoming considerably darker. Another praised the first season as an especially tense and well-written suspense drama, highlighting its carefully constructed twists, realistic characters and strong performances.
Jamie Sives and Emun Elliott were singled out for particular praise, although the viewer said the wider cast also delivered strong performances.
Another fan compared the series to the American black comedy crime drama Fargo. They initially doubted the comparison, but said the description began to make sense by the end of the first series because of the show’s unexpected twists and turns.
A further viewer summed up their reaction much more simply, calling it phenomenal television and saying they were already considering watching it again.
The critical response has also been positive. The first season currently holds a 93% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics praising its performances and fast-moving thriller elements.
The show’s reputation continued into its later seasons. The Guardian described the third series as a thrilling final chapter, while other reviews praised its plotting, performances and darkly comic approach to crime and family.
Three series, 12 episodes
Guilt aired on BBC Scotland from 2019 to 2023, with three series of four episodes each. The episodes run for just under an hour.
The first series introduced Max and Jake’s fatal mistake and the complicated cover-up that followed. The later series expanded the story into a broader criminal world while continuing to explore the consequences of the brothers’ choices.
The third and final series premiered in April 2023, bringing the trilogy to its conclusion.
For anyone looking for a crime drama built around secrets, family conflict and twists that keep changing the picture, Guilt offers a compact binge-watch with plenty packed into its 12 episodes.
All three series are currently available to stream for free on BBC iPlayer.