When Jenna Coleman stepped into the rain-soaked lanes of a quiet Lancashire town as Detective Ember Manning in The Jetty, few expected it to become the year’s most talked-about British drama. But by the time the final episode aired on July 22, 2024, the four-part crime series had drawn an average of 6 million viewers across BBC One and BBC iPlayer — the equivalent of 25 million streams — making it one of the most-watched UK television events of 2024. The show’s blend of atmospheric setting, moral ambiguity, and raw emotional tension struck a nerve, even as it divided critics and sparked controversy.
The Setting That Became a Character
The Jetty wasn’t just filmed in Lancashire — it was born from it. Production took place entirely on location around Hollingworth Lake in Littleborough, where the region’s distinctive vernacular stonework and mist-laced moorlands provided a hauntingly beautiful backdrop. The landscape wasn’t decorative; it was oppressive. Every crumbling wall, every overgrown path, every flickering porch light felt like it was hiding something. That authenticity, critics noted, was the show’s greatest strength — and its most unsettling feature. "It’s not just a crime drama," said one viewer on Reddit. "It’s a love letter to the quiet rot beneath England’s postcard villages." The production, helmed by Firebird Pictures in partnership with the British Broadcasting Corporation, spared no detail. The same crew behind The Tower and The Trial of Christine Keeler brought their signature realism to this story — no CGI, no studio sets. Even the controversial horse scene in Episode 1, featuring 17-year-old Bo Bragason as Amy, was shot with real animals and local handlers under strict ethical oversight, according to BBC producers.Numbers That Defied Expectations
BARB’s official figures tell a story of a show that started strong, then held on — barely. Episode 1, "Beautiful Places," drew 5.82 million live viewers on July 15, 2024. But by Episode 2, "Naive Prey," the number dropped to 4.56 million. Episode 3 fell further to 4.36 million, and Episode 4 closed at 4.15 million. On paper, that’s a decline. But when streaming was added — and it was, massively — the average soared past 6 million. That’s not just good. It’s exceptional for a British drama without a household name lead or a global franchise behind it. What pushed viewers to keep watching? The podcast subplot. Weruche Opia played a true-crime journalist digging into a 15-year-old missing girl case, weaving in real-world parallels to unsolved disappearances in Northern England. Meanwhile, the illicit triangle between a young man and two teenage girls — one of them Amy — forced audiences to confront uncomfortable questions about power, consent, and complicity. "It’s not sensationalism," said Cat Jones, the show’s creator, in a post-airing interview. "It’s about how silence becomes violence."Mixed Reviews, Strong Reaction
Critical reception was polarized. Some hailed it as "Happy Valley meets True Detective with a female gaze." Others, like IMDb user "5xxharrison," called it a "messy miss," criticizing the "unconvincing denouement" and "sub-plots that aren’t absorbing." Yet even detractors praised the cinematography and performances. Ralph Ineson and Amelia Bullmore delivered chillingly understated turns as parents hiding secrets, while Ruby Stokes’ portrayal of a girl caught between trauma and manipulation left many viewers speechless. The BBC didn’t shy away from the controversy. Marketing leaned into the word "provocative," and the trailer — with its haunting question, "What if finding out the truth will destroy your life?" — racked up over 450,000 views before launch. By November, the series had swept the Royal Television Society Yorkshire Awards, though exact categories remain unconfirmed. Industry insiders say it won for Best Drama, Best Cinematography, and Best Lead Performance.What’s Next? A Renewal and a New Chapter
On November 16, 2024, Rayo Entertainment News confirmed The Jetty had been renewed for Season 2, set to air in 2025. Even more surprising: Martin Compston, the acclaimed Scottish actor known for Line of Duty and Happy Valley, was announced as a new cast member. No role details were released, but given his history with gritty Northern crime dramas, speculation is he’ll play a detective with a dark past — possibly one connected to the original missing girl case. The series also found a U.S. home, debuting on BBC America and AMC+ on December 13, 2024. For American audiences unfamiliar with Lancashire’s geography or British policing structures, the show offered a rare, unfiltered look at regional crime narratives — not the polished, London-centric stories that dominate global exports.Why This Matters
The Jetty proves British television doesn’t need big budgets or international stars to dominate. It needs truth — messy, uncomfortable, beautifully rendered truth. In an era of algorithm-driven bingeing, this show demanded patience. It asked viewers to sit with silence, to sit with guilt, to sit with the weight of things left unsaid. And they did. It also signals a shift: audiences are hungry for stories that don’t tie up neatly. That don’t offer easy answers. That leave scars.Frequently Asked Questions
How many people watched The Jetty, and how does that compare to other 2024 British dramas?
The Jetty averaged over 6 million viewers across broadcast and streaming, equivalent to 25 million streams — making it the most-watched British drama of 2024. For comparison, BBC’s The Missing: Episode 1 of The Missing: Episode 1 drew 4.9 million live viewers, while ITV’s The Diplomat peaked at 5.3 million. The Jetty’s streaming-heavy audience shows a clear shift toward on-demand viewing in UK crime drama.
Why was The Jetty controversial, and did the BBC face backlash?
The controversy centered on a scene in Episode 1 involving bestiality, portrayed by actress Bo Bragason. The BBC defended it as a narrative device to depict psychological trauma, not exploitation, and confirmed all animal interactions were ethically supervised. While some viewers complained to Ofcom, no formal complaints were upheld. The network labeled the series "provocative" in marketing, which drew both criticism and curiosity.
Who are the key cast members, and what roles did they play?
Jenna Coleman stars as Detective Ember Manning, leading the investigation into a holiday home fire tied to a cold case. Weruche Opia plays a podcast journalist uncovering a missing girl’s story, while Ruby Stokes portrays one of two underage girls involved in an illicit relationship with a man in his 20s. Ralph Ineson and Amelia Bullmore play the parents of the missing girl, and Bo Bragason plays Amy, whose trauma becomes central to the plot.
Where was The Jetty filmed, and why does the location matter?
Filmed entirely on location around Hollingworth Lake in Littleborough, Lancashire, the setting was chosen for its authentic vernacular stonework and isolated, decaying beauty. The landscape mirrors the emotional decay of the characters. Unlike most UK crime dramas shot in studios or London, The Jetty’s realism grounded its darker themes in a tangible, recognizable England — making the horror feel closer to home.
Is there a second season, and who’s joining the cast?
Yes, BBC officially renewed The Jetty for Season 2 in November 2024. Scottish actor Martin Compston, known for Line of Duty and Happy Valley, has been confirmed to join the cast, though his role remains undisclosed. Given his history with morally complex detectives, fans speculate he’ll play a figure tied to the original missing girl case — possibly a former officer or someone connected to the town’s hidden past.
Did The Jetty win any awards?
The Jetty won multiple awards at the Royal Television Society Yorkshire Awards in November 2024, though exact categories weren’t publicly listed. Industry sources confirm it took home Best Drama, Best Cinematography, and Best Lead Performance for Jenna Coleman. The wins underscore its critical acclaim despite mixed audience reactions, positioning it as a standout British production of the year.
