BBC viewers recently stumbled upon the 'absolutely beautiful' show (Image: BBC/The Forge)
BBC viewers have been told to 'stop everything' and watch this 'absolutely beautiful' drama.
Fans of the 2025 show accidentally stumbled upon it on iPlayer, and they claim it is 'one of the best series in a while'. It was originally released on BBC Three last April and impressively won the BAFTA TV Award for Emerging Talent: Fiction.
We are referring to Just Act Normal, a touching coming-of-age drama written by award-winning playwright Janice Okoh. The six-part show follows three siblings as they try to 'act normal' after their mother disappears, fearing they might be separated and sent into foster care if anyone found out the truth.
Just Act Normal follows three siblings in the aftermath of their mum's disappearance (Image: BBC/The Forge/Ben Gregory-Ring)
Rising stars Chenée Taylor (playing Tiana), Kaydrah Walker-Wilkie (as Tanika) and Akins Subair (portraying Tionne) lead the cast for this Birmingham-set series. An official synopsis teases: "When their mum disappears, Tiana, Tionne, and Tanika fight to hide the truth from the outside world in order to stay together as a family.
"As Tiana struggles to keep their regular lives afloat, Tionne displaces his grief, and Tanika tries to convince her teacher to adopt them, chaos erupts when their mum’s hapless drug dealer, Dr Feelgood, moves in."
It adds: "The series is an irreverent portrait of black working-class teenage life. A coming-of-age story of sorts. The first times, the f***-ups, and the excruciating desire to be more grown up than you’re ready to be.
"It’s a celebration of black joy, of council estates, and corner shops. Of working-class living and working-class dreams. It is human and tender, with a thumping great heart." The cast is completed by seasoned actress Romola Garai, TV stars Sam Buchanan and Ivanno Jeremiah, alongside singer Jamelia and Hollyoaks' Jennifer Metcalfe.
Singer and actress Jamelia stars in the BBC Three dramedy (Image: BBC/The Forge)
Although the drama flew under the radar for most BBC viewers, those who caught it upon its release were thoroughly impressed. One X user raved: "#justactnormal is one of the best @BBC dramas I've seen in a long time! Just binged the whole season. Absolutely beautiful acting, directing and writing."
Someone else shared their glowing review on IMDb, saying: "I logged onto BBC iPlayer and this was the first thing that was there on the release date. I hadn't heard anything about it, but I started watching it. This show was honestly amazing. The actors are so talented. It's one of the best things I've watched in a while."
The same person added: " It was so refreshing. It made me both laugh and cry. There were dark and heavy moments and topics, but the heaviness was always balanced with comedy in a really sensitive way. It was incredibly powerful."
A third fan added: "I need everyone to stop what they're doing and watch "Just Act Normal" on BBC iPlayer; absolutely beautiful, so funny and heart-breaking 10/10," while a fourth viewer chimed in: "Needed something short to watch and I ended up binging this show. It's quite amazing; it has a good balance of drama and comedy.
"The acting is wonderful; the storyline is intriguing and not a carbon copy of some other show you have watched."
Just Act Normal is streaming now on BBC iPlayer
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