Produced by award-winning content studio SISTER (Chernobyl, This is Going to Hurt), four first look images alongside a minute-long teaser clip have been released of Leila Farzad (I Hate Suzie, Avenue 5) and Andrew Buchan (Broadchurch, The Honourable Woman, ABC Murders) in Better, the BBC brand-new five-part thriller from Jonathan Brackley and Sam Vincent (Humans, Spooks).

Leila Farzad wears a black police vest and stands in a street
Set and shot entirely in Leeds, Better explores the complex and powerful bonds of loyalty and family, set in a world where everyone has their own version of “right” and “wrong”. Examining the power of human conscience, we follow DI Lou Slack’s (Leila Farzad) epic battle towards redemption, by bringing down Col McHugh (Andrew Buchan); the man she has come to love like a brother and the man she has helped place at the head of Leeds criminal underworld.

But while Col is a dangerous enemy to make, Lou’s biggest battle may yet be with herself.

Andrew Buchan stands with his face half in shadow
19 years ago, when Lou was a young police officer at her lowest ebb and Col a low-ranking but ambitious newcomer to the Leeds underworld, their paths crossed, and they struck a deal that changed their lives forever. The bargain allowed Col to become very rich and very powerful, and Lou to turn around her failing career. A complex but special bond between the pair was forged, and so began Lou’s gradual slide into corruption. But now, when Lou’s family is brought to the brink of a tragedy, she must put right the wrongs that she has spent years rationalising and excusing, to have a second chance at a new, better life.

Better is executive produced by Mona Qureshi and Nawfal Faizullah for the BBC Chris Fry (Landscapers, Giri/Haji, Humans), Lucy Dyke (The Split, Black Mirror, Eric), Jane Featherstone (This is Going to Hurt, Chernobyl, The Split), Jonathan Brackley and Sam Vincent for SISTER, and produced by James Dean (All Creatures Great and Small, Liar) in association with Northern Sister. Jonathan Brough (The End, Rosehaven) serves as lead director alongside Pier Wilkie (Doctors), director for episode four. The international distribution of the series will be handled by All3Media International.

Filming has completed and Better will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in 2023.