Backup poster
Seen it?

Backup

TV·1995–1997·2 seasons, 14 episodes·BBC One·Drama·50m·Created by Nigel McCrery

Not streaming in your region — see every region's options

Drama about the working lives of policemen and women in an Operational Support Unit.

Castfull cast & details

Martin TroakesMartin TroakesNick MilesNick MilesAlex NortonAlex NortonJames GaddasJames GaddasOliver MilburnOliver MilburnAdam MorrisAdam MorrisCalum MacPhersonCalum MacPhersonSteve FortuneSteve FortuneHancock

Episodes by season

Season018Episodes1995Aired—Season avg
  1. S01E01Not All ThereSeptember 7, 1995—The members of Charlie Van are assigned to a team investigating serial murders.
  2. S01E02Tender Loving CareSeptember 14, 1995—An ex-soldier back from Bosnia has plans to prevent his sister getting married - plans which result in the team being called in.
  3. S01E03Toleration ZoneSeptember 21, 1995—The team are called in when a community takes vigilante action to rid its area of prostitutes
  4. S01E04Mouth and TrousersSeptember 28, 1995—
  5. S01E05BadlandsOctober 12, 1995—Events threaten to spiral out of control on a tough inner city housing estate
  6. S01E06Happy That WayOctober 19, 1995—The team have to go undercover as prostitutes, drug dealers and rent boys, in order to stamp out crime on a local common. They catch a cop
  7. S01E07ClubbingOctober 26, 1995—The team have to join forces with the Drugs Squad to take part in a raid on a club
  8. S01E08Cut and DriedOctober 26, 1995—

Season 1 ranked & reviewed

Season026Episodes1997Aired—Season avg
  1. S02E01A Night Out with the LadsMay 28, 1997—
  2. S02E02PartnersJune 4, 1997—
  3. S02E03TouchedJune 11, 1997—
  4. S02E04PresenceJune 18, 1997—A housing estate is being ruled by a protection racket.
  5. S02E05Not CricketJune 25, 1997—
  6. S02E06Something for the Weekend, Sir?July 2, 1997—

Season 2 ranked & reviewed

Shows like Backup all similar shows

The closest matches on shared genres, ranked by match strength and popularity.

  1. 01Drama·Action·Science-FictionArrow2012–2020·The CWAfter a violent shipwreck, billionaire playboy Oliver Queen was missing and presumed dead for five years before being discovered alive on a remote island in the Pacific.7.4Compare
  2. 02Drama·Crime·ThrillerTrue Detective2014–presentStreaming on HBO MaxTouch darkness and darkness touches you back.8.1Compare
  3. 03Drama·Action·Science-FictionThe Flash2014–2023·The CWStreaming on NetflixAfter a particle accelerator causes a freak storm, CSI Investigator Barry Allen is struck by lightning and falls into a coma.7.5Compare
  4. 04Drama·Action·SupernaturalSupernatural2005–2020·The CWStreaming on Amazon Prime VideoThis haunting series follows the Winchester brothers as they crisscross the lonely and mysterious back roads of the country in their '67 Chevy Impala, hunting down every evil supernatural force they encounter along the…8.3Compare
  5. 05Drama·Comedy·CrimeFargo2014·FXStreaming on HuluFargo is a seasonal anthology crime drama with some dark comical elements, inspired by the film Fargo written by the Coen brothers.8.6Compare
  6. 06Drama·CrimeChicago P.D.2014–present·NBCStreaming on Amazon Prime VideoDistrict 21 of the Chicago Police Department is made up of two distinctly different groups.8.0Compare

Head-to-head pick any opponent

Stack Backup's full episode-rating history against a rival, on one chart.

Backup vs ArrowFull episode chartBackup vs True DetectiveFull episode chartBackup vs The FlashFull episode chart

Keep exploring top shows

ShortcutThe essential episodes

Short on time? The pilot-to-finale shortcut, only the episodes that matter.

MatchupCompare with another show

Two shows' episode ratings on one chart — settle it.

NetworkBest BBC One shows

More from the same network, ranked by rating.

GenreBest drama shows & films

The top of the drama pile, across both mediums.