BBC viewers binge-watch ‘fantastic’ drama The Walsh Sisters

If you’re looking for a brilliant new drama to become your next TV obsession, then the BBC has got you covered. Viewers have been binge-watching the new six-part dramedy, The Walsh Sisters, which is based on bestselling author Marian Keyes’ beloved novels.

The series, which is adapted for the screen by Stefanie Preissner, follows the lives of five sisters, Anna (Louisa Harland), Rachel (Caroline Menton), Maggie (Stefanie Preissner), Claire (Danielle Galligan) and Helen (Máiréad Tyers ) as they navigate the peaks and troughs of their 20s and 30s, exploring themes of addiction, infertility and divorce.

The series has been met with positive reviews from critics, with HELLO!‘s Lucy Norris describing the series as “a messy ride of intoxicating sibling love and gritty Irish charm”. 

Keep reading to find out what viewers have said about the show…

What are viewers saying about the show?

Viewers have hailed the show as “fabulous” and “brilliant TV”. 

One person wrote on X: “Spent the day binging all of this series. I was hooked from the beginning,” while another added: “#thewalshsisters just been binge watching this. I was hooked, well written and acted.”

A third viewer penned: “#TheWalshSisters is FANTASTIC.”

What is The Walsh Sisters about? 

The series tracks the lives of five tight-knit sisters in their Dublin hometown as they experience the highs and lows of their 20s and 30s. 

The synopsis continues: “This is a sisterhood full of in-jokes, hand-me-down resentments and more than a few old wounds. But their DNA, history and shared love of power ballads keep the Walsh sisters together in the face of heartbreak, grief, addiction and parenthood.”

© CREDIT LINE:BBC/Cuba Pictures and Metropolitan Films/Enda Bowe

The show features an impressive cast, including Samuel Anderson (Shetland, Amandaland) as Aidan, Aidan Quinn (Elementary) as Jack ‘Daddy’ Walsh and Carrie Crowley (Vikings) as Mammy Walsh.

The daunting task of adapting a hit novel series 

In an exclusive interview with HELLO!, writer Stefanie opened up about the “daunting” task of adapting celebrated author Marian’s much-loved novel series. 

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“You’re not ambivalent about a Marian Keyes book,” she said. “You remember the first time you read it, where you were sitting, how you felt about it, probably what you were wearing and who you were dating at the time.”

However, when Marian visited the set during filming, Stefanie was quickly put at ease. “She was so happy with it,” said the Irish writer. “Claire, who is played by Danny (Danielle Galligan), was on set that day and Marian was like, ‘It was like Danny just walked out of my head as Claire.’ 

© BBC/Cuba Pictures and Metropolitan Films/Enda Bowe

“Marian and Tony, her husband, were like, ‘I feel quite overwhelmed. “It just feels so real, the cloisters look exactly as they should, and Rachel looks exactly like Helen,” Stefanie continued. “So I knew when Marian had endorsed it and she was happy that her tribe wasn’t going to come for me at night,” she laughed. 

The Walsh Sisters is available to stream on BBC iPlayer now.