Patience (TV series)

Did You Know?

• The first episode was broadcast at 9:00 pm on 8 January 2025.
• All episodes of series one were immediately made available on Channel 4's digital streaming platform.
• The second series premiered on 7 January 2026.

Production

Patience is based on the Franco-Belgian series Astrid and Raphaelle. The show was first announced in February 2024 by Eagle Eye Drama, PBS Distribution, and Beta Film, working with Belgium’s Happy Duck Films and supported by the Belgian Tax Shelter. Jo McGrath and Walter Iuzzolino served as executive producers for Eagle Eye, with Maarten Moerkerke set to direct. Matt Baker led the writing team, which also included Stephen Brady, Sarah Freethy, and Daniella DeVinter. For the first series, exterior location filming took place in York from 23 to 29 April 2024 at Precentor’s Court, Monkgate, The Shambles, Gillygate, and Micklegate. Despite these York exteriors, most of the show was shot in Belgium. A second series was ordered, with Amy Shindler and Beth Chalmers leading a new writing team. Filming for that series occurred in Belgium and York in May 2025, and Jessica Hynes joined the cast as a new DI, replacing Laura Fraser’s character because Fraser was unavailable. A third series was also commissioned, with filming continuing in York and Belgium in 2026.

Reception

Critics' reviews of series one were mixed. In a three-star review for The Telegraph, Chris Bennion summarised it as "a worthwhile addition to the crime drama ranks, but one that fits into, rather than breaking the mould." In a two-star review for The Guardian, Lucy Mangan described the plot as "preposterous", the dialogue as "terrible", and the drama overall as "deeply uninspired" and "embarrassingly clunky". Carol Midgely in The Times said that Purvis does not "overact" the character's condition, "showing it in overt and subtle ways".