Am I Being Unreasonable? – Complete Guide to the BBC Comedy Thriller

Daisy May Cooper and Selin Hizli created, wrote, and star in Am I Being Unreasonable?, a BBC comedy-thriller that follows two mothers whose intense, all-consuming friendship spirals into grief, paranoia, and a bizarre mystery involving a dead cat. Here is everything you need to know about the series, including the full cast, episode guide, streaming details, and what to expect from the upcoming third season.

What is Am I Being Unreasonable?

Am I Being Unreasonable? is a British television series produced by Boffola Pictures and Lookout Point. It first aired on BBC One on 23 September 2022. The show follows Nic (Cooper), a woman trapped in a joyless marriage and grieving a loss she cannot speak about, and Jen (Hizli), the new friend who seems to offer a way out. What begins as a lifeline evolves into something far more complicated, driven by a dark secret and a dead cat that refuses to stay buried.

Genre and tone

Critics and platforms describe the show as a comedy drama with a distinctly dark, twisted focus on female friendship. Rotten Tomatoes lists it as a comedy-thriller. The tone balances acerbic humour with moments of genuine tension, a blend that has drawn comparisons to Fleabag and The End of the F***ing World.

Creator and main stars

The series was written and created by Daisy May Cooper and Selin Hizli. Both also play the central roles of Nic and Jen. The show is based on an original idea that, according to Cooper, took inspiration from the Mumsnet abbreviation AIBU (“Am I Being Unreasonable?”), a forum where minor dilemmas can escalate into extreme advice.

A brief plot summary

Nic is a mother struggling with a secret grief and a stifling marriage to Dan. Her life changes when she meets Jen, another mother at the school gates. The two form a close bond, but as Nic becomes more dependent on Jen, details about her past – and the death of a family cat – begin to surface. The series examines how far one person will go to preserve a friendship that feels like survival.

Who is in the cast of Am I Being Unreasonable?

Main cast: Daisy May Cooper as Nic, Selin Hizli as Jen

Daisy May Cooper plays Nic, a woman whose outward domestic frustration masks a deeper trauma. Selin Hizli plays Jen, the charismatic, secretive friend whose arrival upends Nic’s life. Their chemistry is central to the show’s critical acclaim. Other regular cast members, as listed on Comedy.co.uk, include Lenny Rush as Nic’s son Ollie, Dustin Demri-Burns as Dan, David Fynn as Alex, Juliet Cowan as Viv, Karla Crome as Lucy, Amanda Wilkin as Suzie, Samuel Bottomley as Boy, and Yohanna Ephrem as Girl.

Supporting characters and actors

The show has a deep bench of recurring talent. Series two introduced new faces including Chelsea Peretti as Savannah and Denise Black as Daphne. Other supporting actors across the two series include Jessica Hynes as Becca, Marek Larwood as Kev, Noah Carr-Kingsnorth as Dennon, Helen Bauer as Lauren, Georgie Glen as Mrs Baggott, Beatie Edney as Carol, and Olisa Odele as Jesus.

Who is Ollie and why is he important?

Ollie is Nic’s son, played by Lenny Rush. He is a key character whose relationship with his mother acts as both a grounding force and a source of emotional conflict. His presence often forces Nic to confront the gap between her private turmoil and her responsibilities as a parent. Rush’s performance has been singled out in reviews for its depth and maturity.

How many seasons and episodes are there?

As of 2025, the series has two seasons, totalling 12 episodes. Each series contains six episodes.

Season 1 overview (2022)

Season one premiered on BBC iPlayer in September 2022 and aired weekly on BBC One. It introduces Nic and Jen’s friendship, sets up the mystery of the dead cat, and culminates in a tense confession. The season ends with Nic admitting she accidentally killed her cat and Jen helping her cover it up – a secret that threatens to destroy both of them. Rotten Tomatoes gives season one an 89% approval rating.

Season 2 overview (2025)

Season two aired in the UK starting 5 February 2025. It picks up after the fallout of season one. Critical reception was even stronger than the first: Rotten Tomatoes lists it with a perfect 100% rating. The Guardian’s review called it “heartstoppingly tense” and “howlingly funny.”

Season 3 announcement (2026)

In May 2026, the BBC confirmed that a third and final series has been commissioned. According to the BBC Media Centre announcement, Cooper and Hizli will return as writers and stars. A specific release date has not yet been given, but it is expected to air in 2027.

Episode count and runtime

Each of the first two seasons consists of six episodes. Individual episode runtimes vary but generally fall between 25 and 30 minutes, typical of BBC One half-hour comedy-drama slots.

Where can I watch Am I Being Unreasonable?

BBC iPlayer availability

In the UK, the series streams exclusively on BBC iPlayer. All episodes from seasons one and two are available on demand. The platform is free to use with a TV licence.

Netflix availability (currently no)

As of 2025, the series is not available on Netflix in any region. Reports of it appearing on the platform have not been confirmed by the BBC or Netflix.

Other streaming options (Amazon, DVD)

International viewers have limited options. According to Wikipedia, the series is available on Hulu in the United States, and also on Disney+ or Prime Video depending on the region. A DVD release has been mentioned in some markets but is not widely documented.

What is the significance of the dead cat in Am I Being Unreasonable?

The dead cat as a plot device

The dead cat is not a minor detail – it is the emotional and narrative engine of the first season. The animal dies early in the series, and Nic’s reaction, along with her attempts to conceal the circumstances of the death, drives the central conflict. It is a darkly comic element that reveals deeper truths about guilt, trust, and the lengths to which people will go to protect a fragile friendship.

How the cat connects to Nic’s past

The cat’s death is linked to Nic’s hidden grief. She is mourning a loss she cannot talk about, and the cat becomes a substitute for that unexpressed pain.

Spoiler: the season 1 climax

The season one finale reveals that Nic accidentally killed the cat and buried it. Jen knows the truth and helps with the cover-up. The secret inevitably comes to light, and their friendship is tested to breaking point.

What do viewers and critics say about Am I Being Unreasonable?

Critical reception

The series has been widely praised. The Guardian’s season two review described it as a “heartstoppingly tense thriller that will leave your jaw on the floor.” On IMDb, the series holds a rating of 8.1/10 as of 2025. Rotten Tomatoes scores reflect consistent improvement across seasons.

Reddit discussions and fan theories

Online communities, particularly on Reddit, have embraced the show. Fans regularly discuss the dead cat storyline, the nature of Nic and Jen’s relationship, and theories about what season three might cover. The phrase “am i being unreasonable reddit” often yields threads about the series rather than the Mumsnet forum, though both appear in search results.

Mumsnet and broader parental forums

The show’s title is directly drawn from Mumsnet’s “Am I Being Unreasonable?” thread category, where users post dilemmas for advice. This overlap means searches for “mumsnet am i being unreasonable” often return forum discussions about parenting issues alongside pages about the TV series. The two are entirely separate in context but share the same phrasing.

A timeline of the series

1. 2021 – The BBC commissions the series.
2. 23 September 2022 – Season one premieres on BBC iPlayer and BBC One.
3. 2023 – The BBC confirms a second season.
4. 5 February 2025 – Season two begins airing. Critical reception is overwhelmingly positive.
5. May 2026 – The BBC announces that a third and final series has been commissioned.

What is confirmed and what remains unclear?

How does the title relate to Mumsnet?

The title Am I Being Unreasonable? comes directly from the Mumsnet acronym AIBU. In interviews, Daisy May Cooper explained that the phrase is used on the parenting forum to solicit advice on often trivial dilemmas, and that the advice given can quickly become extreme. This concept – a small issue escalating into something much larger – is embedded in the show’s DNA. The show uses that same dynamic: a dead cat, a friendship, and a series of poor decisions that spiral out of control.

What do the critics say about the series?

“This heartstoppingly tense thriller will leave your jaw on the floor – while having a script that never wastes a chance to be howlingly funny.”

— The Guardian series 2 review

“Twisted comedy thriller Am I Being Unreasonable?, written by and starring Daisy May Cooper and Selin Hizli, will return to BBC iPlayer and BBC One.”

— BBC Media Centre, series 3 announcement (May 2026)

“Am I Being Unreasonable? is a British comedy-thriller television series produced by Boffola Pictures and Lookout Point.”

— Wikipedia

What should I know about the series overall?

The series has developed a cult audience due to its sharp writing, strong performances, and willingness to mix absurd comedy with genuine tension. With a third and final season on the way, now is a good time to catch up on BBC iPlayer. If you enjoyed the show, similar recommendations include Fleabag, The End of the F***ing World, and The Outlaws.

Frequently asked questions