🎬Prisoner 951 (BBC One, 2025): The True Story of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s Fight for Freedom

“One woman’s imprisonment became a nation’s heartbreak. One man’s fight became a symbol of hope.”

The BBC’s next major factual drama, Prisoner 951, brings to screen one of the most emotional, politically charged, and unforgettable true stories of the past decade — the harrowing imprisonment of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and her

husband Richard Ratcliffe’s relentless six-year campaign to bring her home.

Starring Narges Rashidi (Under the Shadow, Gangs of London) as Nazanin and Joseph Fiennes (The Handmaid’s Tale, Shakespeare in Love) as Richard, this four-part series is set to premiere on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on 23 November 2025.

Powerful, deeply human, and devastatingly relevant — Prisoner 951 is not just a drama. It’s a cry for justice.

💔 The Story That Shook the World

In 2016, British-Iranian charity worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was arrested at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport while visiting family in Iran. Accused of espionage — charges she firmly denied — Nazanin was sentenced to six years in prison.

What followed was a global campaign for her release, spearheaded by her husband Richard Ratcliffe, who fought tirelessly from London — protesting outside embassies, going on hunger strikes, and keeping their daughter’s hope alive.

“She became a political pawn in a game that should never have existed.”

Prisoner 951 traces this emotional journey from the moment of Nazanin’s arrest to her final return to the UK, capturing the years of heartbreak, courage, and resilience that gripped the world.

🎭 Cast and Creative Team

Role	Talent
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe	Narges Rashidi (Gangs of London, Under the Shadow)
Richard Ratcliffe	Joseph Fiennes (The Handmaid’s Tale, Shakespeare in Love)
Director	Philippa Lowthorpe (The Crown, Three Girls)
Writer	Stephen Butchard (Five Daughters, This City Is Ours)
Based On	A Yard of Sky by Nazanin and Richard Ratcliffe
Produced By	Dancing Ledge Productions (The Salisbury Poisonings)
Network	BBC One / BBC iPlayer
Episodes	4 x 57 minutes
Release Date	23 November 2025

With award-winning talent both in front of and behind the camera, Prisoner 951 is being hailed as one of the BBC’s most significant dramas of the year — and a potential awards contender.

🎥 A Story Told on Two Fronts

Prisoner 951 uniquely intertwines two narratives — one unfolding inside an Iranian prison, the other outside in the streets of London.

🇮🇷 Inside Iran

Nazanin’s imprisonment is portrayed with haunting realism — the isolation, psychological warfare, and moments of fragile hope. Rashidi brings a quiet, fierce power to Nazanin’s story, capturing the humanity behind the headlines.

🇬🇧 In the UK

Meanwhile, Richard’s life becomes a campaign. We see his transformation from an ordinary father to a public figure — the hunger strikes, the interviews, the lonely vigils outside Whitehall — all while raising their daughter Gabriella.

Together, these parallel stories depict the true emotional cost of political imprisonment — not just for one woman, but for every family living in its shadow.

🕊️ A Testament to Hope and Resistance

Director Philippa Lowthorpe calls Prisoner 951 “a story about love in the face of cruelty, and truth in the face of power.”It doesn’t dramatize politics — it humanizes them.

The title Prisoner 951 references the number assigned to Nazanin during her detainment, a chilling symbol of how individuality is stripped away by systems of oppression — and how love, identity, and persistence can defy even that.

“They called her 951. But the world knew her name.”

📚 From Memoir to Screen: A Yard of Sky

The series is based on the forthcoming book A Yard of Sky, co-written by Nazanin and Richard Ratcliffe. The book chronicles the six-year nightmare from both perspectives — a blend of diary entries, letters, and reflections on how hope can survive even the darkest confinement.

The BBC adaptation draws heavily from these writings, ensuring that every moment feels authentic, unfiltered, and painfully human.

🕰️ Release Date and How to Watch

📅 Premiere: 23 November 2025

📺 Network: BBC One

💻 Streaming: BBC iPlayer (Available same day)

🎞️ Episodes: 4 (57 minutes each)

Prisoner 951 will be available to stream in full on BBC iPlayer after its broadcast premiere, allowing viewers to experience this deeply emotional story at their own pace.

💬 Critical Buzz & Audience Anticipation

Following the release of its first trailer, Prisoner 951 has already ignited massive online discussion. Viewers are calling it:

⭐ “The BBC’s most important drama since ‘The Salisbury Poisonings.’”

⭐ “A story that every generation should watch — and remember.”

⭐ “Raw, restrained, and absolutely essential.”

The performances of Narges Rashidi and Joseph Fiennes are drawing early praise, with critics predicting potential BAFTA recognition for both.

⚖️ A Reminder That Truth Has a Cost

More than a political thriller, Prisoner 951 is a human story of endurance and love.It forces us to confront uncomfortable truths — about diplomacy, justice, and the unseen victims of political games.

It’s not just Nazanin’s story — it’s a story about how ordinary people can challenge power, how hope can survive captivity, and how love can outlast borders.

“When the world forgets you, love remembers.”

🕊️ Final Thoughts – A Must-Watch BBC Masterpiece

Prisoner 951 is shaping up to be one of the BBC’s most moving dramas of the decade — a haunting tribute to human resilience and the power of truth. With its emotional realism, powerhouse performances, and grounded storytelling, this is not just a show — it’s a testament.

Mark your calendars. On November 23, 2025, the world will remember Prisoner 951 — and the woman who refused to be forgotten.