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For over a year now, I’ve been trying to fill up that gaping hole in my heart brought on after binge-watching One Day and Normal People. Both stories are so brutally beautiful, despite (or perhaps because of) how messy the romances between the lead protagonists are.
Sure, there are plenty of excellent TV shows within the romantic genre that have come out in recent years. But we haven't swooned as a collective nation over anything like we've swooned over both One Day and Normal People. But just what is it about these two shows that makes them stand out so significantly in a vast sea of contenders within the same genre?
For me, it’s the fact that both Dexter/Emma and Connell/Marianne have the opposite of what you’d call airbrushed, perfect-for-TV romances. In fact, sometimes their relationships are downright heart-shattering. In both stories, we’re exposed to the gaping wound that is borne from the sheer ugly side of falling in love, which we rarely see depicted on-screen. It’s not all rainbows and butterflies when it comes to falling head over heels for that special someone. In fact, sometimes it’s downright brutal.
And in BBC's new drama Mix Tape delivers another devastating yet addicting romance you won't want to stop watching. Yeah, sign me up.
Here's everything you need to know about Mix Tape, available now on BBC.
Where can I watch Mix Tape 2025?
You can stream Mix Tape on BBC iPlayer.
The new BBC series seems to take serious note from One Day and Normal People. (It actually makes sense for the former, since Mixtape stars Jim Sturgess, who portrays Dexter Mayhew in the 2011 film adaptation of One Day, based on David Nicholls’ best-selling novel.)
How many episodes does Mix Tape have?
Mix Tape has four episodes in total, which you can stream now.
Who's in the Mix Tape cast?
BBC
Mix Tape has some incredible names — including beloved Bridgerton sibling Florence Hunt (who plays Hyacinth on the Netflix hit):
- Teresa Palmer as Alison
- Jim Sturgess as Daniel
- Florence Hunt as Young Alison
- Rory Walton-Smith as Young Daniel
- Siobhan O'Kelly as Catherine
- Julia Savage as Stella
- Ben Lawson as Michael
- Sara Soulie as Katja
- Mark O'Halloran as Bill
- Jonathan Harden as Martin
- Alexis Rodney as Duncan
- Helen Behan as Marian
- Jacqueline McKenzie as Sheila
- Chika Ikogwe as Cass
- Conor Sánchez as Young Peter
What is Mix Tape about?
Mixtape explores the lives of Daniel and Alison, former lovers who connect over their shared love of music. After all, as the series questions, “How can you possibly forget the person who made you your very first mixtape?”
While the two fall desperately in love during their youth, time passes, and they eventually go their separate ways. Enter adulthood, where Daniel and Alison form completely new lives with separate spouses. But when Daniel discovers Alison’s face on the jacket sleeve of her recently released book, he feels obligated to look her up. One Facebook message later, and everything changes.
Years have passed. Priorities have drastically changed. Both took vows with their respective spouses and have committed to their newfound families. But how long can Daniel and Alison hold in their true romantic feelings for one another before it all bubbles up to the surface? Is it worth letting the love of your life go, if it means being a respectable adult? Or will hindering true feelings lead to even worse consequences?
What makes these romantic drama shows so good?
Enda Bowe/Hulu
One thing that just works about these shows is the years of cackling tension between the characters. Since it takes forever and a day for them to actually confess their feelings, all we have to rely on are the long looks and the stolen glances between them. The accidental brushing of fingers. The tight grimaces of characters pretending things are just fine without the love of their life, when we all know this to be utterly r.u.b.b.i.s.h. And despite the fact that we scream at the TV screen for the characters to “just kiss already!!”, the series forces us to sit and wait. And wait. And wait. And it’s that waiting that makes the on-screen romance all the more alluring.
And just like Normal People, make sure you get your tissues ready for Mix Tape, because this is gonna be another weeper).
Loving all things romance? Check out The 20 Absolute Best TV Kisses Of All Time, Ranked.
