OMG—Stephen Graham fans, prepare to have your world rocked! The Line of Duty and This Is England star has delivered his most harrowing performance yet in Netflix’s The Walk-In, a gripping true crime drama that’s leaving viewers stunned and breathless. Dropping its full six-episode run on October 20, 2025, this miniseries—based on the real-life infiltration by activist Matthew Collins—dives into the terrifying underbelly of far-right extremism in 1990s Britain. Forget Graham’s cheeky Liverpool lads; here, he’s a haunted everyman risking everything to thwart a plot to assassinate a British MP. It’s raw, relentless, and hailed as “the most intense drama since The Undoing.”
The story, adapted from Collins’ memoir The Walk-In and directed by Paul Whittington, follows the anti-fascist campaigner as he embeds himself in the violent BNP (British National Party) splinter group Combat 18. In 1997, amid rising hate crimes, Collins goes undercover to expose their bomb-making operations and assassination plans targeting Peter Hain, the anti-apartheid MP. Graham’s Collins is a masterclass in quiet fury—a working-class dad torn between family safety and moral duty. “I was playing a man who walked into hell to pull others out,” Graham told The Guardian. His transformation—donning skinhead gear and suppressing his Scouse accent—is unnerving, his eyes conveying the terror of living a lie where one slip means death.
Co-starring Ralph Ineson as the menacing BNP leader Charlie Sargent and Sophie Simnett as Collins’ supportive wife, the series builds unbearable tension through clandestine meetings in dingy pubs and nail-biting stakeouts. Flashbacks to Collins’ radicalization in the punk scene add depth, showing how personal loss fuels his crusade. Whittington’s direction, with its claustrophobic close-ups and shadowy cinematography by Stephan Ficken, evokes The Wire‘s grit but amps the paranoia. The soundtrack, blending ’90s Britpop with ominous drones, underscores the era’s simmering rage.
Critics are raving: Variety calls it “a pulse-pounding reminder of extremism’s cost,” praising Graham’s “soul-baring intensity.” With a 98% Rotten Tomatoes score from early reviews, The Walk-In doesn’t just recount history—it indicts it, highlighting how unchecked hate festers. Collins himself consulted on set, ensuring authenticity: “Stephen captured the fear—the constant ‘what if they find me out?'” On X, #TheWalkIn is trending, with fans tweeting, “Graham’s best work—chilling and courageous!” and “This is why Netflix rules true crime.”
Premiering amid rising global populism, The Walk-In feels eerily timely, a stark warning against division. Graham’s portrayal isn’t glory—it’s a gut-punch, forcing viewers to confront the ordinary men who fight monsters. Stream it now on Netflix; this isn’t binge TV—it’s a wake-up call. In a world quick to forget, The Walk-In ensures we remember: heroism often hides in the shadows, one risky step at a time.
