Before becoming widely recognised for roles in major television dramas, James Norton led McMafia, a gripping BBC crime series that continues to attract attention for its ambitious story and international setting.

Norton plays Alex Godman, the British-raised son of Russian parents who has spent his life trying to distance himself from his family’s criminal past. Working in finance and building a future with his girlfriend Rebecca, Alex believes he can create an honest life far removed from the dangerous world his family left behind.

But when a series of events threatens everything he has worked for, Alex finds himself pulled into the international criminal underworld. What begins as an attempt to protect his loved ones gradually becomes a much more complicated struggle involving powerful figures, corruption and difficult moral choices.

Inspired by journalist Misha Glenny’s non-fiction book McMafia: A Journey Through the Global Criminal Underworld, the series explores the connections between organised crime, international business and political influence.

The impressive cast also includes Juliet Rylance as Rebecca Harper, David Strathairn as businessman Semiyon Kleiman and Aleksey Serebryakov as Alex’s father, Dmitri.

Originally released in 2018, the eight-episode first season combines family drama with international intrigue, taking viewers across several countries as Alex’s world becomes increasingly dangerous.

Despite receiving a second-season renewal, the planned follow-up was eventually cancelled, leaving the story with just one completed season.

For viewers who enjoy sophisticated British crime dramas with complex characters and an international storyline, McMafia offers a compelling reason to revisit James Norton’s earlier work.