Waiting for the Out

Adapted from Andy West’s memoir A Life Inside by Dennis Kelly (Utopia), BBC miniseries Waiting for the Out sees neurotic philosophy teacher Dan (a fantastic Josh Finan) take a job at a prison. While he believes he’s helping the small group of inmates that attend his class by allowing them to escape into discussions of freedom, justice and human nature, Dan struggles to break free from his own destructive cycle of thoughts as his anxieties begin to snowball. With his estranged father, uncle and brother all having served time behind bars, Dan is convinced that he’s destined for the same fate. Despite a slow start, Waiting for the Out evolves into an astonishingly good drama that’s as evocative as it is tender.

It’s clear that Dan is a neurotic mess when viewers first meet him. He wears ill-fitting steel-toe-capped boots to project an image of masculinity, he sees a vision of his father mocking him, and he’s made a mess of his current relationship, all of which happens on the first day of his new job. His situation only worsens when he believes his gas stove is always on, leading him to obsess over countless pictures of it that he keeps on his phone. Something is bound to reach its breaking point. While it takes a little time for the plot to gain momentum, it’s not long before the tension starts to simmer as Dan’s life spirals out of control. When the inevitable does happen, it lands with a gut-wrenching sting.

Finan is nothing short of extraordinary here. The actor portrays Dan with a rich humanity that allows viewers to understand the complex and confusing emotions running through his head at any given moment. The same is true for the rest of the cast. Although the inmates don’t get much screen time, the brief snapshots of their situations alongside the thoughts they share during classes offer profound insights into various aspects of society. Alex Ferns makes a strong impression as the well-read but highly confrontational Keith, whose unfiltered crassness and wit bring some humour into Dan’s classroom.

Serving as both a touching family drama and a moving exploration of mental health, Waiting for the Out is a tremendous piece of television that asks if it’s possible for people to change.

Andrew Murray

Waiting for the Out is released on BBC iPlayer on 3^rd January 2026.

Watch the trailer for Waiting for the Out here: