British Academy Television Award for Best Drama Series

The British Academy Television Award for Best Drama Series is one of the major categories of the British Academy Television Awards (BAFTAs), the primary awards ceremony of the British television industry. The category is described on the official BAFTA website as being open a drama series "of between two and 19 episodes, that is intended to return."

The category has been through several name and category changes:
 * From 1958 to 1972 the award was presented usually individually under the name "Best Drama Production".
 * Also during the same period another category was awarded briefly as "Best Drama Series" from 1964 to 1970.
 * Then from 1970 to 1991 it was joined with drama serials into a category named "Best Drama Series or Serial" with the exception of the years 87, 88 and 89 where it was awarded just as "Best Drama Series".

From 1992 onwards, the category was split in two, with a separate Best Drama Serial category also established.

Inspector Morse, Cracker, The Cops, The Street and Happy Valley have all won the category twice, all except the last in successive years.

1950s
Best Drama Production

1960s
Best Drama Production

Best Drama Series

1970s
Best Drama Production

Best Drama Series

Best Drama Series or Serial

1980s
Best Drama Series or Serial

Best Drama Series

1990s
Best Drama Series or Serial

Best Drama Series

2020s

 * Note: The series that don't have recipients on the table had Production team credited as the recipients of the award or nomination.

Multiple awards
The following television series have won the British Academy Television Award for Best Drama Series multiple times:

2 awards
 * Cracker (consecutive)
 * Happy Valley
 * The Cops (consecutive)
 * The Street (consecutive)

Multiple nominations
The following television series have been nominated for the British Academy Television Award for Best Drama Series multiple times:

6 nominations
 * Spooks

4 nominations
 * Clocking Off
 * The Crown
 * Shameless

3 nominations
 * Casualty
 * The Cops
 * Cracker
 * Happy Valley
 * Misfits
 * The Street

2 nominations
 * Being Human
 * Between the Lines
 * Bodies
 * Cold Feet
 * Common As Muck
 * Doctor Who
 * The End of the F***ing World
 * Inspector Morse
 * Jonathan Creek
 * Life on Mars
 * Line of Duty
 * Peaky Blinders
 * Playing the Field
 * Scott & Bailey