A BBC period drama starring Tom Hardy has been called a ‘masterpiece’ and dubbed ‘the best show ever made’ – despite disturbing incest and slavery scenes.

Taboo – created by Hardy, Chips Harding and Steven Knight – first hit BBC One in January 2017.

The show aired eight episodes before it wrapped up the following month.

It follows the story of a man called James Delaney, who makes a return to London after 12 years in Africa, back in 1814.

‘1814: James Keziah Delaney returns to London from Africa and is encircled by conspiracy, murder and betrayal. Dark, mesmerising drama with Tom Hardy,’ BBC iPlayers synopsis reads.

The programme stars Hardy as James Keziah Delaney, Leo Bill as Benjamin Wilton, Jessie Buckley as Lorna Delaney, Oona Chaplin as Zilpha Geary and Stephen Graham as Atticus.

A BBC period drama starring Tom Hardy has been called a ‘masterpiece’ and dubbed ‘the best show ever made’ – despite disturbing incest and slavery scenes

Taboo – created by Tom Hardy, Chips Harding and Steven Knight – hit BBC One in January 2017

They are also joined by the likes of Jefferson Hall, David Hayman, Edward Hogg and Franka Potente.

Although it was on our screens eight years ago, many are still a huge fan of the series – and it has been rated an impressive 76 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer, and 91 per cent on the Popcornmeter.

Many have taken to IMDB to share their rave reviews about the programme, with one simply stating: ‘A masterpiece!’

‘I was hooked on this show within the first few minutes. Tom Hardy is brilliant in this role.’

‘Not much on television worth watching nowadays so it is a very pleasant surprise when a series of this caliber comes along.

‘The depiction of 1800s Great Britain in all it’s steamy vulgarity and corruption is intriguing and mesmerizing. Ridley Scott and Tom Hardy are at their outstanding best.’

‘This show is easily some of Tom Hardy’s best work.’

‘Possibly the best acting on television I’ve ever watched….’

It follows the story of a man called James Delaney, who makes a return to London after 12 years in Africa, back in 1814

‘Tom Hardy is terrific as always!’

The Daily Mail’s Jim Shelley said back in 2017: ‘Taboo lived up its name and proved nothing is sacred – not even the most comforting conventions of that great British tradition: Saturday night television.

‘The legions of caterwauling karaoke contestants had been silenced and there was not a Doctor or Dalek in sight. Politicians desperately doing ballroom dancing and sad celebrities belly-flopping off the top board were noticeable only by their absence.

‘The magical, innocent, days of sword-fights with Robin Hood or The Musketeers were, like Merlin, ancient history.

‘Instead, Taboo appeared, spreading like a dark, disturbing, stain across the screen, causing the same contemptuous chaos with the schedule as it’s black-hearted hero (played by Tom Hardy).

‘As alternatives to the norm go, Taboo was certainly comprehensive.

‘The first episode alone included references to rape, incest, and slavery, paedophilia and prostitution, evil, witchcraft, ghosts, madness, and The Beast With A Million Eyes and Ears; men whose lives had been devoted to murder, military genocide, grave-robbing, gold-trading, and bear-fighting in Chancery Lane. Not to mention talk of bags of testicles being devoured by whores and drunken experiments setting ships ablaze with mashed potato.

‘You didn’t get that in Casualty – even back in its bleakest early years.

Many rushed online to share their rave reviews about the drama – with one dubbing it a ‘masterpiece’

‘All this meant that the BBC’s decision to screen Taboo on a Saturday night – after Let It Shine and a repeat of Dad’s Army, before Match Of The Day, and opposite Through The Keyhole – was either an act of mercy or utter madness – no matter how strong its credentials.

‘Taboo was created by Steven Knight (the writer of Peaky Blinders) and Tom Hardy (its star) and was produced by Ridley Scott, the Hollywood heavyweight who directed Alien, Blade Runner, and Gladiator.

‘Again, not something you could say about Casualty…’

Back in 2017 it was reported Hardy reportedly lost a whopping £2million in making the dark eight-part series.

The Hollywood megastar allegedly suffered the major loss after Taboo drew in £8.4million – which has not matched the £10.4million the show racked up to make.

A source told The Sun at the time: ‘These new figures will make stark reading for Tom.

‘No matter who you are or how much money you’re worth, £2million is a lot of money to simply throw away.’

The insider added: ‘Tom will hope to eventually make the money back through DVD sales, downloads, streaming and syndication rights.’

The reported loss comes despite Tom setting up a firm Taboo Productions Ltd to manage the finances for the costly drama.