Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s imprisonment is dramatised in the BBC series
By Adam Starkey 25th November 2025
Narges Rashidi as Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe in 'Prisoner 951'. CREDIT: BBC/Dancing Ledge
Narges Rashidi and Joseph Fiennes lead the cast of BBC drama Prisoner 951.
The four-part series, written by Stephen Butchard, depicts the true story of British-Iranian citizen Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe who was imprisoned for six years in Iran on spying charges while on her way back to the United Kingdom.
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Prisoner 951 is based on the upcoming book A Yard Of Sky written by Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and her husband Richard Ratcliffe, which is set to be released next year.
All four episodes of Prisoner 951 were released on BBC iPlayer on November 23, 2025.
Is Prisoner 951 based on a true story?
Joseph Fiennes as Richard Ratcliffe in ‘Prisoner 951’ CREDIT: BBC/Dancing Ledge
Yes, Prisoner 951 is based on a true story. As outlined at the beginning, it is based on first-hand accounts by Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Richard Ratcliffe, along with extensive interviews and legal documents.
RecommendedHowever, some scenes have been imagined for dramatic effect.
What happened to Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe after the events of the show?
As depicted at the end of the series, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was released from prison, alongside British-Iranian businessman Anoosheh Ashoori, on March 16, 2022.
Her release coincided with the UK government repaying a £393.8 million debt to the Iranian government from a cancelled arms deal in the 1970s. While the two events have been linked, Liz Truss, the UK Foreign Secretary at the time, described it as an issue which was settled “in parallel”, and has denied any correlation between the two.
“Their release is the result of years of hard work and dedication by our brilliant diplomats, and intensive efforts over the past six months,” Truss said in a statement at the time. “I pay tribute to my predecessors and the Prime Minister, who have all worked hard to resolve this issue.
Advertisement“We have the deepest admiration for the resolve, courage and determination Nazani, Anoosheh, and Morad [Tahbaz], and their families, have shown. They have faced hardship that no family should ever experience and this is a moment of great relief.
“In parallel, we have also settled the IMS debt, as we said we would.”
Gabriella Ratcliffe, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Richard Ratcliffe reunite. CREDIT: BBC/Dancing Ledge Productions Ltd/Free Nazanin
Speaking in a press conference after her release, Zaghari-Ratcliffe criticised the UK government for trying to take the credit. “I have seen five foreign secretaries change over the course of six years,” she said (via BBC News). “How many foreign secretaries does it take for someone to come home?”
She added: “We all know… how I came home. It should have happened exactly six years ago.”
Since her release, Zaghari-Ratcliffe and her husband have been raising awareness of other victims of wrongful imprisonment. Earlier this year, she said the UK government is in denial about the extent of hostage-taking by foreign states.
Speaking at a conference (via the Guardian), Zaghari-Ratcliffe said: “There has been no improvement in the UK government approach to deal with hostage taking. It feels [like] we are still in the denial phase.”
