The BEST episodes of The A Word

Every episode of The A Word ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of The A Word!

The various generations of the Hughes family, who all love, work and fight like any other clan, find they must learn to communicate all over again when the youngest member is diagnosed with autism.

Last Updated: 9/12/2024Network: BBC OneStatus: Ended
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Episode 6
star
8.02
48 votes

#1 - Episode 6

Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 12/12/2017

An end-of-year show at Joe's old school brings his family members together. As Joe takes the stage, it is clear what they mean to him. But can they remain the family he knows?

Directors: Luke Snellin
Writer: Peter Bowker
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Episode 6
star
7.74
34 votes

#2 - Episode 6

Season 3 - Episode 6 - Aired 6/9/2020

When Rebecca goes into labour, it falls to Joe to help his sister. Alison makes a decision about Ben, Paul makes Mark an offer, and Maurice has a big question for Louise.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Episode 1
star
7.71
31 votes

#3 - Episode 1

Season 3 - Episode 1 - Aired 5/5/2020

Unsettled by a change in his life, Joe rejects his headphones. Maurice tries to solve all his family’s problems, Alison clashes with a stranger, and Rebecca has some big news.

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Episode 4
star
7.69
32 votes

#4 - Episode 4

Season 3 - Episode 4 - Aired 5/26/2020

Alison brings the family together when she organises a sponsored walk for Joe. Paul gets a surprise from Sarah, and Maurice feels rejected by Ralph.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Episode 3
star
7.66
32 votes

#5 - Episode 3

Season 3 - Episode 3 - Aired 5/19/2020

Maurice and Eddie lock horns on a kids camping trip. Paul tries to forge a connection with Joe. Rebecca interrupts Alison’s date with Ben to confront her about motherhood.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Episode 5
star
7.61
36 votes

#6 - Episode 5

Season 3 - Episode 5 - Aired 6/2/2020

Louise and Maurice are shaken when an unwelcome visitor arrives on the eve of Ralph’s wedding. Mark and Joe test Paul and Sarah’s liberalism when they strike out on their own.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Episode 6
star
7.60
96 votes

#7 - Episode 6

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 4/26/2016

It's the launch day of Paul's gastropub, and the family gathers to open its doors. While Maurice gets to grips with the half-done décor, Alison determines to reconcile with Paul. As Luke's romantic gesture falls flat with Rebecca, Nicola has some shock news for Eddie. Seeing Joe is in the way, Maurice takes him on a visit to Louise's - but within minutes the day has taken an unexpected turn.

Directors: Sue Tully
Writer: Peter Bowker
Watch Now:Amazon
Episode 1
star
7.57
134 votes

#8 - Episode 1

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 3/22/2016

In their idyllic Lake District home, the extended Hughes family reunites for Joe's fifth birthday party. But tensions soon rise among Alison, Paul and patriarch Maurice when newly-arrived Eddie and Nicola suggest Joe has communication problems.

Directors: Peter Cattaneo
Writer: Peter Bowker
Watch Now:Amazon
Episode 2
star
7.55
110 votes

#9 - Episode 2

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 3/29/2016

Following Joe's autism diagnosis Paul, Alison and Rebecca clash over how best to deal with his first weeks at school. Eddie is troubled by thoughts of Nicola's ex-lover Michael, and Maurice tries hard to avoid his singing teacher Louise.

Directors: Peter Cattaneo
Writer: Peter Bowker
Watch Now:Amazon
Episode 5
star
7.54
87 votes

#10 - Episode 5

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 4/19/2016

Alison is hit hard when Joe's helper Maya looks set to be deported. As Paul and Eddie discover their wives both want different things, Maurice is left kicking himself for letting Louise go.

Directors: Dominic Leclerc
Writer: Peter Bowker
Watch Now:Amazon
Episode 4
star
7.52
91 votes

#11 - Episode 4

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 4/12/2016

An impromptu attempt to win Joe some friends leads to a breakthrough moment for Alison, but how long can it last? Maurice and Louise come to blows over Joe, while Rebecca turns to Eddie for relationship advice.

Directors: Peter Cattaneo
Writer: Peter Bowker
Watch Now:Amazon
Episode 3
star
7.51
105 votes

#12 - Episode 3

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 4/5/2016

Alison gets a blast from her past when speech and language therapist Maggie arrives to assess Joe. For the family, it is time to face some uncomfortable truths.

Directors: Peter Cattaneo
Writer: Peter Bowker
Watch Now:Amazon
Episode 5
star
7.50
52 votes

#13 - Episode 5

Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 12/5/2017

Paul's deepest feelings about his son's autism emerge when Nicola makes a film of Joe's behaviours. Eddie reaches D-Day with Holly, while Maurice makes a shocking proposal.

Directors: Luke Snellin
Writer: Peter Bowker
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Episode 4
star
7.49
51 votes

#14 - Episode 4

Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 11/28/2017

Rebecca sends Paul and Alison on a weekend away to help them reconnect. Maurice has an existential crisis during a fell race, and Eddie is determined to teach Joe to ride a bike.

Directors: Luke Snellin
Writer: Peter Bowker
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Episode 1
star
7.44
61 votes

#15 - Episode 1

Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 11/7/2017

When Joe says the A word for the first time, Paul and Alison know they must talk to him about his autism. Maurice is catapulted back into the life of Louise, and Eddie and Nicola have a secret to keep.

Directors: Sue Tully
Writer: Peter Bowker
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Episode 2
star
7.42
33 votes

#16 - Episode 2

Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired 5/12/2020

Joe causes concern at school as he becomes fixated on his teacher, Heather. Paul helps Mark in his bid to join the army, and Rebecca sets the family straight about her pregnancy.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Episode 2
star
7.40
53 votes

#17 - Episode 2

Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 11/14/2017

Life for the Hughes family turns upside down as Joe starts at a specialist school in Manchester. Rebecca halts her plans with James, and Louise confides in a stunned Maurice.

Directors: Sue Tully
Writer: Peter Bowker
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Episode 3
star
7.32
56 votes

#18 - Episode 3

Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 11/21/2017

Paul makes a connection with Sophie when he takes her and Mark to a gig. Louise clashes with Maurice, and Eddie gears up for date night with his Manchester girlfriend Holly.

Directors: Sue Tully
Writer: Peter Bowker
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV