Favorite British Crime Dramas
by katfreuden | created - 07 Jan 2019 | updated - 20 Oct 2019 | Public- Instant Watch Options
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1. Agatha Raisin (2014– )
TV-14 | 60 min | Comedy, Crime, Drama
The Cotswolds-based PR guru turned amateur sleuth returns for a series of comedic murder-mysteries based on the books by M.C. Beaton.
Stars: Ashley Jensen, Matt McCooey, Lucy Liemann, Mathew Horne
Votes: 6,127
2. Marple (2004–2013)
TV-14 | 93 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
An elderly spinster living in the village of St. Mary Mead helps her friends and relatives solve mysterious murders.
Stars: Geraldine McEwan, Julia McKenzie, Stephen Churchett, Isabella Parriss
Votes: 10,656
3. Poirot (1989–2013)
TV-14 | 100 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Hercule Poirot, a famous Belgian detective, who has an impeccable knack for getting embroiled in a mystery, solves crimes along with Captain Hastings and Scotland Yard Chief Inspector James Japp.
Stars: David Suchet, Hugh Fraser, Philip Jackson, Pauline Moran
Votes: 52,020
4. Mystery!: Campion (1989–1990)
TV-14 | 50 min | Adventure, Crime, Drama
In 1930s England, a man from an aristocratic family takes up the pseudonym Albert Campion and, with the help of his ex-burglar manservant, solves mysteries.
Stars: Peter Davison, Brian Glover, Andrew Burt, Moray Watson
Votes: 1,011
5. An Inspector Calls (2015 TV Movie)
TV-PG | 87 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
A mysterious inspector investigates the wealthy Birling family and their dinner guest following the suicide of a young woman.
Director: Aisling Walsh | Stars: Sophie Rundle, Lucy Chappell, Miranda Richardson, Ken Stott
Votes: 15,621
6. Midsomer Murders (1997– )
TV-14 | 90 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
A veteran Detective Chief Inspector and his young Sergeant investigate murders around the regional community of Midsomer County.
Stars: John Nettles, Jane Wymark, Barry Jackson, Neil Dudgeon
Votes: 39,381
7. Hinterland (2013–2016)
TV-14 | 90 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
A noir crime drama set in Aberystwyth, Wales, where troubled DCI Tom Mathias solves murders while searching for redemption.
Stars: Richard Harrington, Mali Harries, Alex Harries, Hannah Daniel
Votes: 15,112
8. Shetland (2013– )
TV-14 | 60 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
A local police team investigate crimes within the close knit island community of Shetland.
Stars: Alison O'Donnell, Steven Robertson, Douglas Henshall, Lewis Howden
Votes: 25,823
9. Second Sight (1999 TV Movie)
169 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
A hard-working detective tries to disguise the fact that he's going blind, while working on a challenging murder case.
Director: Charles Beeson | Stars: Clive Owen, Claire Skinner, Stuart Wilson, Phoebe Nicholls
Votes: 1,020
10. Touching Evil (1997–1999)
TV-14 | 50 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
A police drama following the exploits of a crack squad within the Organized and Serial Crime Unit, a rapid-response police force serving the entire county.
Stars: Robson Green, Nicola Walker, Shaun Dingwall, Michael Feast
Votes: 2,184
11. Grantchester (2014–2025)
TV-14 | 45 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
A Cambridgeshire clergyman finds himself investigating a series of mysterious wrongdoings in his small village of Grantchester.
Stars: Robson Green, Tessa Peake-Jones, Al Weaver, Kacey Ainsworth
Votes: 17,165
12. Jack Taylor (2010)
Not Rated | 93 min | Action, Crime, Drama
Irish ex-cop Jack Taylor solves crimes as a maverick private investigator. Based on Ken Bruen's crime-drama books.
Stars: Iain Glen, Nora-Jane Noone, Killian Scott, Paraic Breathnach
Votes: 2,586
13. McCallum (1995–1998)
TV-MA | 120 min | Drama
From deep within the morgue at St. Patrick's Hospital in London's East End, Dr. Iain McCallum and Dr. Angela Moloney along with a team of brilliant pathologists and detectives help the dead tell their stories.
Stars: Gerard Murphy, James Saxon, Richard O'Callaghan, Alex Walkinshaw
Votes: 602
14. Amnesia (2004)
TV-14 | 180 min | Romance, Thriller
An amnesiac might be a key figure in Detective Mackenzie Stone's search for his own wife, who disappeared five years ago.
Stars: John Hannah, Jemma Redgrave, Anthony Calf, Patrick Malahide
Votes: 693
15. Cracker (1993–1996)
TV-MA | 100 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Dr Edward "Fitz" Fitzgerald is a criminal psychologist. He is rather anti-social and obnoxious but he has a gift for solving crimes. Thus he is employed as a consultant by the Manchester Police.
Stars: Robbie Coltrane, Geraldine Somerville, Kieran O'Brien, Barbara Flynn
Votes: 7,860
16. Wire in the Blood (2002–2008)
TV-MA | 69 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
A psychologist gets inside of the minds of both killers and victims to aid the police in solving gruesome serial killings in Northern England.
Stars: Robson Green, Mark Letheren, Emma Handy, Mark Penfold
Votes: 9,358
17. Inspector George Gently (2007–2017)
TV-MA | 89 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
With the help of DS John Bacchus, Inspector George Gently spends his days bringing to justice members of the criminal underworld who are unfortunate enough to have the intrepid investigator assigned to their cases.
Stars: Martin Shaw, Lee Ingleby, Simon Hubbard, Lisa McGrillis
Votes: 8,516
18. Inspector Lewis (2006–2015)
TV-PG | 90 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
DI Robert Lewis and DS James Hathaway solve the tough cases that the learned inhabitants of Oxford throw at them.
Stars: Kevin Whately, Laurence Fox, Clare Holman, Rebecca Front
Votes: 15,855
19. Inspector Morse (1987–2000)
TV-14 | 3,431 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Chief Inspector Morse has an ear for Western classical music, a taste for beer, and a nose for crime. He and Detective Sergeant Robert Lewis solve intriguing cases in and around the Oxford area.
Stars: John Thaw, Kevin Whately, James Grout, Peter Woodthorpe
Votes: 14,337
20. The Inspector Lynley Mysteries (2001–2007)
TV-14 | 90 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
British crime investigation series based around aristocratic, Oxford-educated Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley and his working-class assistant Sergeant Barbara Havers.
Stars: Nathaniel Parker, Sharon Small, Lesley Vickerage, Paul Hickey
Votes: 5,745
21. Dalziel and Pascoe (1996–2007)
TV-14 | 120 min | Crime, Mystery, Drama
Superintendent Dalziel and partner DI Pascoe investigate murder, and find a bond forming between them despite their blatantly different personalities.
Stars: Warren Clarke, Colin Buchanan, David Royle, Jennifer James
Votes: 3,304
22. Endeavour (2012–2023)
TV-14 | 90 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Set from 1965 into the 1970s, the show follows Endeavour Morse in his early years as a police constable. Working alongside his senior partner DI Fred Thursday, Morse engages in a number of investigations around Oxford.
Stars: Shaun Evans, Roger Allam, James Bradshaw, Sean Rigby
Votes: 33,386
23. Midwinter of the Spirit (2015)
Not Rated | 60 min | Mystery, Thriller
This series follows country vicar Merrily Watkins, who is one of the few women priests working as an exorcist in the UK. When a grisly murder takes place in her local area, the police come calling for her assistance.
Stars: Anna Maxwell Martin, Nicholas Pinnock, Kate Dickie, Sally Messham
Votes: 1,085
24. Vera (2011–2025)
TV-PG | 90 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
With her caustic wit and singular charm, DCI Vera Stanhope leads her team as they face a series of captivating murder mysteries set against the breathtaking Northumberland landscape.
Stars: Brenda Blethyn, Jon Morrison, Riley Jones, Kenny Doughty
Votes: 20,011
25. Rosemary & Thyme (2003–2006)
TV-PG | 48 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Set amongst the stunning gardens of Europe, Rosemary Boxer and Laura Thyme, two professional gardeners, find themselves drawn into solving mysterious crimes.
Stars: Felicity Kendal, Pam Ferris, Ryan Philpott, Daisy Dunlop
Votes: 5,320
26. M.I.T.: Murder Investigation Team (2003–2005)
TV-PG | 69 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
A London MIT investigates a number of gruesome murders.
Stars: Lindsey Coulson, Richard Hope, Michael McKell, Samantha Spiro
Votes: 392
27. Prime Suspect (1991)
TV-14 | 104 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
A female police detective investigates a series of serial murders while dealing with sexist hostility from her male comrades.
Stars: Helen Mirren, John Benfield, Tom Bell, Craig Fairbrass
Votes: 9,211
28. Prime Suspect: Tennison (2017)
TV-14 | 60 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller
Prime Suspect 1973 tells the story of 22-year-old Jane Tennison's first days in the police force, in which she endured flagrant sexism before being thrown in at the deep end with a murder enquiry.
Stars: Alun Armstrong, Andrew Brooke, Blake Harrison, Daniel Ezra
Votes: 3,666
29. Single-Handed (2007–2010)
TV-14 | 841 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Jack Driscoll moves back to the town on the west coast of Ireland where he was born. He takes over his retired father's Garda post, and solves different cases.
Stars: Owen McDonnell, David Herlihy, Ruth McCabe, Brian Gleeson
Votes: 1,455
30. Black Work (2015)
Not Rated | 135 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller
A policewoman sets out to discover who murdered her husband, an undercover officer.
Stars: Sheridan Smith, Matthew McNulty, Oliver Woollford, Honor Kneafsey
Votes: 1,919
31. Broadchurch (2013–2017)
TV-MA | 1,143 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
The murder of a young boy in a small coastal town brings a media frenzy, which threatens to tear the community apart.
Stars: David Tennant, Olivia Colman, Jodie Whittaker, Andrew Buchan
Votes: 127,133
32. The Fall (I) (2013–2016)
TV-MA | 60 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller
A seemingly cold but very passionate policewoman goes head to head with a seemingly passionate father who is in fact a cold serial killer in this procedural out of Belfast. The only thing they share is their common complexity.
Stars: Gillian Anderson, Jamie Dornan, John Lynch, Aisling Franciosi
Votes: 119,565
33. Trial & Retribution (1997–2009)
TV-14 | Crime, Drama, Mystery
The team of Det. Supt. Michael Walker, DI North, and DCI Connor follows each case from crime committed, through the pursuit of justice, to the law courts where the efforts of the force will be tested--sometimes to the breaking point.
Stars: David Hayman, Dorian Lough, Victoria Smurfit, Kate Buffery
Votes: 1,201
34. Cracker (1993–1996)
TV-MA | 100 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Dr Edward "Fitz" Fitzgerald is a criminal psychologist. He is rather anti-social and obnoxious but he has a gift for solving crimes. Thus he is employed as a consultant by the Manchester Police.
Stars: Robbie Coltrane, Geraldine Somerville, Kieran O'Brien, Barbara Flynn
Votes: 7,860
35. Father Brown (2013– )
TV-PG | 52 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
In the early 1950s, Father Brown, a Roman Catholic priest based in the fictional Cotswold village of Kembleford, uses his distinctive skills to solve various crimes.
Stars: Mark Williams, John Burton, Sorcha Cusack, Jack Deam
Votes: 14,984
36. Mystery!: Cadfael (1994–1998)
TV-14 | 983 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
The medieval era cases of a Crusader-turned-Monk who investigates mysteries in the Norman English town of Shrewsbury.
Stars: Derek Jacobi, Michael Culver, Julian Firth, Terrence Hardiman
Votes: 3,108
37. A Touch of Frost (1992–2010)
TV-MA | 105 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
DI Jack Frost is an unconventional policeman with sympathy for the underdog and an instinct for moral justice. Sloppy, disorganized, and disrespectful, he attracts trouble like a magnet.
Stars: David Jason, Bruce Alexander, John Lyons, Arthur White
Votes: 8,737
38. Waking the Dead (2000–2011)
TV-14 | 100 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Drama series following a team of detectives who investigate unsolved murders using modern technology.
Stars: Trevor Eve, Sue Johnston, Wil Johnson, Tara Fitzgerald
Votes: 6,429
39. Alleyn Mysteries (1990–1994)
TV-14 | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Drawing on her love of theatre and art, New Zealand author Ngaio Marsh created elegant crime-puzzlers full of quirky characters with hidden agendas, all brought meticulously to life in this BBC series.
Stars: William Simons, Patrick Malahide, Belinda Lang, Tim Dutton
Votes: 751
40. Scott & Bailey (2011–2016)
TV-14 | 45 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Detectives Janet Scott & Rachel Bailey investigate murders with Manchester Police's Major Incident Team.
Stars: Suranne Jones, Lesley Sharp, Tony Mooney, David Prosho
Votes: 11,021
41. Jonathan Creek (1997–2016)
TV-MA | 60 min | Comedy, Crime, Drama
Jonathan Creek, a magician with a natural ability for solving puzzles, works from his home in a converted windmill. He uses his abilities to solve impossible crimes and mysterious murders.
Stars: Alan Davies, Caroline Quentin, Stuart Milligan, Julia Sawalha
Votes: 8,988
42. Blue Murder (2003–2009)
Not Rated | 138 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Single mother DCI Janine Lewis struggles with the problems of bringing up four children while leading her team of detectives in solving high-profile murders.
Stars: Caroline Quentin, Ian Kelsey, Paul Loughran, Nicholas Murchie
Votes: 1,853
43. Cold Blood (2005–2008)
TV-14 | 90 min | Crime
Brian Wicklow is jailed after a killing spree so macabre that he has become one of Britain's most notorious murderers. Vilified by the popular press and despised by fellow inmates, his ... See full summary »
Stars: Jemma Redgrave, John Hannah, Ace Bhatti, Matthew Kelly
Votes: 304
44. Without Motive (2000– )
TV-14 | 60 min | Crime, Thriller
A police detective is tasked to catch a cold-blooded killer who appears to have attacked several young women without motive.
Stars: Ross Kemp, Kenneth Cranham, Jamie Foreman, Hazel Ellerby
Votes: 266
45. Luther (2010–2019)
TV-MA | 60 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
John Luther is a brilliant homicide detective with a knack for getting inside the minds of murderers. Unfortunately, his unconventional methods and personal demons put him at odds with his team.
Stars: Idris Elba, Dermot Crowley, Michael Smiley, Warren Brown
Votes: 154,209
46. Rebus (2000–2004)
TV-PG | 90 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Set in Edinburgh, the mercurial Detective Inspector John Rebus's investigations lead him through the city's ancient beauty and into its more sinister quarters.
Stars: Ken Stott, Claire Price, Jennifer Black, Gregor Gillespie
Votes: 2,239
47. Kavanagh QC (1995–2001)
TV-MA | Crime, Drama, Mystery
A crusty barrister oversees difficult criminal cases while dealing with the demands of his family life.
Stars: John Thaw, Oliver Ford Davies, Nicholas Jones, Cliff Parisi
Votes: 1,086
48. Silent Witness (1996– )
TV-14 | 120 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
A team of exceptional forensic pathologists and scientists investigate heinous crimes and use their skills to catch the people responsible.
Stars: Emilia Fox, David Caves, William Gaminara, Tom Ward
Votes: 12,706
49. Murphy's Law (2003–2007)
TV-MA | 60 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
As a maverick cop with a dark past, DS Tommy Murphy fails a psychiatric assessment but is given one last chance by his boss and given a dangerous undercover assignment.
Stars: James Nesbitt, Del Synnott, Claudia Harrison, Owen Teale
Votes: 1,478
50. Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators (2018– )
TV-PG | 45 min | Comedy, Crime, Drama
An oddball couple of private detectives named Luella Shakespeare and Frank Hathaway investigate crime in Stratford-upon-Avon.
Stars: Mark Benton, Jo Joyner, Patrick Walshe McBride, Tomos Eames
Votes: 5,931
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