Best British 'whodunnit' shows
by PhoenixRises | created - 2 months ago | updated - 1 month ago | PublicA list of the best British mysteries, police procedurals and 'whodunnits'.
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1. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1984–1985)
TV-PG | 60 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson solve the mysteries of copper beeches, a Greek interpreter, the Norwood builder, a resident patient, the red-headed league, and one final problem.
Stars: Jeremy Brett, David Burke, Rosalie Williams, Eric Porter
Votes: 24,217
2. Above Suspicion (2009–2012)
46 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
A team of dedicated detectives investigate gruesome murders across London.
Stars: Kelly Reilly, Ciarán Hinds, Shaun Dingwall, Amanda Lawrence
Votes: 3,473
3. Accused (2010–2012)
TV-14 | 60 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Created by Jimmy McGovern, each episode of this series examines a person who is accused of a crime and what led them to end up in the Dock.
Stars: Michael Maloney, Chord Melodic, Andrew Readman, Rosina Carbone
Votes: 2,937
4. 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: 52,094
5. Code of a Killer (2015)
65 min | Biography, Crime, Drama
The story of Sir Alec Jeffreys' discovery of DNA fingerprinting and its first use by DCS David Baker in catching a double murderer.
Stars: John Simm, Anna Madeley, David Threlfall, Lorcan Cranitch
Votes: 3,725
6. In Plain Sight (2016)
TV-14 | 50 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
A three part TV miniseries about Lanarkshire's Detective William Muncie and his quest to bring to justice notorious killer Peter Manuel.
Stars: Douglas Henshall, Martin Compston, Joanne Thomson, Shauna Macdonald
Votes: 2,725
7. Jack the Ripper (1988)
TV-PG | 91 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
A Scotland Yard police inspector, battling the booze, investigates the Jack the Ripper murders and discovers a conspiracy that leads all the way up to the Queen.
Stars: Michael Caine, Armand Assante, Ray McAnally, Lewis Collins
Votes: 5,678
8. Manhunt (2019–2021)
TV-14 | 45 min | Biography, Crime, Drama
Detective Chief Inspector Colin Sutton tracks down a serial killer.
Stars: Martin Clunes, Claudie Blakley, Matthew Gravelle, Stephen Wight
Votes: 10,676
9. The Pembrokeshire Murders (2021)
TV-14 | 48 min | Crime, Drama, History
DSU Steve Wilkins reopens two unsolved murder cases from the 1980s. Forensic methods link the crimes to a string of burglaries. Steve's team has to find more evidence before the perpetrator is released from prison.
Stars: Luke Evans, Keith Allen, Caroline Berry, Oliver Ryan
Votes: 10,854
10. This Is Personal: The Hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper (2000)
Crime, Drama
This is a dramatisation of the real-life investigation into the notorious Yorkshire Ripper murders of the late 1970s, showing the effect that it had on the health and career of Assistant Chief Constable George Oldfield who led the enquiry
Stars: Alun Armstrong, Richard Ridings, James Laurenson, John Duttine
Votes: 430
11. The Murders at White House Farm (2020)
TV-MA | 46 min | Biography, Crime, Drama
Revolves around the true story of a fateful night in August 1985 when five members of the same family are murdered at an Essex farmhouse, and the ensuing police investigation and court case that follows.
Stars: Freddie Fox, Alexa Davies, Mark Addy, Scott Reid
Votes: 12,022
12. 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: 127,303
13. 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: 7,872
14. Death in Paradise (2011– )
TV-PG | 60 min | Comedy, Crime, Drama
Cultures collide when British Detective Inspector is transferred from England to the Caribbean island of Saint Marie to head the island's police department.
Stars: Elizabeth Bourgine, Don Warrington, Danny John-Jules, Joséphine Jobert
Votes: 28,016
15. 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: 9,004
16. Law & Order: UK (2009–2014)
TV-14 | 46 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
UK version of the long-running U.S. TV drama that tells the stories of two separate yet equally important groups: the police, who investigate crime; and the attorneys, who prosecute the offenders.
Stars: Bradley Walsh, Robert Glenister, Harriet Walter, Freema Agyeman
Votes: 4,851
17. New Tricks (2003–2015)
TV-14 | 60 min | Comedy, Crime, Drama
Three retired police officers are drafted in to solve cold cases, with a touch of comedy and drama
Stars: Dennis Waterman, Amanda Redman, Alun Armstrong, James Bolam
Votes: 8,781
18. Sherlock (2010–2017)
TV-14 | 90 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
The quirky spin on Conan Doyle's iconic sleuth pitches him as a "high-functioning sociopath" in modern-day London. Assisting him in his investigations: Afghanistan War vet John Watson, who's introduced to Holmes by a mutual acquaintance.
Stars: Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman, Una Stubbs, Rupert Graves
Votes: 998,634
19. 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: 8,750
20. 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: 6,434
21. The Body Farm (2011–2012)
Crime, Drama
A British police procedural, which follows the team from a forensic pathology facility that conducts scientific research to help solve crimes.
Stars: Tara Fitzgerald, Keith Allen, Wunmi Mosaku, Mark Bazeley
Votes: 863
22. Whitechapel (2009–2013)
TV-14 | 817 min | Crime, Mystery, Thriller
A fast-tracked inspector, a hardened detective sergeant, and an expert in historical homicides investigate modern crimes with connections to the past in the Whitechapel district of London.
Stars: Rupert Penry-Jones, Phil Davis, Steve Pemberton, Sam Stockman
Votes: 14,797
23. 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: 9,368
24. 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: 119,670
25. 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: 154,347
26. Chasing Shadows (I) (2014)
45 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
A missing persons unit investigate serial killers who target the impressionable and vulnerable.
Stars: Reece Shearsmith, Alex Kingston, Adjoa Andoh, Noel Clarke
Votes: 3,145
27. Hetty Wainthropp Investigates (1996–1998)
TV-PG | 1,349 min | Comedy, Crime, Drama
Hetty wakes on her 60th birthday and decides to become a private investigator. With assistance from a teenager called Geoffrey and her husband Robert, combined with her own common sense, Hetty is confident she can solve any case.
Stars: Patricia Routledge, Dominic Monaghan, Derek Benfield, John Graham-Davies
Votes: 1,989
28. Little Boy Blue (2017)
TV-14 | 60 min | Crime, Drama, History
The true story of the 2007 murder of Rhys Jones in Liverpool. The story of the aftermath and police investigation.
Stars: Sinéad Keenan, Brían F. O'Byrne, Matthew Devlin, Stephen Graham
Votes: 5,582
29. A Confession (2019)
TV-PG | 45 min | Biography, Crime, Drama
DSU Stephen Fulcher intends on catching a killer of a missing woman, even if that may cost him his career and reputation.
Stars: Martin Freeman, Siobhan Finneran, Imelda Staunton, Peter Wight
Votes: 10,035
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