A big tub of popcorn, soda, some chocolates, and a great crime series to binge-watch – now, that’s what we call a perfect Friday night.
If you’re like me, you also love to get immersed in the stories of murder, mystery, and chaos and follow the clues along with the brilliant detectives. And British television has not failed to produce some of the finest crime shows in the world, with diverse genres and styles. You must have run out of recommendations, but no worries – I’m going to give you some titles that will keep you busy in the following weekends.
15 Best Crime Shows to Watch in UK
Among a broad range of crime TV shows, we have selected the 15 best crime shows that you can binge-watch this weekend.
Bodyguard
- Director(s): Thomas Vincent, John Strickland
- Writer(s): Jed Mercurio
- Starring: Richard Madden, Keeley Hawes
- Runtime: 60 minutes
- Release Year: 2018
- IMDb Rating: 8.1/10
The show follows David Budd, a war veteran and police officer who is assigned to protect Julia Montague, the ambitious Home Secretary. As David struggles with his PTSD and his conflicting loyalties, he gets involved in a web of conspiracy, corruption, and terrorism. I really liked this show because it kept me on the edge of my seat with its gripping plot, intense action, and brilliant acting. The show also explores relevant issues such as security, surveillance, and politics.
Deceit
- Director(s): Niall MacCormick
- Writer(s): Emilia di Girolamo
- Starring: Niamh Algar Eddie Marsan Harry Treadaway Sion Daniel Young
- Runtime: 48 minutes
- Release Year: 2021
- IMDb Rating: 6.9/10
Niamh Algar plays the role of Sadie Byrne, a police officer who poses as Lizzie James, a woman who tries to seduce and trap Colin Stagg, the prime suspect in the murder of Rachel Nickell. The show explores the ethical and psychological dilemmas of the honeytrap, as well as the flaws of criminal profiling and the justice system. I enjoyed this show because it was a gripping and realistic drama, with excellent performances by the cast and a compelling script. Deceit is a show that will make you question the morality and the truth of the investigation.
Criminal: UK
- Director(s): Jim Field Smith
- Writer(s): George Kay
- Starring: Katherine Kelly, Lee Ingleby, Rochenda Sandal, Kunal Nayyar
- Runtime: 41–48 minutes
- Release Year: 2019–2021
- IMDb Rating: 7.4/10
If you are looking for a crime show that is different from the usual, you might want to check out Criminal: UK, an original Netflix series that takes place entirely in an interrogation room. The show features a team of skilled investigators who use various tactics to extract confessions from suspects accused of serious crimes, such as murder, rape, and fraud. Each episode is a tense and captivating game of cat and mouse, where the truth is not always what it seems.
The Serpent
- Director(s): Tom Shankland and Hans Herbot
- Writer(s): Richard Warlow and Toby Finlay
- Starring: Tahar Rahim, Jenna Coleman, Billy Howle, Ellie Bamber, and Mathilde Warnier
- Runtime: 8 episodes, each about 55 minutes
- Release Year: 2021
- IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
If you are fascinated by the dark and twisted mind of a serial killer, you will love The Serpent. Based on the true story of Charles Sobhraj, who preyed on young tourists in South Asia in the 1970s, this show will keep you hooked with its thrilling and chilling plot. Tahar Rahim delivers a captivating performance as the charismatic and cunning Sobhraj, while Jenna Coleman plays his accomplice and lover, Marie-Andrée Leclerc. The Serpent is a co-production between BBC One and Netflix, and you can stream it on Netflix now.
The Fall
- Director(s): Allan Cubitt
- Writer(s): Allan Cubitt
- Starring: Gillian Anderson, Jamie Dornan
- Runtime: 60 minutes
- Release Year: 2013
- IMDb Rating: 8.1/10
The Fall is a psychological thriller that pits a determined detective, played by Gillian Anderson, against a ruthless serial killer, played by Jamie Dornan. The show explores the complex and obsessive relationship between the two, as well as the impact of the murders on the victims’ families and the police. The Fall is set in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and offers a realistic and gritty portrayal of the city and its people.
Line of Duty
- Director(s): Various directors across different seasons
- Writer(s): Jed Mercurio
- Starring: Martin Compston, Vicky McClure, Adrian Dunbar
- Runtime: 60 minutes per episode
- Release Year: 2012
- IMDb Rating: 8.7/10
Line of Duty is a gripping crime drama that follows a unit of police officers who investigate corruption and organized crime within their own ranks. The show features stellar performances from Martin Compston, Vicky McClure, Adrian Dunbar, and a series of guest stars who play the suspects of each season. The show is full of twists and turns and will keep you guessing until the end. Line of Duty is one of the most popular and critically acclaimed shows on BBC, and you can watch all six seasons on BBC iPlayer.
Happy Valley
- Director(s): Euros Lyn, Tim Fywell
- Writer(s): Sally Wainwright
- Starring: Sarah Lancashire, Steve Pemberton, Siobhan Finneran
- Runtime: 58-60 minutes per episode
- Release Year: 2014
- IMDb Rating: 8.5/10
If you enjoy gritty crime dramas with complex characters and realistic dialogue, you should watch Happy Valley. The show follows Catherine Cawood, a police sergeant in a small town in Yorkshire, as she deals with personal and professional challenges. She is haunted by the suicide of her daughter, who was raped by a violent criminal and has to raise her grandson, who is the product of that assault. The show explores themes of trauma, justice, family, and morality, with superb performances by Sarah Lancashire and the rest of the cast.
Giri/Haji
- Director(s): Julian Farino and Ben Chessell
- Writer(s): Joe Barton
- Starring: Takehiro Hira, Kelly Macdonald, Yosuke Kubozuka
- Runtime: 57-60 minutes per episode
- Release Year: 2019
- IMDb Rating: 7.8/10
Giri/Haji is a cross-cultural thriller that blends elements of British and Japanese crime genres. The show centers on Kenzo Mori, a Tokyo detective who travels to London to find his brother, Yuto, who is accused of killing a Yakuza boss. Along the way, he meets various characters who help or hinder his quest, such as Sarah, a troubled cop, Rodney, a charismatic hustler; and Fukuhara, a ruthless gangster.
Baptiste
- Director(s): Various directors across different seasons
- Writer(s): Harry Williams and Jack Williams
- Starring: Tchéky Karyo
- Runtime: 60 minutes per episode
- Release Year: 2019
- IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
Baptiste is a spin-off of the acclaimed series The Missing, starring Tchéky Karyo as the titular detective. Baptiste is a master of solving cold cases, but he also struggles with his own demons and secrets. In each series, he is drawn into a new mystery that takes him to different locations and puts him in danger. The show is gripping, complex and emotional, with twists and turns that keep you guessing. Baptiste is a compelling character, who is both flawed and heroic, and Karyo delivers a powerful performance.
The Missing
- Director(s): Tom Shankland
- Writer(s): Harry Williams and Jack Williams.
- Starring: James Nesbitt, Frances O’Connor, Tchéky Karyo
- Runtime: 60 minutes per episode.
- Release Year: 2014.
- IMDb Rating: 8.2/10.
The Missing is a British anthology series that focuses on the impact of missing persons cases on the families and investigators involved. Each series follows a different case, spanning different countries and time periods, and reveals the secrets and lies that surround the disappearance. The show is well-written, well-acted and well-directed, with a strong sense of realism and tension. The show also features Tchéky Karyo as Julien Baptiste, a French detective who specializes in finding the missing, and who later got his own spin-off series.
Showtrial
- Director(s): Zara Hayes
- Writer(s): Ben Richards
- Starring: Tracy Ifeachor, Céline Buckens
- Runtime: 60 minutes per episode.
- Release Year: 2021
- IMDb Rating: 7.4/10.
Showtrial is a British legal drama that examines the role of the media and the public in high-profile murder trials. The show follows Cleo Roberts, a young and ambitious defence lawyer, who takes on the case of Talitha Campbell, a wealthy and arrogant student accused of killing her friend. The show explores the themes of class, privilege, justice and truth, and how they are manipulated and distorted by various forces. The show is provocative, topical and engaging, with a talented cast and a smart script.
Unforgotten
- Director(s): Andy Wilson
- Writer(s): Chris Lang
- Starring: Nicola Walker, Sanjeev Bhaskar
- Runtime: 45-60 minutes per episode
- Release Year: 2015
- IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
Unforgotten is a British crime drama that follows a team of detectives who solve cold cases of murder and disappearance. The show stars Nicola Walker and Sanjeev Bhaskar as Cassie Stuart and Sunny Khan, who use modern forensic techniques and old-fashioned detective work to uncover the truth. The show is not only a mystery, but also a character study, as it delves into the lives and histories of the suspects and the victims, and how the past affects the present. The show is captivating, moving and insightful, with a superb ensemble cast.
Shetland
- Director(s): Ann Cleeves
- Writer(s): Ann Cleeves
- Starring: Douglas Henshall, Alison O’Donnell, Steven Robertson
- Runtime: 60 minutes per episode
- Release Year: 2013
- IMDb Rating: 8.1/10
Shetland is a Scottish crime drama based on the novels by Ann Cleeves, starring Douglas Henshall as DI Jimmy Perez, a detective who investigates crimes on the remote Shetland Islands. The show features stunning scenery, complex characters, and intriguing mysteries, with each series covering a different case. Shetland is a captivating and atmospheric watch that will transport you to a different world. You can watch all eight series on BBC iPlayer!
Vera
- Director(s): Jim Field Smith
- Writer(s): Ann Cleeves
- Starring: Brenda Blethyn, Jon Morrison, Riley Jones
- Runtime: 90 minutes
- Release Year: 2011
- IMDb Rating: 8.1/102
Vera is a British crime drama starring Brenda Blethyn as DCI Vera Stanhope, a brilliant but unconventional detective who solves murders in Northumberland. The show is based on the novels by Ann Cleeves and showcases the beautiful and rugged landscapes of the region. Vera is a compelling and charismatic character who is both tough and compassionate, and Blethyn delivers a superb performance. You can watch all thirteen series on ITV Hub.
Top Boy
- Director(s): Yann Demange and Jonathan van Tulleken.
- Writer(s): Ronan Bennett.
- Starring: Ashley Walters, Kane Robinson (Kano), Michael Ward.
- Runtime: 44-56 minutes per episode.
- Release Year: 2011
- IMDb Rating: 8.4/10.
Top Boy is a British crime drama that follows the lives of drug dealers and gangsters in the London borough of Hackney. The show is created by Ronan Bennett and features a talented cast of actors, including Ashley Walters, Kane Robinson, and Micheal Ward. The show is realistic, gritty, and powerful, with a gripping plot and a diverse soundtrack. The show was revived by Netflix after being dropped by Channel 4, and you can watch all five series on Netflix.
Conclusion
These are some of the best crime shows to watch in UK that will keep you entertained and intrigued. Whether you are in the mood for a political thriller, a true crime drama, or an interrogation game, there is a show for you.
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