Top rated British crime series

20.10.2023 г.

This list features some of the highest-rated British crime series, known for their captivating storytelling, complex characters, and suspenseful crime-solving narratives.

Here’s a quick overview of these series:

1. Sherlock - 9.1 [ ]

• A modern adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle’s iconic detective stories, starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman as Dr. John Watson. The series follows the brilliant but eccentric detective as he solves intricate mysteries in contemporary London.

2. Happy Valley - 8.5 [ ]

• A gritty crime drama centered on Catherine Cawood, a determined police sergeant in a small town, who seeks justice for her late daughter and combats local crime and drug activity.

3. Broadchurch - 8.4 [ ]

• This series focuses on Detectives Alec Hardy and Ellie Miller as they investigate the murder of an eleven-year-old boy in the tranquil coastal town of Broadchurch. The show delves into the impact of the crime on the community.

4. Peaky Blinders - 8.8 [ ]

• Set in the aftermath of World War I, this series revolves around the Shelby crime family and their rise to power in Birmingham, England. Led by Thomas Shelby (Cillian Murphy), they engage in illegal activities and fierce power struggles.

5. Line of Duty - 8.7 [ ]

• A police procedural series that explores the work of AC-12, an anti-corruption unit tasked with exposing corrupt police officers within the force. The series features intricate plotlines and suspenseful interrogations.

6. Luther - 8.4 [ ]

• Follow Detective John Luther (Idris Elba), a brilliant but tormented detective in London, as he tackles gruesome and complex criminal cases while battling his own personal demons.

7. Foyle's War - 8.6 [ ]

• Set during and after World War II, this series features Detective Chief Superintendent Christopher Foyle (Michael Kitchen), who solves crimes in the English coastal town of Hastings, often linked to the war effort.

8. Marcella - 7.4 [ ]

• The series follows Marcella Backland (Anna Friel), a former detective who returns to work and becomes embroiled in a complex serial killer case while dealing with her own personal issues.

9. The Night Manager - 8.0 [ ]

• A thrilling spy drama based on John le Carré’s novel, the series follows Jonathan Pine (Tom Hiddleston) as he infiltrates the world of arms dealing, espionage, and international intrigue.

10. Endeavour - 8.6 [ ]

• This prequel to the popular “Inspector Morse” series features a young Endeavour Morse (Shaun Evans) as a detective constable in the early days of his career, solving crimes in Oxford.

11. Vera - 8.1 [ ]

• Detective Chief Inspector Vera Stanhope (Brenda Blethyn) solves complex murder cases in Northumberland, using her sharp intuition and understanding of human nature.

11. Vera - 8.1 [ ]

• Detective Chief Inspector Vera Stanhope (Brenda Blethyn) solves complex murder cases in Northumberland, using her sharp intuition and understanding of human nature.

12. Midsomer Murders - 7.9 [ ]

• Set in the picturesque but deadly county of Midsomer, Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby (John Nettles and later Neil Dudgeon) solves numerous murders in seemingly peaceful villages.

13. Shetland - 8.3 [ ]

• Detective Inspector Jimmy Perez (Douglas Henshall) investigates crimes on the remote Shetland Islands, often revealing secrets within the close-knit community.

14. The Bodyguard - 8.1 [ ]

• A political thriller featuring a war veteran who is assigned as the bodyguard to a controversial Home Secretary, leading to complex conspiracies and personal dilemmas.

15. Inspector George Gently - 8.1 [ ]

• Set in the 1960s, this series follows the experienced Detective Inspector George Gently (Martin Shaw) as he confronts crime and social change in North East England.

16. Silent Witness - 7.9 [ ]

• Dr. Nikki Alexander (Emilia Fox) and her team investigate crimes through forensic pathology, unraveling the mysteries behind gruesome murders and suspicious deaths.

17. Death in Paradise - 7.8 [ ]

• A British detective is transferred to the fictional Caribbean island of Saint-Marie, where he solves murders in a tropical paradise.

18. Grantchester - 7.9 [ ]

• Set in the 1950s, this series features the crime-solving partnership of Reverend Sidney Chambers (James Norton) and Inspector Geordie Keating (Robson Green) in the idyllic village of Grantchester.

19. Scott & Bailey - 8.0 [ ]

• A series that follows the personal and professional lives of two female detectives, Janet Scott and Rachel Bailey, as they tackle serious crimes in Manchester.

20. Hinterland - 7.6 [ ]

• Detective Chief Inspector Tom Mathias (Richard Harrington) investigates crimes in the isolated and mysterious landscape of rural Wales.

21. Agatha Christie's Poirot - 8.6 [ ]

• Adaptations of Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot mysteries, starring David Suchet as the iconic Belgian detective.

22. Bancroft - 6.8 [ ]

• Detective Superintendent Elizabeth Bancroft (Sarah Parish) hides dark secrets while investigating crimes in the police force.

23. Ripper Street - 8.1 [ ]

• Set in the aftermath of the Jack the Ripper murders, this series explores the challenges faced by the detectives of H Division in Victorian London.

24. The Missing - 8.2 [ ]

• A gripping anthology series that delves into the impact of child abductions on families and detectives across multiple cases.

25. Prime Suspect - 8.3 [ ]

• A classic crime drama featuring Detective Jane Tennison (Helen Mirren) as she navigates the male-dominated world of the Metropolitan Police and solves complex cases.

26. Waking the Dead - 7.9 [ ]

• The Cold Case Unit of the London Metropolitan Police investigates unsolved murders, often leading to the reexamination of long-buried secrets.

27. The Shadow Line - 8.0 [ ]

• A crime thriller that explores the world of drug trafficking and corruption in London’s criminal underworld.

28. The Shadow Line - 6.8 [ ]

• A detective with a unique perspective, Helen Weeks (MyAnna Buring), investigates crimes while facing personal challenges.

29. The Fall - 8.1 [ ]

• A psychological thriller that follows the dual perspectives of a serial killer (Jamie Dornan) and the detective (Gillian Anderson) hunting him in Belfast.

30. Agatha Christie's Marple - 7.8 [ ]

• Adaptations of Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple stories, with various actresses portraying the amateur sleuth.

31. Whitechapel - 7.8 [ ]

• A modern detective team investigates crimes in London’s Whitechapel district, often with historical ties to infamous cases.

32. New Tricks - 7.9 [ ]

• A retired detective superintendent assembles a team of older ex-cops to re-examine unsolved cases.

33. Bodyguard - 8.1 [ ]

• A former soldier turned bodyguard (Richard Madden) is assigned to protect a high-profile politician, leading to dangerous conspiracies.

34. Luther - 8.4 [ ]

• DCI John Luther is a near-genius murder detective whose brilliant mind can’t always save him from the dangerous violence of his passions.

35. DCI Banks - 7.6 [ ]

• Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks (Stephen Tompkinson) tackles serious crimes in Yorkshire, often revealing hidden secrets.

36. Foyle's War - 8.6 [ ]

• As WWII rages, DCS Foyle fights his own war on the home-front; investigating crime on the south coast of England. Later series, see the retired detective working as an MI5 agent in the aftermath of the war.

37. A Touch of Frost - 7.9 [ ]

• Detective Inspector Jack Frost (David Jason) investigates crimes in the fictional town of Denton.

38. Lewis - 8.2 [ ]

• Detective Inspector Robert Lewis (Kevin Whately) and his partner, Detective Sergeant James Hathaway, solve complex crimes in Oxford.

39. Wire in the Blood - 7.0 [ ]

• Clinical psychologist Dr. Tony Hill (Robson Green) assists the police in solving violent crimes, delving into the minds of criminals.

40. Inspector Morse - 8.2 [ ]

• A classic series featuring the cerebral Detective Chief Inspector Morse (John Thaw) as he solves murders in Oxford.

41. Rosemary & Thyme - 7.6 [ ]

• Two amateur sleuths, Rosemary Boxer and Laura Thyme, solve crimes in picturesque garden settings.

42. Trial & Retribution - 7.6 [ ]

• A crime drama that follows Detective Chief Superintendent Mike Walker and Detective Inspector Pat North as they solve complex cases.

43. The Bill - 6.7 [ ]

• A long-running police procedural series that explores the lives and work of officers at the fictional Sun Hill Police Station in London.

44. Cracker - 8.5 [ ]

• Dr. Edward “Fitz” Fitzgerald (Robbie Coltrane), a brilliant but troubled psychologist, assists the police in solving crimes.

45. Spooks - 8.3 [ ]

• A spy thriller series that follows the work of MI5, Britain’s domestic intelligence service, as agents combat threats to national security.

46. Taggart - 7.3 [ ]

• A Scottish detective series featuring various detectives who solve crimes in and around Glasgow.

47. The Sweeney - 8.1 [ ]

• A classic police drama following the Special Flying Squad, a unit of the London Metropolitan Police, as they tackle armed robbery cases.

48. Bergerac - 6.8 [ ]

• Detective Sergeant Jim Bergerac (John Nettles) investigates crimes on the island of Jersey. John Nettles is well known to us from the series ‘Midsomer Murders’

49. London's Burning - 7.0 [ ]

• A drama series that focuses on the lives of firefighters in a London fire station, featuring both emergency and personal challenges.

50. The Professionals - 8.0 [ ]

• A classic action series featuring Bodie and Doyle, two top agents in a British government agency tasked with tackling high-stakes cases.