Britain is known for its incrediblecrimeTV shows, but there are some underrated titles that everyone should watch. Some ofthe best TV shows of all timeare British crime dramas, including the likes ofSherlock,Broadchurch, andLuther. However, many of the UK’s most powerful and compellingcrime TV shows flew under the radar, and are therefore relatively unknown in other countries across the world.
What constitutes a crime show is a little more flexible on British TV. While there are a lot ofunderrated procedural TV shows, with law enforcement at the forefront of the story, there are others that follow a crime-related mystery, but someone outside of the police takes the reins. In fact, there are some brilliant titles that focus on the criminals, instead. These British crime TV shows are massively underrated, and if you’ve never seen them before, you absolutely should check them out.
6Deadwater Fell
1 Season, 2020
Tom Kendrick inDeadwater Fellis one ofDavid Tennant’s best TV characters, and while many audiences will be familiar with his other crime show,Broadchurch, this mini-series is one of his more underrated projects.The four-part drama focuses on Tennant as the local doctor in the small Scottish village of Kirkdarroch,who goes through the painful loss of his wife and three children after a house fire. As the sole survivor of the fire, Tom struggles to prove he didn’t drug his family or cause their deaths.
The police investigation motivates the story ofDeadwater Fell,but there is so much more to learn than just what happened to Kate Kendrick and her kids. With drama surrounding extramarital affairs, police tampering, and the shattering of a local community, there’s plenty to sink your teeth into withDeadwater Fell. It’s astonishing so much happens in just four episodes, but it’s a miniseries that will leave audiences wanting more after.
5Hustle
8 Seasons, 2004-2012
Hustleis a fantastically underrated British crime drama. The show follows a group of con artists, the best of the very best, who all work the long con.The cast ofHustlefeatures legends like Adrian Lester as Michael “Mickey Bricks” Stone,Robert Glenister as Ash “Three Socks” Morgan, andThe Man from U.N.C.L.E.star Robert Vaughnas Albert Stroller, who run intricate schemes with the rest of the gang in order to con the rich out of thousands, even millions. They are joined by several other con artists, with a rotating cast depending on the season.
In every episode, the gang picks a new mark and enacts a complex confidence trick on them.The level of detail inHustle’s explanation of how everything is carried out is similar to the likes ofSherlock,and it’s nothing short of brilliant. While the police frequently pop up inHustle, the group of con artists is the main focus throughout, and it’s both hilarious and intriguing to see how they get away with their crimes in each episode, especially when things get dangerous and the stakes are raised.
4A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder
1 Season, 2024-Present
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murderis a spectacular mystery crime TV show, and is an adaptation of Holly Jackson’s bestselling 2019 novel of the same name, the first in the series. When teenage Pip is unhappy with an investigation into a local school girl’s murder, she takes her ongoing EPQ project and refocuses it on the topic.As Pip prepares for university, she throws herself headfirst into the enigma of Andie Bell’s disappearance and death,in a compelling story that draws in audiences within minutes of the first episode.
2019
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2021
Kill Joy(Prequel Novella)
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder’s shocking twistsare absolutely riveting, and as Pip discovers other various scandals during her investigation, tensions rise.The enthralling mystery behind Andie’s brutal demise is the most important part ofA Good Girl’s Guide to Murder,but with each episode, viewers realize that a lot of the other characters aren’t as innocent as they seem, too. WithA Good Girl’s Guide to Murderseason 2on the way, it’s well worth checking out season 1 now in preparation.
3Ridley
2 Seasons, 2022–Present
Ridley(not to be confused with the Andrew Scott Netflix show,Ripley) is anunderrated recent detective TV showmany are unfamiliar with. Itfollows Adrian Dunbar as the titular character, a retired DI turned police consultant who is pulled back into work after losing his wife and daughter in a fire. Alongside him is Bronagh Waugh as Carol Farman, Ridley’s former protégé who follows in his footsteps as a detective inspector. What’s different aboutRidley, however, is thatthere isn’t just a focus on the police side of things.
Viewers are treated to Dunbar’s singing talents, as Ridley performs at the nightclub belonging to his late wife’s best friend at the end of each episode.
Viewers are treated to Dunbar’s singing talents, as Ridley performs at the nightclub belonging to his late wife’s best friend at the end of each episode.Ridleyjumps back and forth between the investigation at hand and expanding upon the titular character’s backstory,which makes for an interesting narrative throughout. The two installments were a massive hit in the UK, and while there is yet to be any confirmation of a potentialRidleyseason 3, there are high hopes the show will return to screens in the near future.
2The Fall
3 Seasons, 2013-2016
WhileThe Fallis gaining some international appeal, it’s not enough, and the show deserves a lot more appreciation.The Fallis a British-Irish crime drama thatstarsThe X-Filesactress Gillian Andersonas Detective Superintendent Stella Gibson, an officer who reviews past investigations. With a serial killer on the prowl in Belfast, Stella works with her colleagues to attempt to capture the crazed murderer. However,there’s plenty of red tape issues and complications that get in the way of Stella’s attempts to seek justice.
Anderson’s rapport with Jamie Dornan as serial killer Peter Paul Spector is especially fantastic
Anderson’s rapport with Jamie Dornan as serial killer Peter Paul Spector is especially fantastic, and every scene they share is full of high-paced tension and excitement.The show is frequently praised for its character development and brilliantly paced story,and althoughThe Fallhas its occasional flaws, it’s generally a thrilling watch. While there is hope thatThe Fallseason 4will eventually happen someday, in the meantime, there are three full installments to stream.
1Jonathan Creek
5 Seasons, 1997-2016
Jonathan Creekis a great watch for those who loveSherlockand other investigative TV shows. The show follows Alan Davies as the titular character, who not only uses his prowess to solve strange mysteries, but also works as an illusion designer for a stage magician. Like a lot of these shows, Creek is joined by a trusty counterpart, such as Caroline Quentin’s Maddy Magellan or Julia Sawalha’s Carla Borrego. What’s particularly unique aboutJonathan Creek, though, is thatwhile it is a crime drama, it also has elements of the supernatural,which are heavily involved in Creek’s investigations.
There are lots of comical moments inJonathan Creek, too, and while there is always an underlying tension in each episode, the show doesn’t forget to be light-hearted when it needs to be. The titular character is an impressive genius, but stands out from other typicalcharacters inspired by Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmesby being comedic, heroic, and quirky all in one go.Creek uses his experience in the world of magic to separate truth from fiction,which is a refreshing change of pace, albeit an odd way for a crime TV show to depict a protagonist.
