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15 best British TV crime dramas of all time (so far)

By Alexandria Ingham

From left: Martin Compston, Adrian Dunbar, Vicky McClure from Line of Duty. Photo Credit: Des Willie/Courtesy of Acorn TV.
From left: Martin Compston, Adrian Dunbar, Vicky McClure from Line of Duty. Photo Credit: Des Willie/Courtesy of Acorn TV. /
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LONDON – MAY 20: The cast of ‘Life on Mars’ including John Simm (L fore) and Philip Glenister (R fore) pose with the Pioneer Audience Award in the awards room at the British Academy Television Awards at the Palladium on May 20, 2007 in London, England. (Photo by Dave Hogan/Getty Images)
LONDON – MAY 20: The cast of ‘Life on Mars’ including John Simm (L fore) and Philip Glenister (R fore) pose with the Pioneer Audience Award in the awards room at the British Academy Television Awards at the Palladium on May 20, 2007 in London, England. (Photo by Dave Hogan/Getty Images) /

12. Life on Mars

Number of seasons: 2

Created by: Matthew Graham, Tony Jordan, and Ashley Pharoah

Starring: John Simm, Philip Glenister, Liz White, Dean Andrews, and Marshall Lancaster

What it’s about: John Simm plays Sam Tyler, a policeman in 2006. When he’s hit by a car, he wakes in 1973 to find himself working with the police force there. We quickly see the different methods of police work at the time, experiencing it in a way like Tyler.

Why it’s the best Most British TV crime dramas are either set in the current day or in the past. Life on Mars opted for a different route. It involved time travel—or did it involve Sam Tyler dying? One of the great things is that we never get to know that, allowing us to just delve into the world of policework in the 1970s. We got to experience it all through Tyler’s eyes, thinking about what we would have done in his situation.

It took a long time to get this series greenlit. This was also one of those canceled too early, although it did develop the spin-off Ashes to Ashes. It was clearly a beloved British show that just couldn’t translate to the American audiences when an American reboot was attempted.

11. Bodyguard

Number of seasons: 1 season (possibly only so far)

Created by: Jed Mercurio

Starring: Richard Madden, Keeley Hawes, Gina McKee, Sophie Rundle, Vincent Franklin, Pippa Haywood, and Paul Ready

What it’s about: Game of Thrones’s Richard Madden plays PS David Budd, who is given the detail to be Keeley Hawes’s Julia Montague’s bodyguard. When there’s an attack on her life, Budd has to figure out who is behind it. At the same time, he has to deal with PTSD from the Afghanistan war, trust issues, and his growing personal feelings for his client.

Why it’s the best Bodyguard very quickly gain critical acclaim. It showcased PTSD in full, giving us just hints of how Budd was feeling. We got the romance story, the element of thriller when it came to attacks on Julia, and plenty of red herrings and questions.

It never lost its pacing and never became over the top. We were left guessing all the way to the end, and we definitely now need a second season.

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