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

2. Midsomer Murders

Number of seasons: 21 seasons (so far)

Created by: Anthony Horowitz, based on the books by Caroline Graham

Starring: John Nettles, Daniel Casey, Barry Jackson, Jane Wymark, Laura Howard, Toby Jones, John Hopkins, and Jason Hughes

What it’s about: Based on the “Chief Inspector Barnaby” book series by Caroline Graham, the series follows Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby played by John Nettles. It’s set in modern-day England, focused on solving various cases that happen in the small village. You do have to sometimes wonder why people live in Midsomer!

Why it’s the best For the first 13 seasons, the show followed Nettles’s character. When he retired, it could have been the end to the series. In fact, most shows would see it end with the lead retiring. That wasn’t the case here.

The show changed to follow Tom’s cousin, John Barnaby. It helped to have the family link and the character quickly became a favorite for many. Each episode offers a new case, but none of them get too gory and dark. The series is somewhat light for British TV crime dramas, suited for those who love Agatha Christie type British TV crime dramas. And a lot of it is purely about the police work, which captures the attention of many.

1. Marcella

Number of seasons: 3 seasons (possibly so far)

Created by: Hans Rosenfeldt and Nicola Larder

Starring: Anna Friel, Nicholas Pinnock, Ray Panthaki, Jamie Bamber, Jack Doolan, Nina Sosanya, Charlie Covell, and Sophie Brown

What it’s about: When former London detective Marcella Backland had children, she took a career break. After 11 years, she returns to work to investigate an open case involving an unidentified serial killer who has become active again.

While solving the case, Marcella needs to deal with the home life that involves a husband who has left her and decides to first send the children to boarding school and then gain custody of the children.

Each season is a different case.

Why it’s the best Marcella is one of the dark and gritty British TV crime dramas. It’s well developed, allowing one season to fully tell the story of the case. We’re invited to many twists and turns.

But one thing that makes this show stand out is the lead character’s mental disorder. Marcella suffers from blackouts, and it can often lead to her becoming the suspect in her own cases. After all, she can never confidently say where she has been. It adds an extra layer to the police work and family drama within the show.

Which British TV crime dramas are your favorite? Which British TV crime dramas do you recommend to your friends? Share your thoughts in the comments below.