6 Underrated British Crime Dramas Better Than BBC's Sherlock

written by Dan Bentley

September 3, 2023 6:30 am

6 Underrated British Crime Dramas Better Than BBC's Sherlock — Image credit: BBC

Sherlock isn’t the only Detective worth watching… meet Britain’s modern detectives presenting the very best of British TV.

America may be the best at movie blockbusters, but if there is one thing Britain is surprisingly good at, it's TV crime dramas. The global sensation Sherlock, a modern retelling of Arthur Conan Doyle's famous detective, showcased Britain’s ability to produce some truly entertaining crime series.

Since then, there have been many crime dramas that are equally enjoyable for any Sherlock fan.

Broadchurch

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Doctor Who fans will recognize the familiar face of David Tennant, who plays one of the lead detectives alongside critically acclaimed actress Olivia Coleman in this drama-heavy series. Broadchurch, set in a fictional English seaside town, follows a string of dramatic murders and assaults that lead detectives Hardy and Miller must struggle to solve. With clever writing keeping you gripped with the mystery of every episode, and a fantastic cast full of respected actors, Broadchurch is sure to become your next obsession.

Prime Suspect

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Speaking of respected actors, Prime Suspect introduces acting legend Hellen Mirren as Jane Tennison, DCI of the Metropolitan Police Service. Based on cases set within the capital of London, the series focuses on the character's struggles to establish herself as one of the force's few female detectives in a career dominated by men. Mirren is fantastic in the role, helping the series to become multi-award winning and be listed alongside Sherlock by TIME magazine in the top 100 best British TV shows of all time.

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The Fall

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A psychological thriller, The Fall shares Sherlock's insight into the criminal mind as British detective Stella Gibson is brought to Belfast to capture a formidable serial killer. With an excellent cast, including Gillian Anderson and Jamie Dornan, this dark thriller is gripping, presenting a complex and intimidating killer just as good as Moriarty.

A Confession

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For fans of Watson, you may also be interested in Martin Freeman's other roles in crime dramas, such as the TV mini-series A Confession. Although this is a one-off TV six-part series, it is unusually based on the real-life murders of Sian O'Callaghan and Becky Godden-Edwards. The series tackles the subject in a sensitive but dramatic manner, telling the story from the perspective of DCU Stephen Fulcher, portrayed by Freeman.

Life on Mars

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For those looking for something a little more upbeat, look no further than Life on Mars. The series is a combination of police drama and supernatural/science-fiction. It follows a by-the-book DI, Sam Tyler, who is transported back to 1973 after a car accident. The show delivers great detective episodes, some hilarious comedy, and lots of heartfelt character development; including the best detective pairing from Sam and Gene Hunt since Watson and Sherlock.

Happy Valley

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This BAFTA award-winning series, with a 98% Rotten Tomatoes rating, is one not to be missed. The series follows Catherine Cawood, a divorced mother and police sergeant based in Yorkshire, an area consumed by drugs and crime. As well as dealing with the challenging issues in her life, she focuses on bringing her daughter's attacker to justice after hearing that he has been released from prison and fears he may still present a potential threat.