As detective dramas go, they don’t get much better than Happy Valley, right? But - and we’ll say it – ITV has delivered a whole heap of them that are just as watchable. From a Broadchurch and Shetland mash-up to one of ITV’s best reboots, we’ve tracked down the detective dramas that aren’t just good – they’re beyond brilliant – and we’re here to share them with you.
For starters, Happy Valley veteran, Siobhan Finneran, brings her acting prowess to not one but two of our picks, plus Line of Duty’s Adrian Dunbar is the jazz-singing detective that dreams are made of. We’ve also got genius detective duos, gloriously escapist settings and the return of a 70s favourite. So, get ready for some investigative work as these are the 9 detective dramas to watch now on ITV.
Van der Valk
Having first launched on ITV in the 70s, Van der Valk returned in 2020 with Marc Warren starring as the titular street smart but unapologetic Dutch detective tracking down Amsterdam’s murderers. Across four series, commissioner Pet van der Valk investigates challenging cases with his colleagues in the National Police Force’s major crimes division – and the result is a series that’s hard to switch off. Available to watch now on ITVX.
McDonald & Dodds
This British series, which first aired on ITV in 2020, takes us to Bath where the smart and ambitious DCI McDonald (Tala Gouveia) and the shy but quietly brilliant DS Dodds (Jason Watkins) are the perfectly mismatched detective duo who have rather a lot of crime to solve. There’s a hot air balloon death, a body found in a railway tunnel, the death of an up-and-coming Formula 1 driver and the murder of an absconder from a local rehab clinic - to name just a few examples. Phew! Available to watch now on ITVX.
The Bay
A mash-up of Broadchurch and Shetland, all the action in The Bay happens in the coastal town of Morecombe, Lancashire, and despite the sweeping bay panoramas, it’s rather gritty. DS Jenn Townsend (Marsha Thomason) investigates a slew of crimes from the murder of a 23-year-old university student to that of a younger boxer, all of which make for compelling viewing. Happily, a sixth series is due to start filming this spring. The Bay series 1-5 is available to watch now on ITVX.
The Loch
When a Happy Valley star is in the cast of a detective drama, you know it’s going to be good. Siobhan Finneran is DCI Lauren Quigley, who’s brought in to work alongside Annie Redford (played by Laura Fraser) to track down a serial killer. The series is set on the shores of Scotland’s Loch Ness (hence the title) where a once tight-knit community finds itself pulled apart as suspicion falls on almost everyone. A twisty, atmospheric series that's just as watchable as Happy Valley. Available to watch now on ITVX.
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Murder in Provence
Fancy a trip to the south of France? Murder in Provence will whisk you off to the historic Aix-en-Provence where investigating judge Antoine Verlaque (Roger Allam) solves murder cases with his criminal psychologist girlfriend Marine Bonnet (Nancy Caroll). The series doesn’t take itself too seriously, which is the real joy of it, and we often witness the pair interviewing suspects in quaint cafés and chasing villains through lavish vineyards. Pure escapism. Available to watch now on ITVX.
Ridley
He might be synonymous with Line of Duty – but Adrian Dunbar has, in fact, got another detective show to his name which is equally brilliant. Ridley revolves around the investigations of former Detective Inspector Ridley (Dunbar), who retired after a mental breakdown following the death of his family in a fire. He's returned to duty and is working as a police consultant alongside DI Farman (Bronagh Waugh) – and, when not singing in his own jazz club, he tracks down killers, rapists and robbers. Available to watch now on ITVX.
After the Flood
Another Happy Valley star leads this popular detective drama set in the Yorkshire town of Waterside. Sophie Rundle plays detective Jo Marshall, who, in series one, has a major fire - and flood - risk to deal with, as well as the discovery of a body in mysterious circumstances. And series two doesn’t exactly go easier on her. As gripping as you’d hope. Series 1 and 2 are available to watch now on ITVX.
Fearless
The late Helen McCrory brought us too many brilliant dramas to count, but Fearless is easily one of her best. The Peaky Blinders star leads the cast as human rights lawyer, Emma, who’s renowned for taking on miscarriages of justice. And her latest? A man who's been in prison for almost 15 years after being convicted of murdering a schoolgirl - and Emma is convinced he’s innocent. Available to watch now on ITVX.
Protection
One of 2025’s best ITV series, Protection sees Siobhan Finneran (yes, again!) step into the starring role of Detective Inspector Liz Nyles, who’s caught in a security breach in her witness protection unit. While compromised by an illicit affair with a colleague, Nyles must uncover the source of corruption within the police and discover exactly who's putting her unit - and her family - in danger. Based on the first-hand experiences of a long-serving witness protection officer, it’s a smart, pacy and eye-opening series. Available to watch now on ITVX.
