“A Broadchurch replacement”: 7 “underrated” crime dramas to watch now on the BBC

When it comes to crime dramas, the BBC knows what it’s doing. From Happy Valley to Shetland and Silent Witness, we’ve had our fair share of water cooler shows and yet there are some that haven’t quite got the fanfare they deserve. And that’s where we come in.

From a Broadchurch replacement to a Sheridan Smith drama and a stylised and sexy series that will far exceed your crime drama expectations, we’ve dug out the underrated BBC dramas that are well worth catching up on. Whether you’ve got a short and sweet 30 minutes or time for a full binge, these are the 7 underrated crime dramas to watch now on the BBC.

The Missing

Dive deep into the iPlayer archive and you’ll find The Missing. It’s unforgettable TV, perhaps inevitably starring James Nesbitt as Tony, the frantic father of little Oliver who gets lost while on holiday in France. A claustrophobic study of frustration, guilt and rising panic as Oliver’s parents come to terms with their son’s disappearance, seemingly into thin air. The disintegration of their relationship in the face of such terror is tenderly handled. The Missing also introduced us to lead detective Julien Baptiste, later to get his own spin off series and brilliantly played by Tchéky Karyo, whose dazzling intellect and ferocious determination means he just can’t stop searching for Oliver. The flashbacks to the packed café where Tony, momentarily distracted by the football, first loses track of Oliver are brutal viewing for any parent. Available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.

Showtrial

Celine Buckens is Talitha Campbell, the entitled, privileged and wholly unlikeable possible-murderer of goody two-shoes Hannah Ellis in this buoyant exploration of how class, gender and media influence could affect our criminal justice system. Tracy Ifeachor, currently enjoying a starring role alongside Noah Wyle in US hit medical drama The Pitt, is the righteous duty solicitor engaged to defend Talitha. Buckens is convincingly unpleasant – with her affected University pals and “look-at-me” eyeliner – and the courtroom tension is undeniably effective. If you like this, there’s a second series to tuck into straight away. Available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.

Better

If Happy Valley left you hungry for gritty Yorkshire crime, and Line of Duty whet your appetite for corrupt coppers, you can’t do much better than Better. From the producers who brought us Chernobyl, perhaps it’s not surprising that Better is not exactly a relaxing watch. There’s no shortage of on-screen chemistry between DI Lou Slack, the tough-but-contrite policewoman (played by Leila Farzard from I Hate Suzie) who rues the day she made a pact with handsome mob boss Col (played by Andrew Buchan who played the father of murdered boy Danny in series one of Broadchurch). The twists keep coming right to the bitter end – but special mention is due to the always magnetic Anton Lesser who steals the show as a super-droll retired cop whose seen it all before. Available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.

The Sixth Commandment

Comes with a trigger warning. The Sixth Commandment is based on a particularly horrible true crime, and it doesn’t flinch in its handling of deeply disturbing material. The casting is what sets it apart – Timothy Spall is never anything but magnificent, here beautifully capturing the vulnerability and dignity of Peter Farquhar, the first victim of manipulative, murderous narcissist Ben Field. The ordinariness of Farquhar’s loneliness and early affection for his killer, set against Field’s quiet cruelty, is breathtaking. When Field turns his attention to Farquhar’s neighbour Ann, played by Anne Reid at her tender-hearted, doddery best, it’s almost unbearable to watch. Available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.

Four Lives

Sheridan Smith does exactly what she does best in Four Lives: bring a tragic true story to life in such a way you’d think you were living through it. The I Fought the Law star plays the mother of Anthony Walgate, one of the four young gay men murdered by Stephen Port between June 2014 and September 2015. It’s a heart-wrenching watch that, rightly so, focuses on the plight of the victims’ family and friends to get justice for their loved ones. When Port was eventually convicted in 2016, a jury ruled that there had been failures by the police in the investigation, and had they been avoided, some of his victims may still be alive. Only Sheridan could give it the emotional punch it deserves. Available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.

The Jetty

At the other end of the crime drama spectrum, The Jetty manages to be both stylised and sexy, even though it’s set in a trademark grey-skied Lancashire town with plenty of flashbacks to grubby 90s nights out. It’s a vehicle for Jenna Coleman, who plays the detective, to come to terms with her own character’s past, and her own teenage daughter’s present, as well as solving the murder at hand. Clichés abound – there’s a local sex offender, a true-crime podcaster and a fire at the boathouse (Coleman’s character is called Ember) and the writing tries to make nuanced points about shifting gender dynamics (with varying degrees of success) but the twists are satisfying enough to keep the momentum moving. Available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.

The One That Got Away

If you liked Keeping Faith, The One That Got Away is another classy Welsh crime drama. As ever, it seems, the story starts with the murder of a young woman (this time it’s nurse Abbi) which draws investigating officer DI Ffion Lloyd (Elen Rhys) back to Pembroke, and dredges up memories of a cold case which was handled by – wait for it – her ex, DS Rick Sheldon (played by Richard Harrington of Hinterland). The two have to solve Abbi’s murder together. It’s clear from the get-go that Ffion and Rick have unfinished business – romantically and professionally. Rick’s wife – also a nurse who knew Abbi well - understandably, isn’t thrilled. Awkward. The series has been compared to Broadchurch and it’s a worthy replacement. Available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.