Not many detective dramas can compete with the brilliance of Broadchurch, but there is one series that gives it a good run for its money. Introducing Paranoid, the perfectly-cast series that revolves around the brutal murder of a female GP in a busy children’s playground - and will seriously toy with your emotions.
The series, which is just as good as Broadchurch, takes us to the fictional town of Woodmere in Cheshire, which is rocked (to say the least) by the murder of Dr. Angela Benton. As detectives (played brilliantly by the likes of Indira Varma and Lesley Sharp) investigate the case, they soon find themselves dealing with a complex international conspiracy.
Intrigued? Before you tune in, here's everything you need to know about Paranoid, including the plot, cast and how to watch it.
What is Paranoid about?
The eight-part series, which first aired on ITV in 2016, takes us to the fictional town of Woodmere, Cheshire, where a well-known GP, Dr. Angela Benton (Emma Bispham), takes her three-year-old son to a busy playground. The everyday scene soon turns sinister, however, as a hooded man stabs her to death and spares her son.
A team is quickly assembled to investigate the case, with each of them hell-bent on capturing the killer. We meet Bobby Day (Robert Glenister), an experienced detective battling with mental health issues; Nina Suresh (Indira Varma), an intelligent and empathetic detective with relationship problems; Alec Wayfield (Dino Fetscher), the youngest member of the team; Michael Niles (Neil Stuke); a straight-talking police chief and Linda Felber (Christiane Paul), a warm German detective who ends up joining the team when the case transcends international borders.
Importantly, an eyewitness statement from the owner of a local garden centre, Lucy Cannonbury (Lesley Sharp), who saved Angela's son, divides Nina and Bobby. Bobby is more willing to accept her account of what happened at the park, while it troubles Nina - so what actually went on that day? As the team are catapulted into complex international conspiracy, there are twists aplenty, a complicated love affair and mysteriously worded clues from a ‘Ghost Detective’.
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Who’s in the cast of Paranoid?
The cast of Paranoid includes:
- Indira Varma (Luther) as Nina Suresh
- Robert Glenister (Sherwood) as Bobby Day
- Neil Stuke (Game On) as Michael Niles
- Linda Felber (The Wave) as Christiane Paul
- Dino Fetscher (Fool Me Once) as Alec Wayfield
- Lesley Sharp (Red Eye) as Lucy Cannonbury
- Michael Maloney (Magpie Murders) as Dr Crowley
Is there a trailer for Paranoid?
Yes, you can watch the trailer for Paranoid below.
How can I watch Paranoid?
You can watch Paranoid on Netflix now.
Is Paranoid any good?
Yes! While at first, the series appears to follow traditional detective drama tropes, the ante is upped at lightning speed as details of the conspiracy at the heart of it start to be revealed. The casting is superb and it has all the shock twists and emotional devastation of Broadchurch, so while it's not for the fainthearted, we're confident fans will enjoy it.
What other detective dramas can I watch now?
If you’re after something dark and gritty, The Marnow Murders is a must-watch. The series revolves around detective duo, Lona Mendt (Petra Schmidt-Schaller) and Frank Elling (Sascha Alexander Gersak), who must get to the bottom of a string of gruesome murder cases that plague a small town in northeastern Germany. You can watch all episodes of The Marnow Murders now on Channel 4. If you're a Broadchurch fan, we'd suggest checking out Cardinal. The drama takes us to a small town in Northern Ontario where Detective John Cardinal (Billy Campbell) returns to the homicide unit after a demotion - and now has series of dark murders on his hands. You can watch Cardinal on U.
