If you have an Ashley Jensen-shaped hole in your TV schedule and, like us, are missing DI Ruth Calder, solving Shetland’s mystifying cases, and the Cotswolds’ amateur sleuth, Agatha Raisin, cracking all sorts of strange murder mysteries, we bring good news. We’ve worked our way through the Scottish actor’s back catalogue to find you more of her brilliant work.
From her best series since Shetland to a cat-and-mouse legal thriller and unrivalled 2000s nostalgia, we’ve got your next Ashley Jensen fix covered. So, remotes at the ready, here are seven of her superb dramas to watch now on ITV, Netflix, the BBC and more.
The Escape Artist
Expect a rollercoaster ride for this three-part thriller starring Ashley Jensen as Kate, the loyal wife to Will Burton (David Tennant), a hotshot defence lawyer who’s never lost a case. They seemingly have it all – a beautiful London home, a supportive marriage and a place in the country where they spend weekends with their dog and son. But when he exonerates Liam Foyle (Toby Kebbell), the prime suspect in a chilling murder case, things take a sinister turn… You can watch The Escape Artist now on ITVX.
Agatha Raisin
In this cosy crime drama, Ashley Jensen proves her sleuthing credentials again as Agatha Raisin, an amateur investigator in the Cotswolds. The series, which first aired on Sky in 2014, follows Agatha, a newcomer to the village of Carsley after leaving behind her fast-paced London life, where she worked as a PR executive. But her dreams of a quieter life are short-lived: when a quiche competition turns deadly, Agatha is determined to prove her innocence and get to the bottom of it. Upon investigating, she learns she has a natural knack for cracking crime cases and she soon becomes the village’s very own sleuth, solving an array of cases ranging from the death of a field rambler to the discovery of a human torso at the Winter Fayre’s hog roast. You can watch Agatha Raisin now on Acorn TV via Prime Video.
Ugly Betty
If you’re looking for escapism and need a dose of 2000s nostalgia, Ashley delivers an unforgettable performance in Ugly Betty as Christina McKinney, a seamstress and budding fashion designer at the ruthless New York fashion magazine, MODE. Christina becomes an important confidante to the show’s lead, Betty (America Ferrera), an unstylish assistant, and they both struggle as outsiders in the cut-throat fashion industry. The women find themselves under the rule of the show’s brilliant antagonist, Wilhelmina Slater (Vanessa Williams), the publication’s scheming creative director. It’s stylish, scandalous and so much fun. You can watch Ugly Betty now on Disney+.
Shetland
In 2022, Ashley Jensen joined the Shetland cast as a new lead, DI Ruth Calder, a seasoned Metropolitan police detective who reluctantly returns to the islands, where she grew up. The detective drama, inspired by Ann Cleeves’ novels, follows DI Ruth and DI ‘Tosh’ McIntosh (Alison O’Donnell) as they investigate grisly crimes that plague the remote islands – from the killing of an elderly woman to the disappearance of a young girl. You can watch Shetland now on BBC iPlayer.
After Life
Ashley stars alongside Ricky Gervais in the genius comedy-drama After Life, which first aired on Netflix in 2019 - and we think it's her best series since Shetland! The series follows Tony (Ricky) a gruff local journalist who’s struggling to carry on after the death of his wife. Ashley plays Emma, a nurse at Tony’s dad’s nursing home, and the two develop a deep friendship as he goes to visit his dad each day. It’s painfully sad and hysterically funny in equal measure, as the show navigates difficult themes of grief and loss. You can watch After Life now on Netflix.
Extras
Everyone’s favourite duo, Ricky and Ashley, are co-stars again in Extras – a hysterical series that first aired on BBC Two in 2005. Ricky Gervais plays Andy Millman who, having given up his day job to be an actor, finds he just can’t land the big parts. The serial extra is left green-eyed as he hangs around with the other acting rejects in the glow of A-List stars including Ben Stiller, Ross Kemp, Kate Winslet, Les Dennis, Samuel L. Jackson and Patrick Stewart. Ashley plays Maggie Jacobs, Andy’s best friend and fellow extra. You can watch all episodes of Extras now on BBC iPlayer.
Catastrophe
If you’re in the mood for some (unconventional) romance, Ashley plays Fran in the romantic comedy, Catastrophe, which revolves around Sharon (Sharon Horgan) and Rob (Rob Delaney) who have to navigate becoming parents together after a one-night stand. Ashley plays Sharon’s frenemy, whose on-again-off-again relationship with Chris (Mark Bonnar) is a central plotline across the four series. You can watch Catastophe now on Disney+.
