It’s official: we’re a nation of crime drama obsessives and we’re proud to admit it. From Midsomer Murders to Death in Paradise, we simply can’t get enough of them, so it’s a good job there’s a whole new batch on the way. And one of them is set to be the best series since Happy Valley - we're not kidding.
From ITV’s new Shetland-esque series, The Blame, to the long-awaited return of both This City is Ours and Blue Lights, there’s heaps of brilliant stuff coming our way and we’ve got all the details you need. So, stop what you’re doing for a moment because these are the 5-star crime dramas to watch on ITV, Netflix, the BBC and more this autumn.
This City is Ours
It was one of last year’s best crime dramas (in our opinion!), so we’re rather excited about This City is Ours’ imminent return. Need a refresh? Series 1 followed Liverpool crime boss Ronnie Phelan (Sean Bean) who, after announcing his retirement from the criminal underworld, sparked an intense power struggle between his son (Jack McMullen) and his second-in-command (James Nelson-Joyce). The follow-up will introduce an old-school gangster, Ozzie Thompson (Shaun Evans), who’s fresh out of prison and wants compensation, plus Colombian cartel member Felipe Guzman (Álvaro Morte), the brother of a man murdered by the gang. Explosive is an understatement. This City is Ours series 2 will premiere on BBC One and BBC iPlayer this autumn.
Blue Lights
Six brand-new episodes of the BBC’s hit police drama are coming – and things are about to get even more stressful for our frontline police officers. Constables Grace Ellis (Siân Brooke), Tommy Foster (Nathan Braniff) and Annie Conlon (Katherine Devlin) are now operating at their limit, facing a new threat on the streets that the police can barely control. Meanwhile, the murder trial of Gerry Cliff exposes a dangerous and long-buried secret that leads to chaos both inside the police, and across the criminal underworld. As they struggle with big decisions about their future, Grace, Tommy and Annie must find the courage to carry on. Blue Lights series 4 will premiere on BBC One and BBC iPlayer this autumn.
Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story
The latest instalment of Netflix’s hit Monster anthology series is bringing us the darkest story yet. The series follows Lizzie Borden (Ella Beatty), the infamous Massachusetts woman who was accused of the 1892 axe murder of her parents. The series focuses on Lizzie’s entrapment in a house built on humiliation and cruelty and how she and her rebellious maid, Bridget Sullivan (Vicky Krieps), escape into a fantasy of sex, power and, ultimately, revenge. Expect a chilling watch. Series 4 will premiere on Netflix on Thursday 17th September.
Nocturne
Another Stephen Graham drama? Yes please! Apple TV is about to introduce to his dark side in this creepy new thriller in which he plays Jurek Walter, a cunning serial killer who wreaks turmoil on a small Pennsylvanian town. Jonah Lynn (Liev Schreiber) is the former soldier turned detective who finds that he and his family are Jurek’s latest target – and he must do whatever it takes to protect everything he holds dear. But just how far will he go? Nocturne will premiere on Apple TV on Friday 30th October.
What to read next
The Gentlemen
The spin-off to Ritchie’s 2019 film is back! The second instalment which, as far as we know, won’t star Meghan Markle, takes us back into the world of English aristocrat (Theo James) who finds himself embroiled in a world of criminality – to be specific, Bobby Glass’ (Ray Winstone) cannabis empire on the East End of London. Now, the decisions Bobby is making appear to be increasingly unsound – but should Eddie take action or risk losing everything he’s built? The Gentlemen series 2 will premiere on Netflix on Thursday 3rd September.
The Blame
The best series since Happy Valley is here! How do we know? Well, Happy Valley’s Nicola Shindler is behind it, which has given us pretty high hopes. Based on the 2023 novel of the same name by Charlotte Langley, over the course of six episodes, we follow DI Emma Crane (Michelle Keegan) and her colleague DI Tom Radley (Douglas Booth) who are called to investigate when the body of a teenage figure skater is found in the quiet town of Wakestead. What follows is pretty dark, to put it lightly, with lies, cover-ups and eerily dark secrets exposed. The Blame will premiere on ITV1 and ITVX this autumn.
MobLand
It seems the cast of ModLand have put the behind the scenes drama behind them as the series is returning with everybody on board. The new 10-part series will see Tom Hardy step back into the shoes of loyal fixer Harry da Souza, alongside Pierce Brosnan and Helen Mirren as the unscrupulous heads of the Harrigan family, Conrad and Maeve. But all is not well. We find the Harrigans struggling to show a unified front (what is it they say about art imitating life?) as rising rivals threaten their fractured criminal empire. We’re invested! MobLand series 2 will premiere on Paramount+ on Friday 18th September.
