“Unforgotten’s new rival”: 7 “superb” detective dramas to watch on ITV, Netflix, the BBC and more this autumn

It’s already been an excellent year for detective dramas, but it seems the best is yet to come. The autumn schedules have been released and we've worked our way through all of them to bring you the best detective dramas the new season has to offer - and they're rather good!

From Unforgotten’s new rival to a brand-new series from the producer of Happy Valley, we’ve got your next binge-watch sorted. So, sleuths at the ready for the 7 superb detective dramas watch on ITV, Netflix, the BBC and more this autumn.

Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators

The detective drama that keeps on giving is back for a sixth instalment. The popular drama revolves around unlikely detective duo, Frank Hathaway (Mark Benton) and Lu Shakespeare (Jo Joyner) who, with the help of their assistant Sebastian Brudenell (Patrick Walshe McBride), solve thrilling cases in Stratford-upon-Avon. Only Sebastian is about to be offered his dream role in LA, which means he’s stepping out and his old friend, the “excitable” Bea Gardiner (Aruhan Galieva) is stepping in. And her arrival is sure to bring plenty of added drama. Series 6 is coming to U&Alibi this autumn.

The Blame

The Blame has none other than Happy Valley producer Nicola Shindler behind it, which is already a great start and the casting is just as brilliant. Based on Charlotte Langley's 2023 novel of the same name, the series takes us to the town of Wakestead where the body of a teenage figure skater is found. It soon becomes clear that DI Emma Crane (Michelle Keegan) and DI Tom Radley (Douglas Booth) have a murder investigation on their hands - and that there's far more to this story than first meets the eye. Coming to ITV1 and ITVX this autumn.

The Chelsea Detective

The dynamic duo of Detective Inspector Max Arnold (Adrian Scarborough) and Detective Sergeant Layla Walsh (Vanessa Emme) are back to tackle a string of mysterious cases in the upmarket West London borough of Chelsea. A cryptic double murder takes the investigation out of Chelsea and into the cut-throat world of architecture, while elsewhere a wellness and beauty salon owner is hiding a few secrets. But it’s not all doom and gloom - there’s also some romance in store for Max. Series 4 is coming to U&Drama this autumn.

Winter

ITV is going big on the detective dramas this autumn with Winter hot on the heels of The Blame. The compelling six-part series takes us to Bristol where Dr Ethan Winter (Richard Armitage) and no-nonsense detective Lauren Bell (Scholey) are a crime-fighting team to be reckoned with. There's no crime they can't solve - or so we think. Dr Winter is also secretly carrying out his own investigation concerning a traumatic event from his past - and it's a pursuit that threatens to consume him entirely. Coming to ITV1 and ITVX this autumn.

Blue Murder Motel

ITV has snapped up this glorious series, which takes us to the glorious New Zealand coast where two “former” detectives are juggling running a motel with, you guessed it, solving local murders and crimes. What should be the start of a lovely new life making their way in the hospitality business is far from it as Vinny (Michala Banas) and Cole (Brett Tucker) are confronted with a constant stream of crimes associated with their new motel. Think missing people, poisonings and freak accidents. Life at the Blue Murder Hotel is far from straightforward! Coming to ITVX this October.

The Real Unforgotten

If you’re a fan of Unforgotten (pictured above), you’ll want to meet its new rival in the form of The Real Unforgotten. While, admittedly, it’s less drama and more reality, the two-parter delves into real-life cold cases that have been the inspiration for the ITV series starring Sanjeev Bhaskar and Sinéad Keenan. Focusing on the case of murdered Linslade shopkeeper, Carol Morgan, it will examine how detectives finally pieced together a 43-year-old murder case - exactly like we see in Unforgotten - only it actually happened. Coming to Netflix on Wednesday 9^th September.

Shetland

The beloved show, which made it into the top five most viewed BBC dramas of 2025, is finally returning for series 11. The Crown’s Stella Gonet (remember Margaret Lambert, anyone?), Sherwood’s Christine Bottomley and This City is Ours’ Kevin Harvey are among the fresh faces joining our lead detectives DI Ruth Calder (Ashley Jensen) and DI 'Tosh' McIntosh (Alison O'Donnell) – and their arrival is set to shake things up. When a decomposed body is found in the boot of a car that’s been sunk, it dredges up a historic case that will prove monumental to everyone involved. Coming to BBC One and BBC iPlayer this autumn.