There’s nothing quite like settling into an episode of Midsomer Murders on a gloomy day. But what if we told you we’d found a series that’s even better? The Doctor Blake Mysteries is the superb detective drama which introduces us to the charming yet complicated doctor turned sleuth Dr. Lucien Blake (Craig McLachlan) – and it is, in our humble opinion, one of TV’s best hidden gems.
Dr. Blake served as a medical officer during World War II and his experience was brutal, to say the least. Now, he’s returning home to Australia to take over his late father’s medical practice, but he soon finds himself solving murder using his sharp – and unique - forensic skills. If you’re in a mood for a small-town crime drama with plenty of intrigue, we’d highly recommend tuning in.
But before you do, here’s everything you need to know about The Doctor Blake Mysteries, including the plot, cast and how to watch it.
What is The Doctor Blake Mysteries about?
The detective drama, which first aired in Australia in 2013 before coming to the UK, introduces us to Dr. Lucien Blake (Craig McLachlan), who returns home to the country town of Ballarat in Australia after 30 years to take over his late father’s medical practice. It’s 1959 and Dr. Blake is haunted by the horrors of the Second World War and changed by his experiences as a prisoner of war.
As he deals with his own personal loss, we follow the wry yet very human doctor who undertakes his other role as police surgeon with both precision and gusto, despite the fact that many find his unpredictable and unconventional manner unnerving. Dr. Blake is ahead of his time and he looks to the science of forensics and his own understanding of the human heart to help solve the many murder mysteries that inevitably come his way.
Over the course of five series, we meet several other people in Dr. Blake’s life, including his housekeeper Jean (Nadine Garner), her nephew Danny (Rick Donald), Chief Superintendent Matthew Lawson (Joel Tobeck) and a young constable, District Nurse Matilda “Mattie” O’Brien (Cate Wolfe). And despite the fact, Dr. Blake isn’t afraid to upset the status quo, which means he isn’t always popular with the local police, he becomes a pillar of the community, with the locals turning to him for medical guidance and so much more.
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Who’s in the cast of The Doctor Blake Mysteries?
The main cast of The Doctor Blake Mysteries includes:
- Craig McLachlan (Neighbours) as Dr. Lucien Blake
- Nadine Garner (High Country) as Jean Beazley
- Cate Wolfe (Offspring) as Matilda “Mattie” O'Brien
- Joel Tobeck (Perfect Strangers) as Chief Superintendent Matthew Lawson
- Rick Donald (The Dry) as Constable Daniel Parks
- Sara Gleeson (Offspring) as Joy McDonald
- Belinda McClory (Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries) as Alice Harvey
- Charlie Cousins (Blackwood) as Constable Charlie Davis
- John Wood (Blue Heelers) as Patrick Tyneman
- Craig Hall (A Place to Call Home) as Chief Supt William Munro
- John Stanton (Bay of Fires) as Douglas Ashby
- Neil Pigot (Blue Heelers) as Major Derek Alderton
- David Whiteley (Ms. Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries) as Sergeant Bill Hobart
- Ian Rooney (Fisk)as Cec Drury
- Lee Beckhurst (After the End) as Edward Tyneman
- Rodger Corser (Doctor Doctor) as Chief Supt Frank Carlyle
- Anna McGahan (In Our Blood) as Rose Anderson
- Ling-Hsueh Tang (Dustfall) as Mei Lin Blake
- Mark Mitchell (On the Beach) as Harvey Treloar
Is there a trailer for The Doctor Blake Mysteries?
Yes, you can watch the trailer for The Doctor Blake Mysteries below.
Is The Doctor Blake Mysteries any good?
Yes, there’s so much to like about The Doctor Blake Mysteries and we really do mean it when we say it’s better than our beloved Midsomer Murders. For starters, Dr. Blake is extremely likeable despite being haunted by his past and charms both the locals for answers and us as an audience. To add to that, the mysteries are genuinely compelling, and you never feel like anything is too far-fetched, unlike in some detective dramas. For those who like a blend of murder mystery and period drama, it’s a must-watch.
How can I watch The Doctor Blake Mysteries?
All 5 series of The Doctor Blake Mysteries are available to watch now on U.
What other detective dramas can I watch now?
If you’re a Silent Witness fan and you haven’t yet seen Emilia Fox’s other brilliant drama, Signora Volpe, we’d highly recommend it. The series follows ex-MI6 operative Sylvia ‘Signora Volpe’ Fox (Emilia), who moves to Italy after feeling disillusioned with her job. But it’s not long before she taps back into her sleuthing skills. You can watch Signora Volpe on U. For Shetland fans, we’d suggest The Island. The Scottish drama revolves around Family Liaison Officer Kat Crichton (Sorcha Groundsell) who has a harrowing murder investigation on her hands. The Island is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
