A new week is upon us and if you’re planning a bit of TV time (who isn’t?), we’re here to save you from a whole lot of scrolling. We’ve scoured the schedules for the very best crime dramas you can watch right now – and there’s something to suit every mood.
From what we’re calling the new Death in Paradise to Helen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan’s return to our screens, plus a new drama from the writer of Happy Valley, we’ve got plenty to see you through the week – and beyond. So, remotes at the ready for our pick of 7 fantastic crime dramas to watch now on Netflix, ITV, the BBC and more.
Mobland
Paramount+’s hit crime drama is back and it doesn’t disappoint. The new 10-part series sees Tom Hardy return as loyal fixer Harry da Souza, alongside Pierce Brosnan and Helen Mirren as the unforgiving heads of the Harrigan family, Conrad and Maeve. When we meet the Harrigans again, we find them struggling to show a unified front as rivals threaten their fractured criminal empire, and let’s just say Harry has his work cut out. Available to watch now on Paramount+.
The Blame
The best series since Happy Valley is coming! Nicola Shindler (Happy Valley producer) is behind this new ITV series, which is based on the 2023 novel of the same name by Charlotte Langley. The six-parter introduces us to 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. No spoilers, but what follows involves lies, cover-ups and some pretty dark secrets. Arriving on ITV1 and ITVX at 9pm on Sunday 20th September.
Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story
One for true crime fans, the latest instalment of Netflix’s popular Monster anthology series has just arrived and it’s the darkest story yet. The events revolve around Lizzie Borden (Ella Beatty), the Massachusetts woman who was accused of the 1892 axe murder of her parents. The series focuses largely on what led up to it; Lizzie’s entrapment in a house built on humiliation and cruelty, as well as the relationship she built with her rebellious maid, Bridget Sullivan (Vicky Krieps), and their escape into a fantasy of sex, power and revenge. It’s seriously chilling. Available to watch on Netflix now.
The Chelsea Detective
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. There’s also some romance in store for Max, so there’s plenty of light relief. Series 4 is available to watch now on U.
Forever Home
Is there no end to Graham Norton’s talents? His 2022 novel has been turned into a TV series and it’s excellent viewing. At the centre of it is Carol (Amy Nuttall) who discovers a body hidden in the basement of her home and realises she’s living with a killer. The story that her husband’s first wife ran away never to be seen again now looks like a lie - and the fact he’s insisted on never selling the house suddenly makes sense. But that’s not even the half of it… The full series is available to stream now on 5.
Coastal Unit
Love Death in Paradise? Fans have called this sun-soaked series the new (albeit French) iteration of it. The drama takes us to the south of France where we meet unlikely detective duo Iris (Lucia Passaniti), a young stickler for the rules, and Victor (Bruno Salomone), an old-school cop of few words. Together, they must resolve their differences to take on a series of mysteries – from the death of a brilliant Parisian chef to a murder in an escape room. A glorious series! Available to watch now on Channel 4.
Art Detectives
This brilliantly original crime series is now available to watch on the BBC. The series is set within the London Metropolitan Police’s smallest department - the fictional Heritage Crime Unit, headed up by art lover DCI Mick Palmer (Stephen Moyer). His only colleague is the tenacious, young detective DI Shazia Malik (Nina Singh) who's keen to learn the ropes. Together, as a mismatched but efficient team, they get to work solving brutal murders connected to the art world. Think Old Master paintings and medieval manuscripts. Available to watch now on BBC iPlayer and U.
