If Nicola Walker’s return to our screens in Alice and Steve is feeling a little far off (it’s at least six months away, if that), don’t fret because the 56-year-old Unforgotten star has another superb drama that you can stream in full now. Enter Touching Evil, the ITV detective drama that is, in our opinion, like Nicola’s beloved megahit Unforgotten but darker - and, we'll say it, even better.
It might be nearly three decades old, but crime dramas genuinely don’t get much better than this Noughties favourite. Taking us along on the investigations of DI Dave Creegan (Robson Green) and his professional partner, DI Susan Taylor (played by Nicola), members of the Organised & Serial Crime Unit (OSC), it’s dark, punchy and, almost 30 years on, practically unrivalled.
With two series available to stream in full tonight, here’s everything you need to know about Touching Evil before you watch it, including the plot, cast, trailer and how to tune in.
What is Touching Evil about?
Over three equally absorbing series, which originally aired between 1997 and 1999, we follow Detective Inspector Dave Creegan (played by Robson Green) and his professional partner, Detective Inspector Susan Taylor (Nicola Walker), who are members of the Organised & Serial Crime Unit (OSC), an elite rapid-response police force. Creegan is somewhat intense and unpredictable, whereas Taylor is more balance and empathetic.
The pair find themselves dealing with all manner of crimes, from the terrifying abduction of three children to a serial killer on the loose. But what really makes the drama stand out is the way it explores the psychology of each crime; the series really gets into the minds of the criminals (and detectives), capturing the motivations behind them and the gruelling toll they take on the investigators.
In an interview with PBS Masterpiece, Nicola was asked about whether she uses any detective skills in real life, having had her fair share of experience playing one. “It's so funny with actors - I think it’s more worrying when actors have done medical dramas and they think they know what to do in a medical emergency,” she responded.
“I've said it before and I'll say it again, I would be the worst police officer because I would spend my time either a) too terrified to chase after the bad person, and b) sobbing at the cases I saw, being totally ineffectual, too emotional. The things that make you right for acting, your ability to empathise and bring emotion to the surface quite quickly, I think would make you a terrible police officer in real life.”
Who’s in the cast of Touching Evil?
The cast of Touching Evil includes:
- Nicola Walker (Collateral) as DI Susan Taylor
- Robson Green (Grantchester) as DI Dave Creegan
- Shaun Dingwall (Above Suspicion) as DC Mark Rivers
- Michael Feast (Murphy’s Law) as Commander Stephen Enwright
- Mary Cunningham (Peak Practice) as Police Psychologist Marion
- Adam Kotz (Five Daughters) as DC Jonathan Kreitman
- Andrew Scarborough (Our Girl) as DC Martin Simmons
- Saskia Downes (Coronation Street) as Kerry Creegan
- Antony Byrne (Straightheads) as Barry
- Molly Moloney (Appetite) as Ruby Creegan
Is Touching Evil any good?
Yes – if you’re an Unforgotten fan or simply enjoy a gritty detective drama, we’d highly recommend it. The characters are, without a doubt, where its genius lies. Creegan is a complex, emotionally tortured soul who has survived a near-fatal gunshot wound to the head, which explains many of his actions – and his overall demeanour. Taylor, on the other hand, brings the empathy and understanding that Creegan lacks – and, on many occasions, stops her colleague from going down an obsessive rabbit hole. Robson Green and Nicola Walker are, in our opinion, the detective duo all on-screen investigative partners should aspire to.
Is there a trailer for Touching Evil?
Yes, you can watch the trailer for Touching Evil below.
How can I watch Touching Evil?
Series 1 and 2 of Touching Evil are available to watch now on ITVX. You can also watch it on Prime Video.
What other Nicola Walker dramas can I watch now?
For one of Nicola’s best detective dramas since Touching Evil, we’d suggest Annika. DI Annika Strandhed (played by Nicola) heads up a new specialist Marine Homicide Unit (MHU), which requires her to investigate the mind-boggling murders that wash up Scotland’s waterways – and she lets us in on her wry and humorous observations along the way. Annika is available to watch on BBC iPlayer. For period drama fans, we’d recommend Mary & George. Inspired by the true story of Mary Villiers (Julianne Moore), who uses her son (Nicholas Galitzine) to seduce King James I (Tony Curran), Nicola is absolutely unmissable as Lady Elizabeth Hatton, the lady-in-waiting for the Queen consort, Anne of Denmark. You can watch Mary & George on Sky and NOW.
