Move over Happy Valley, After The Flood is the “outstanding” ITV crime drama to binge tonight

Move over, Happy Valley, we’ve found the next best gritty Yorkshire-set crime drama, starring the hit show's very own Sophie Rundle as the lead detective. The ITV crime drama, After The Flood, has a completely original premise – it looks at how the climate crisis can intersect with crime and it makes for scarily existential (but exceptional) viewing. And the best part? You can watch it tonight.

The drama, which first aired in 2024, follows heavily pregnant PC Joanna Marshall (Sophie Rundle), who’s on the trail of the death of an unidentified man. She lives in Waterside, Yorkshire, a town facing the catastrophic aftermath of a flood. At first, it’s assumed he died of natural causes, but it soon becomes apparent there’s something more sinister at play.

Intrigued? Here's everything you need to know about After The Flood, including the cast, plot and how to watch it.

What is After The Flood about?

The mystery thriller After The Flood takes us to a town called Waterside in Yorkshire in the aftermath of a devastating flood, where an unidentified man is found dead in the lift of an underground car park. It’s assumed he died of natural causes, but as the investigation unfolds, it becomes apparent he died before the waters rose. Heavily pregnant PC Joanna Marshall (Sophie Rundle) becomes obsessed with finding out what happened to him.

The second six-part series picks up with the newly promoted Joanna juggling a complex murder case and motherhood. The investigation begins with a body discovered under suspicious circumstances on the moors.

Waterside faces another environmental catastrophe – this time, with the rising threat of moorland fires and the subsequent risk of further flooding. Joanna’s investigation brings her up against dark and influential forces within the town, and things take a deeply personal turn as she tries to bring down the corruption that has blighted the police force and her own family for decades.

Sophie Rundle previously spoke to The Upcoming magazine in 2024. ‘For season one, I was really excited by who Jo is – as a captain and as a protagonist. I thought it was so cool to follow this pregnant woman who runs very much towards danger rather than away from it,’ she said. ‘I also loved how it sprawled out into this community of really individual, well-drawn characters,’ she added.

Who’s in the cast of After The Flood?

The cast of After The Flood includes:

• Sophie Rundle (Gentleman Jack, Peaky Blinders) as PC Joanna Marshall
• Philip Glenister (Belgravia, Life On Mars) as property developer Jack Radcliffe
• Lorraine Ashbourne (Sherwood, Bridgerton, I Hate Suzie) as Jo’s mother, Molly
• Nicholas Gleaves (The Crown, The Rising, Bodyguard) as Sergeant Phil Mackie
• Matt Stokoe (Cursed, Jamestown) as Jo’s husband, Pat

Is After The Flood any good?

Yes – if you love a small-town murder investigation with well-developed characters, you’re going to want to watch After The Flood next. What sets the drama apart is its individuality. Rather than resorting to overworn clichés, it centres the climate crisis, highlighting the impact flooding and other catastrophes can have on communities.

Is there a trailer for After The Flood?

You can watch the trailer for After The Flood below.

View full post on YouTube

How can I watch After The Flood?

You can watch After the Flood now on ITVX.

What other crime dramas can I watch?

For some more small-town sleuthing, we’d suggest Ellis. Tenacious DCI Ellis (Sharon D Clarke) is parachuted into failing investigations across northern England. She must solve baffling murders and disappearances while dealing with hostility from the local police force. Ellis is available to watch now on Channel 5. Fancy something set further afield? Try Jack Irish. The Australian drama centres around a rugged private investigator who takes on a slew of gruesome murders and strange conspiracies. Jack Irish is available to watch now on Channel 4.