America's neighbor across the pond is responsible for some of the most riveting television series in recent history. Thanks to streaming services like Amazon Prime, Americans have better access to all the dramas and comedies produced by the best names in British television.
Police procedurals and crime thrillers are especially popular these days, and Britain gave birth to classic contributions like Luther, and Prime Suspect. However, there exists a slew of under-the-radar shows and specials just as engrossing and creepy as their better-known companions. This list delves into recent British crime miniseries you probably haven't heard of but should know.
Updated on July 11th, 2022 by George Chrysostomou: With so many new shows to explore and some underrated classics that audiences continue to overlook, these British crime series are really examples of the height of the genre. They might approach the topics at hand in intriguing and nuanced ways, but they also continue to play upon the tropes that viewers might be familiar with.
The Girl Before (2021)
Available To Stream On HBO Max
This crosses a range of genres, from a psychological thriller to a straight crime piece. Nothing is as expected in The Girl Before, which was initially created by the BBC and stars a huge range of talented actors, led by the fantastic Gugu Mbatha-Raw and David Oyelowo.
Jane begins to live with her new love interest, an architect that resides in an unusual house. Everything begins to fall apart though as she learns about the woman who once lived there before, who had actually died on the premises. The truth of her romance is about to be twisted in this British crime series.
Happy Valley (2014-2022)
Available To Stream On fubo And Crackle
Set in Yorkshire England, the police drama follows Sergeant Catherine Cawood, whose personal life is just as complex as the crimes she's tasked with solving. Starring the likes of Sarah Lancashire, Siobhan Finneran, Charlie Murphy, and James Norton, it's a who's who of British talent.
The BBC series Happy Valley is somewhat run of the mill in of its premise, but the scripts are so intelligent and the cast so charismatic that it gives a remarkably fresh spin on the familiar. While there's only a few seasons available, the door might not be closed for good.
Des (2020)
Available To Stream On Sundance Now
Des. What's so dark here is that the ITV series is based upon a true character.
Hailing from Scotland, but set in London in the early 1980s, Des revolves around the murderer Dennis Nilsen finally getting caught out. After the remains of a human were found near his home, this is an in-depth exploration of an incredibly sinister mind.
Fortitude (2015-2018)
Available To Purchase On Google Play, Prime Video, iTunes, And VUDU
Fortitude has such a star-studded lineup across its 3 seasons on Sky Atlantic that it would be easy to miss a few. Michael Gambon, Stanley Tucci, Christopher Eccleston, and Sienna Guillory are just a few of the names that make an appearance. The British crime series is set in a small town on the Arctic Circle.
As a series of crimes begin to unfold, the citizens of this tight-knit community come to the realization that the killer is amongst them. The first series takes some surprising turns, as the crimes that take place aren't of a conventional nature. The seasons spiral from there and are genuinely gripping.
Tin Star (2017-2020)
Available To Stream On Prime Video
Another Sky Atlantic series, led by the formidable Tim Roth, Genevieve O'Reilly, and Abigail Lawrie, Tin Star is another British police drama that really focuses on his family life and how the job impacts that dynamic. The series sees Jack Worth move his unit to the Canadian Rockies for a new adventure.
With elite training after a former undercover role, his whole world is put in danger when his lives collide. From the power of the church to corrupt oilmen and the criminal underworld that plagues the small town, far more happens in this sleepy Canadian community than may first appear.
Top Of The Lake (2013-2017)
Available To Purchase On Apple TV, Google Play, Prime Video, And YouTube
Elisabeth Moss stars as a newly appointed and inexperienced detective in this gripping crime drama that has 13 episodes in its 2 seasons. Top of the Lake follows Detective Griffin (Moss) as she attempts to find her footing in the position after the tragic disappearance of a pregnant teenager in a small New Zealand town.
It's a completely gripping and at times gritty crime drama that isn't as well known as it should be and is definitely worth checking out for anyone who hasn't seen it.
And Then There Were None (2015)
Available To Purchase On Google Play And Prime Video
And Then There Were None is a 3 episode miniseries based on the Agatha Christie murder mystery novel of the same name. The cast, from Aidan Turner to Sam Neill, portrays the tension of several strangers stranded on an island during a storm with a killer on the loose.
It's a completely engaging miniseries that gets lost among the countless Agatha Christie movie adaptations that have been put to film in the last century.
Paranoid (2016)
Available To Stream On Netflix
Paranoid is a little-known British crime series that follows a group investigating the violent murder of a well-liked local woman in a public park. The detectives think that the case will be a quick one to solve at the beginning until they realize that her former lover also died right before her death.
The 8 episodes delve into the mysteries of the town and the one death that began to unravel a string of conspiracies connected to the case.
Collateral (2018)
Available To Stream On Netflix
This Netflix original miniseries follows Detective Inspector Kip Glaspie (Carey Mulligan) as she investigates the murder of a pizza delivery driver as she thinks it wasn't just a random act of violence but a more sinister planned killing.
There are other engaging storylines throughout the 4 episodes from a politician (John Simm) who is caught up in the case and a vicar (Nicola Walker) who attempts to hide an affair that is also connected to the murder.
A Very English Scandal (2018-2021)
Available To Stream On Prime Video
Ben Whishaw and Hugh Grant star in this political thriller British crime miniseries based on the true story of Jeremy Thorpe (Grant) in the 1960s who was accused of murdering his ex-lover, Norman Scott (Whishaw), after he was unsure whether Scott would expose their affair.
The Amazon original will be returning in 2021 for 3 more episodes following a new scandalous story turning this miniseries into an anthology series with a new story each season. The first 3 episodes are an engaging mystery while also being surprisingly funny as well.
