A ‘delightful’ and ‘wonderful’ comedy crime drama series on Channel 4 has viewers drawing comparisons with Death in Paradise and Beyond Paradise — and fans of the genre are obsessed.
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Fans have called the series a ‘delightful gem’ and they’re completely hooked(Image: © 2021 Zoe Productions Designated Activity Company)
As far as comedy crime dramas go, few have done it better than Death in Paradise and its spin-off Beyond Paradise. Both the BBC series have carved their own niche within the British police procedural genre, giving fans a light-hearted and cosy take on what is usually a serious sub-category.
Now, a ‘delightful and wonderful’ comedy crime drama series is streaming for free on Channel 4 and fans can’t help but draw favourable comparisons.
AcornTV’s Harry Wild is capturing the hearts (and imaginations) of audiences world-over, with viewers heaping glowing praise on the series.
The Irish detective comedy-drama has been created by David Logan, who co-wrote it with Irish author Jo Spain. The show has been co-directed by Robert Quinn, Rob Burke, Ronan Burke, and Emer Conroy.
The light-hearted crime drama stars Jane Seymour as Harriet ‘Harry’ Wild, and both critics and audiences have praised her stellar and ‘dynamic’ performance on the series, calling it ‘a joy to watch’. Seymour is joined by Rohan Nedd, Kevin Ryan, Rose O’Neill, Amy Huberman and Danielle Ryan to round out a talented cast.
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Jane Seymour plays the titular character in the comedy crime drama(Image: © 2021 AcornTV LLC & AMC Film Holdings LLC. All rights reserved.)
Harry Wild’s official plot states: “A recently retired English professor discovers a real knack for investigation and cannot help but interfere with the cases assigned to her police detective son.”
Streaming free on Channel 4. The series has five seasons and first premiered on AcornTV in April 2022. The second series hit airwaves in October 2023, followed by a third season which started broadcasting on television in May 2024.The fourth series premiered in May 2025, and a fifth instalment recently premiered on June 22, with a new episode releasing each week.
Critics have largely been impressed with the series, with one reviewer writing: “Jane Seymour is such a joy to watch that this slight and slightly silly amateur-sleuth series immediately becomes something you could easily idle away a couple of hours on.”
Another critic said of the show: “The addition of Joe Lando has given Harry Wild a new dynamic, and we’re looking forward to seeing him and Jane Seymour working together in the show’s fifth season.”
While one reviewer said: “Harry Wild stars a very game Jane Seymour in the most dynamic role she’s had in some time. But the mysteries and backstories need to be tightened up for the show to succeed.”
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The ‘wonderful’ and ‘cosy’ crime series is available to stream free on Channel 4(Image: © 2021 Zoe Productions Designated Activity Company)
Audiences absolutely adore the series, with one viewer posting on IMDB: “A Gem! Jane Seymour is wonderful in this comedy as Harry Wild, a recently retired English professor. Harry is not some old stodgy retiree but a vibrant, sassy and often hilarious amateur sleuth who can’t help but correct improper grammar even when dangerous situations arise. This series delivers it all; comedy, mystery, heart, in a well-acted and filmed package.”
One user review on IMDB says Harry Wild is better than Death in Paradise: “I put this on in the background just because, and I expected it to be just as cheesy as Death in Paradise or Beyond Paradise, which let’s face it, are OK. They are mediocre at best. This is a little better, and reminds me of reruns of Murder She Wrote.
“The acting in this is much better, I mean it does have Jane Seymour in it… it is well written and the dialogue, more often than not, is realistic. Overall it’s not a bad show and kind of sucks you in to watch it. You don’t know why… you just do.”
While one viewer’s review on Rotten Tomatoes says: “I’m not used to watching TV shows based in Ireland so I didn’t know exactly what to expect. Harry Wild is a well-acted, well written and funny series. I especially like Jane Seymour’s character. I love that she is an incredibly intelligent, feminine (tough and soft) and a no holds bar type of older woman.”
Another impressed fan says: “Cozy wonderful mystery. Full of lovable characters. Funny, intelligent, captivating and easy to escape into.”
While one glowing review reads: “Delightful. This type of show has been done a million times, but this one is delightful in its simplicity, dry wit, and lack of dark character pasts that ruin the characters. Altogether fresh and entertaining. I love it and hope it continues for many more seasons. And I truly pray they change NOTHING.”
Harry Wild is available to stream for free on Channel 4.
