British crime dramas Vera and Shetland have started being named as two of the best crime dramas on television, having rightly joined the ranks of Line of Duty, Broadchurch, and Prime Suspect — shows that have long been considered the gold standard of cop dramas in the UK.
Now, another lesser-known series is being compared to Shetland and Vera, with fans declaring the hidden gem show as good, if not better. Streaming free on Channel 4, Whitstable Pearl is being hailed as an ‘addictive and excellent’ crime drama that audiences just can’t get enough of.
The police procedural, produced and broadcast by AcornTV, is based on Julie Wassmer’s best-selling book series of the same name.
Whitstable Pearl stars Kerry Godliman in the titular role as Pearl Nolan, and Godliman is joined by Howard Charles, Frances Barber, Sophia Del Pizzo, Isobelle Molloy, and Rohan Nedd to round out a talented supporting cast.
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Kerry Godliman stars in the titular role and has been praised for her performance(Image: © 2021 AcornTV)
The British crime drama’s official plot states: “Local restaurant owner Pearl Nolan sets up a local detective agency after undergoing police training in an earlier career. She is soon embroiled in her first case when she discovers the body of her close friend Vinnie.”
Three seasons of Whitstable Pearl have been broadcast to date, with six episodes in each season. To the cast and fans’ utter dismay, AcornTV recently announced that the show had been axed and would not be returning for a fourth series, leaving many fans hankering for closure.
Critics and audiences have been left thoroughly impressed by the series, with one critic describing the show as: “A solid balance of the sombre, the suspenseful, and the cosy-mysterious.”
Another reviewer lavished praise on Godliman’s performance and talent: “British comedian Kerry Godliman finally has the lead role her talents deserve.”
Audiences are equally bowled over, with one viewer comparing it to fan-favourites Vera and Shetland: “Really liked this. I thought this was a really enjoyable show! Three episodes in and hope they do more. I found it just as entertaining as Father Brown, Vera or Shetland. Everything doesn’t have to be as deep as Broadchurch to be entertaining.”
The hidden gem series has viewers utterly hooked(Image: AcornTV)
One fan of the show commented on review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes: “Excellent! I am loving the humour, which is an unexpected bonus. The storylines are great and it’s very well acted. Most enjoyable.”
A glowing IMDB user review of the series reads: “What a great series. I swear, no one makes mystery series better than the Brits. The cast is wonderful. The setting is evocative and new to viewers. The stories are well done. Love having a cop out of his element and a strong female leading the way. I really want to see more of this series.”
While another impressed viewer commented: “Delightful. Love this series. Great characters and interesting locale with good story lines. This is a gem. Can’t wait for more episodes.”
One audience review states: “I really like this show. It is in the vein of Vera, Father Brown, etc and if you do not like those, you will not like this. I find that it is similar with a hint of sadness running through it. The leads fit and I am looking forward to seeing more. Also, the theme song fits the tone of the show perfectly.”
Another fan of the series said: “A fun and cosy mystery series. This show is for people who like mysteries set in quaint, small towns with a likeable protagonist and charming, recurring characters. It’s for people who like shows like Midsomer Murders, Doc Martin, Father Brown, New Tricks, etc. Light entertainment and (after the first episode) I’ve grown to really like the two leads.”
Whitstable Pearl is available to stream for free on Channel 4 and U.
