There’s nothing quite like getting sucked into an addictive crime drama. The genre has, in my opinion, produced some of the best television ever made, from Breaking Bad and The Sopranos to Happy Valley and Broadchurch.
But in today’s streaming era, with thousands of releases every year, brilliant shows are quickly forgotten or even fly under the radar completely. So even if you’re a crime drama superfan, there are some excellent series that have probably passed you by.
I’ve rounded up a list of hidden gems that are a must-watch for any crime drama enthusiast.
© BBC/UKTV/Graeme HunterNicola Walker plays a detective in this Scotland-set drama
Annika
You know you’re in safe hands when Nicola Walker is on the screen. Thanks to her roles in Unforgotten, Spooks and The Split, the actress has earned her reputation as the queen of TV dramas.
Annika is another gem in her endless canon of compelling shows – and if you haven’t yet seen it, what are you waiting for?
The series follows Detective Inspector Annika Strandhed, the sharp and witty head of Glasgow’s Marine Homicide Unit, as she investigates brutal murders that wash up in the waterways of Scotland.
Set against Scotland’s dramatic coastal landscapes, the show blends atmospheric crime drama with dry humour, while breaking the fourth wall with Fleabag-style narration.
Annika is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
© Apple TVTaron Egerton stars in the Apple TV drama
Blackbird
Apple TV+ is home to a number of criminally underrated shows that are sometimes overlooked in today’s relentless streaming wars. From Trying to Bad Monkey and Drops of Gold, there are plenty of hidden gems on offer – and Blackbird is undoubtedly one of them.
Inspired by true events, this compelling six-part miniseries stars Taron Egerton as Jimmy Keene (Taron Egerton), a charming high school football hero who is sentenced to ten years in a minimum security prison for drug offences. When the FBI notices his impressive social skills, they offer him the chance to walk free if he transfers to a prison for the criminally insane and gets a confession out of suspected serial killer Larry Hall.
Blackbird is available to stream on Apple TV.
