Gripping Reboot of Iconic Detective Drama Maigret Confirms UK Release Date — With Season 2 Already on the Way

Fans of classic crime dramas won’t have long to wait for a fresh take on one of detective fiction’s most enduring characters. The new adaptation of Georges Simenon’s Maigret, starring Benjamin Wainwright, is officially heading to UK screens this December, with a second season already confirmed for 2027.

The series has previously aired on PBS Masterpiece in the United States. Now, UKTV has secured the premiere rights to both seasons, bringing the drama to its free streaming service U and its television channel U&DRAMA as part of a wider content agreement with Banijay Rights.

Produced by Playground, the team behind acclaimed dramas including Wolf Hall and All Creatures Great and Small, the series offers a contemporary reimagining of Simenon’s legendary French detective. Early reviews have been encouraging, with the first season holding a 100% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes based on six critic reviews at the time of reporting.

With complex murder investigations, an unconventional detective and a team of loyal officers, the reboot aims to bring a familiar literary figure to a new generation of crime drama fans.

What Is Maigret About?

At the centre of the series is Jules Maigret, a gifted but unconventional detective in his mid-30s who earns a promotion to Chief Inspector in the Brigade Criminelle, the elite investigative unit of the Paris Police.

Working alongside a close-knit group of detectives known as “Les Maigrets,” he tackles a succession of challenging criminal cases across the French capital. But solving crimes is only part of the challenge: Maigret’s distinctive methods and strong personal sense of justice frequently put him at odds with his superiors and the judicial system he represents.

As he pursues some of Paris’s most calculating and violent criminals, the detective must also confront a troubled past of his own.

The series combines intricate investigations with character-driven storytelling, placing equal emphasis on the mysteries themselves and the people caught up in them. According to Simon Cox, executive vice president of content and acquisitions at Banijay Rights, the adaptation brings together compelling cases and rich character development around one of crime fiction’s most recognisable detectives.

Who Stars in the New Maigret?

Wainwright, known for Belgravia: The Next Chapter and The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, takes on the title role. His version of Maigret brings Simenon’s celebrated detective into a contemporary setting while retaining the character’s unconventional approach to investigations.

Martini, whose credits include The Gold and The Last Kingdom, plays Maigret’s wife, Louise. Her character provides an important personal connection to the detective beyond the demands of his professional life.

Harrison, recognised for The Inbetweeners, World on Fire and I Hate Suzie Too, plays Joseph Torrence.

The wider ensemble includes Reda Elazouar (Sex Education), Kerrie Hayes (The Responder and Criminal Record), Shaniqua Okwok (The Flatshare and It’s a Sin) and Rob Kazinsky (Star Trek: Section 31 and EastEnders). Together, they form the core team of detectives who work with Maigret at the Brigade Criminelle.

A Legendary Detective With a Long Television History

This is far from the first time Jules Maigret has been brought to the screen. The character originated in the novels of Georges Simenon, whose detective stories have inspired numerous television and film adaptations over the decades.

Rupert Davies played Maigret in the BBC television series that began in the 1960s. Michael Gambon later took on the role in ITV’s 1990s adaptation, before Rowan Atkinson portrayed the detective in four ITV television films released between 2016 and 2017.

The latest version takes a different approach by relocating the character to a contemporary setting, introducing his investigative methods and personal struggles to modern audiences.

When Can UK Viewers Watch Maigret?

The first season of Maigret will premiere on U and U&DRAMA in December 2026, while the second season is scheduled to follow in 2027. Both seasons have been acquired by UKTV, giving British viewers access to the new adaptation through its free streaming service and television channel.

For fans of character-led mysteries and classic detective fiction, the arrival offers a new opportunity to revisit one of the genre’s most enduring figures — this time in a modern Paris, where complex cases and difficult moral choices await at every turn.