Originally by Ranker TVList RulesVote up your favorite British TV shows that feature detectives - professional and amateur.
This list of the best British detective series is ranked by British TV fans just like you! Who doesn't love a good detective series? It seems like every few months Britain is putting out the newest, most buzzed about detective show on television. This list ranks the all-time top British mystery series, from classic series like Poirot to modern hits like Luther, so you'll always know what to binge watch next. What are the best British detective series of all time tackling the best weekly whodunit mysteries?
From Sherlock to classic British detective shows like Agatha Christie's Marple, these great British series will have you solving crimes and mysteries along with your favorite TV detectives. Many of the shows listed here are BBC detective series, while other British mysteries debuted on different British networks. In the states, you can catch many of them on your PBS station, while others are streaming on Netflix or available through Acorn TV. No matter how you watch television, you know detective series are some of the best British TV shows out there.
This list features the most popular British detective series including Sherlock, The Last Detective, Agatha Christie’s Marple, Foyle’s War, Wallander, and Inspector Lewis. Vote up the British detective shows you love the most, so other fans of the genre won't have to go sleuthing for the best.
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1
6,7212,271Foyle's War
Michael Kitchen, Honeysuckle WeeksThis series is a British detective drama television series set during and shortly after WWII,... more
2
8,2652,562Endeavour
Shaun Evans, Roger AllamEndeavour is a British television detective drama series. It is a prequel to the long-running... more- 36,3392,062
Vera
Brenda Blethyn, Jon MorrisonVera is a British detective television series based on the works of crime author Ann Cleeves.... more - 45,6671,862
Shetland
Douglas Henshall, Alison O'DonnellShetland is a BBC Scotland crime drama television series starring Douglas Henshall as... more - 57,3113,312
Father Brown
Mark Williams, Sorcha CusackFather Brown is a British television period drama which began airing on BBC One on 14 January... more - 66,6222,422
Agatha Christie's Poirot
David Suchet, Hugh FraserAgatha Christie's Poirot is a British television drama that aired on ITV from 8 January 1989... more - 76,6302,542
Inspector Morse
John Thaw, Peter WoodthorpeInspector Morse is a British detective drama television series based on a series of novels by... more - 83,9481,784
Miss Marple
Joan Hickson, Gwen WatfordMiss Marple is a British television series based on the Miss Marple murder mystery novels by... more - 97,1782,481
Broadchurch
David Tennant, Olivia ColmanBroadchurch (ITV, 2013) is a British serial crime drama television series created by Chris... more - 107,0462,016
Inspector Lewis
Kevin Whately, Laurence FoxLewis is a British television detective drama produced for ITV. A spin-off from Inspector... more - 114,5061,993
Inspector George Gently
Martin Shaw, Lee InglebyInspector George Gently is a British television series produced by Company Pictures for BBC... more - 122,9801,349
Sherlock Holmes
Jeremy Brett, Charles GraySherlock Holmes is the name given to the TV series of Sherlock Holmes adaptations produced by... more - 138,0722,875
Midsomer Murders
Suzi Quatro, John NettlesThis is a British television detective drama that has aired on ITV since 1997. The show is... more - 148,0933,754
Sherlock
Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin FreemanSherlock (BBC One, 2010) is a British crime television series created by Steven Moffat and... more - 155,4902,741
Grantchester
James Norton, Robson GreenGrantchester is a British ITV detective drama, set in the 1950s Cambridgeshire village of the... more - 163,5071,771
The Bletchley Circle
Anna Maxwell Martin, Rachael StirlingThe Bletchley Circle is a television mystery drama miniseries, set in 1952–53, about four... more - 174,5592,248
Happy Valley
Sarah Lancashire, Steve PembertonHappy Valley (BBC One, 2014) is a British crime drama television series created by Sally... more - 183,7372,049
Agatha Christie's Marple
Geraldine McEwan, Julia McKenzieAgatha Christie's Marple is a British ITV television series based on the books and short... more - 194,7652,805
Death in Paradise
Kris Marshall, Danny John-JulesDeath in Paradise (BBC One, 2011) is a British-French crime drama television series created by... more - 204,0632,006
DCI Banks
Stephen Tompkinson, Jack DeamDCI Banks is a British crime drama series produced by Left Bank Pictures for the ITV network.... more - 213,0321,272
Unforgotten
Sanjeev Bhaskar, Trevor EveUnforgotten is a British crime drama television series, which initially aired on ITV on 8... more - 223,1841,786
A Touch of Frost
David Jason, Bruce AlexanderA Touch of Frost is a television detective series produced by Yorkshire Television for ITV... more - 233,1711,850
Rosemary & Thyme
Felicity Kendal, Pam FerrisRosemary & Thyme is a British television mystery series starring Felicity Kendal and Pam... more - 243,3331,712
Line of Duty
Keeley Hawes, Lennie JamesLine of Duty is a British police drama, created by Jed Mercurio, which aired on BBC Two 26... more - 252,8641,887
The Inspector Lynley Mysteries
Nathaniel Parker, Sharon SmallThe Inspector Lynley Mysteries is a series of BBC television programmes about Detective... more
