Better than Happy Valley: 7 must-watch crime dramas coming to the BBC, Netflix, ITV and more

It’s official: we’re a nation of crime drama addicts and we’re not ashamed to admit it. From Line of Duty to Unforgotten, we simply can’t get enough of them, so it’s a good job there’s a whole new batch on the way. And they might even rival some of our old favourites (we’re looking at you Happy Valley!)

From Netflix’s harrowing teenager murder story, Adolescence, to the long-awaited return of both Bergerac and The Night Manager, there’s heaps of brilliant stuff coming and we’ve got all the details you need. So, stop what you’re doing because these are the crime dramas you need to know about...

Virdee

When it comes to crime drama, the BBC does it pretty damn well (hello Happy Valley, Line of Duty) and its latest offering is no exception. Based on author AA Dhand’s bestselling crime novels, Virdee follows Detective Harry Virdee (Staz Nair), a dedicated cop whose personal life is as complicated as the cases he investigates. His interfaith marriage has led to estrangement from his Sikh family, while on the streets of Bradford, gang rivalries are spiralling out of control. Arriving on BBC One on Monday 10th February

Adolescence

If there’s a combination we can get on board with, it’s Stephen Graham in a crime drama. This four-parter tells the story of how a family’s world is turned upside down when 13-year-old Jamie Miller (Owen Cooper) is arrested for the murder of a teenage girl who goes to his school. Graham plays Jamie’s father and ‘appropriate adult’, Ashley Walters is Detective Inspector Luke Bascombe and Erin Doherty is the clinical psychologist assigned to Jamie’s case. We’re not saying this will be the easiest watch, but will it have the nation hooked? Absolutely. Arriving on Netflix on 13th March

Code of Silence

Former Strictly winner Rose Ayling-Ellis leads the cast of this six-part drama as Alison Woods, a Deaf catering worker who’s struggling to make ends meet while supporting her Deaf mother Julie. Only things are about to change - and quite dramatically. Working in a police canteen, she’s plunged into a new and exhilarating world when DC Ashleigh Francis calls on her to lip-read the conversations of dangerous criminals. A brilliant storyline that puts the spotlight on the Deaf community. Arriving on ITV1 this spring.

Protection

Happy Valley’s Siobhan Finneran and Peaky Blinders’ Charlotte Riley have teamed up for this crime thriller, based on the first-hand experiences of a long-serving witness protection officer. Finneran’s character, Detective Inspector Liz Nyles, finds herself at the heart of a breach of the system - but can she uncover the source of corruption within her unit? Arriving on ITV1 and ITVX this spring.

The Night Manager

Nine years on from that explosive finale, The Night Manager is officially returning and we couldn’t be happier about it. Based on John le Carré's novel of the same name, the crime drama follows the work of former British soldier and hotel night manager Jonathan Pine (Tom Hiddleston) - and we’re relieved to confirm that Tom is reprising his iconic role alongside Olivia Colman as Angela Burr, plus Alistair Petrie, Douglas Hodge, Michael Nardone and Noah Jupe. Will it be the TV highlight of the year? Almost definitely. Arriving on BBC One and iPlayer this year.

Bergerac

The reboot of the '80s BBC drama is almost here and with a cast including Zoë Wanamaker and Philip Glenister, we’ve got high hopes. Our new Bergerac will be played by Being Human and Brassic actor Damien Molony, as a washed-up detective haunted by flashbacks of a tragic past. Could it possibly be as good as the original? Let’s see… Arriving on U&Drama on Thursday 27th February

High Potential

Finally, a series that lets us indulge our crime-solving fantasies! Written by Drew Goddard (The Good Place), this new 10-part series follows Morgan, a feisty single mum of three who swaps cleaning for crime-solving – and it really is as binge-worthy as it sounds. Plus, the best part is you don’t have to wait for it to arrive, because it’s available to watch now. Happy streaming. Available to watch on Disney+ now

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