We love a good crime drama (who can blame us when shows like Broadchurch exist?) - and when you can watch them for free on YouTube? Even better! According to an Ofcom survey, more Britons over 50 are switching to the video platform than ever before - and with a plethora of top-rated TV dramas on there, we can see why.
While it might not be time to say goodbye to "classic" TV just yet, YouTube is packed with a whole host of thrilling crime dramas – all available to watch in full, and you can view them anytime, anywhere. So, to save you time and energy, we’ve rounded up 7 of the best that you can watch right now, from ITV's Karen Pirie to the BBC's beloved Line of Duty.
Karen Pirie
When it first aired on ITV in 2022, Karen Pirie was labelled “the best police drama this year” - and for good reason. The titular Karen is a smart, quick-witted detective who doesn’t play by the old boys’ club rules. Based on Val McDermid’s best-selling novels, the drama follows the no-nonsense Scottish sleuth as she’s put in charge of investigating a 25-year-old cold case that has become the subject of a true crime podcast. Packed with twists and clever commentary on institutional bias, it really is the perfect binge-watch. Press play now for the first series on YouTube.
Vera
Cosy crime with a sharp edge, Vera is the ultimate comforting yet compelling watch. DCI Vera Stanhope (played superbly by Brenda Blethyn) is the scruffy yet sharp investigator we just can’t help rooting for. The ITV drama series, based on Ann Cleeves’ series of books, is set within the moody landscape of Northumberland, with each episode a neat, self-contained mystery. Watch along on YouTube as Vera stomps across the moors, cracking baffling cases without letting anything get in her way.
Love/Hate
Get ready to enter Dublin’s criminal underworld: first broadcast on RTÉ One in 2010, we should warn you that Love/Hate is a truly gripping watch (be prepared not to leave the sofa for a while). Centred around a crew of gangsters, the crime series has been described as Line of Duty meets The Wire – a drama that explores the humanity of this chaotic crop of characters. When a fateful event ignites tensions within the gang, family and friends are left reeling from the impact (and you’ll be too, no doubt). You can watch all of series 1 on YouTube.
Red Rock
Another Ireland-based show, Red Rock has the winning formula of a small town and very big secrets. Set in a fictional seaside location, the fast-paced police drama explores rivalry, corruption and messy relationships. When a body is discovered on Red Rock’s pier, the law-abiding Hennessys and the wealthy, shady Kielys – the town’s feuding families – are at war again. Viewers love this show for its blend of soap and crime drama, and YouTube has all of series 1.
Something Undone
![this image and the information contained herein is strictly from 4am film studios and little mama mediasomething undone: sr1: ep1 on itvxpictured: michael musi and madison walsh.this photograph is (c) 4am film studios and little mama media and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or itv plc. this photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by itv plc picture desk. this photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of itv picture desk. full terms and conditions are available on the website www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/something-undone-sr1-ep01-68937ebdae395.jpg?crop=0.368xw:0.653xh;0.616xw,0.179xh&resize=980:* "©4AM Film Studios/Little Mama Media")
Love true crime? Then ITV's dark Canadian thriller is for you – but we’d advise not to watch it alone at night! When a true crime podcast duo reopen the mystery of a cold case from the ‘80s, things suddenly start to feel a little… off. Sound effects artist Jo returns to her late mother’s empty house, only to discover something incredibly unsettling. As the series progresses, things start to seriously unravel. The whole of series 1 is available to stream on YouTube.
Line of Duty
If you haven’t watched the BBC's nail-biting police drama yet then, well, where have you been? It’s the most watched British drama of the 21st century, and deservedly so. The first series was broadcast in 2012, and introduced us to AC-12, the anti-corruption unit investigating dodgy police officers. Perhaps you want to dip your toe into the brilliant series for the first time, or rewatch from the start – either way, YouTube has all episodes of the first series.
The Loch
A classic whodunnit set around a mysterious body of water, The Loch is a twisty, atmospheric watch that arrived on ITV in 2017 and wowed audiences. When a local music teacher is found dead in a small Scottish town, detective Annie Redford (played by Laura Fraser) finds herself fronting her first murder case. Naturally, she finds it quickly escalates into a hunt for a calculated serial killer. Happy Valley's Siobhan Finneran also stars and if you’re into slow-burning mysteries, you’ll find a lot to love in the tense series, which you can stream in full on YouTube.
![from monumental television frauds sr1pictured: jodie whittaker as sam suranne jones as bert this photograph is (c) itv plc/ monumental television and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or itv plc. this photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by itv plc picture desk. this photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of itv picture desk. full terms and conditions are available on the website www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/termsfor further information please contact:michael.taiwo1@itv.com](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/frauds-sr1-first-look-03-6891d81c2d536.jpg?crop=0.428xw:0.643xh;0.0641xw,0.116xh&resize=360:* "©ITV")
