There are some crime dramas that, despite their brilliance, never quite get the attention they deserve. Yes, we’ve all heard about Happy Valley and Broadchurch, but we bet Little Boy Blue and Collateral aren’t on your radar. So, we’ve decided it’s time they get the audience they deserve and have carefully selected the best-kept secret crime dramas worth watching now – and one of them is just as good as Happy Valley.
From a forgotten Sheridan Smith series to a Jodie Comer drama based on a horrifying real-life story, plus a clever adaptation of the Reverend Richard Coles’ popular novel, we’ve got a crime drama that will please even the most discerning viewers. So, forget scrolling aimlessly for something new to watch, because these are the 7 best-kept-secret crime dramas to watch now on ITV, Netflix, the BBC and more.
Little Boy Blue
ITV
As Stephen Graham dramas go, Little Boy Blue is up there with the best of them. The heart-wrenching series tells the true story of 11-year-old Rhys Jones, who was shot and killed in Croxteth, Liverpool, while walking home from football practice in 2007. Stephen steps into the shoes of Detective Superintendent Dave Kelly who led the investigation on behalf of Merseyside Police and worked tirelessly to find those involved and ensure justice was served. Expect a tough but brilliant watch. All four episodes of Little Boy Blue are available to watch now on ITVX.
Four Lives
BBC
If you’re as much of a fan of Sheridan Smith as we are, her performance in Four Lives is truly a must-watch. The three-part drama stars Sheridan as the mother of Anthony Walgate, one of the four young gay men murdered by Stephen Port between June 2014 and September 2015. When Port was convicted in 2016, a jury ruled that there had been police failures in the investigation, and had they been avoided, some of his victims might still be alive. It’s a powerful series that sensitively handles the plight of the victims’ family and friends to get justice for their loved ones. Available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.
Collateral
Netflix
When a pizza delivery man is shot dead in London, the repercussions spiral and impact each of the key characters in this four-part series. Pizza manager Laurie Stone (Hayley Squires) inexplicably sent Syrian refugee Abdullah instead of regular driver Mikey Gowans (Brian Vernel) for the delivery and Kip Glaspie (Carey Mulligan) refuses to believe it was a coincidence. Kip isn’t the only person who gets caught up in the crime: politician David Mars (John Simm) becomes embroiled thanks to his turbulent relationship with his ex Karen (Billie Piper) and Jane Oliver (Nicola Walker) is a compassionate vicar who struggles to conceal her affair with the only witness to the crime. A series that’s as good as Happy Valley. All four episodes of Collateral are available to watch on Netflix now.
Task
Sky
If you’re looking for something that will really get your heart-pumping, you’ll like Task. Set in Philadelphia, Mark Ruffalo is FBI agent, Tom Brandis, whose primary mission is to put a stop to a series of violent, well-coordinated robberies. But when the main suspect turns out to be a devoted family man, Robbie Prendergrast (Tom Pelphrey), Tom’s faced with a morally challenging dilemma: just how far should justice go when desperation meets circumstance? Task is available to watch now on Sky and NOW.
Rillington Place
BBC
Another one that’s based on scarily true events, Rillington Place tells the story of serial killer John Christie (Tim Roth). During the 1940s and 1950s, Christie murdered at least eight people, including his wife Ethel Christie (played by Samantha Morton) and his tenant Beryl Evans (Jodie Comer), inside his flat in London’s Notting Hill. Beryl’s husband Timothy Evans (Nico Mirallegro) was later wrongfully executed for her murder, before Christie’s crimes were finally uncovered. It’s dark, gripping and Jodie Comer is particularly brilliant in it. Rillington Place is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
Deadloch
Amazon Prime
For a crime drama with a comedic edge, you can’t beat Deadloch. Fastidious and hard-working Senior Sergeant Dulcie Collins (Kate Box) is thrown together with Eddie Redcliffe (Madeleine Sami), a crude and disorganised Senior Investigator and, needless to say, the pair couldn’t be more different. But despite their conflicting personalities, they must put their differences aside and learn to tolerate each other when a local man turns up dead in the sleepy Tasmanian town of Deadloch. A fantastic series that deserves far more attention. Series 1 and 2 are available to watch on Prime Video now.
Murder Before Evensong
Channel 5
Channel 5’s clever adaptation of the Reverend Richard Coles’ popular novel introduces us to Canon Daniel Clement (played by Matthew Lewis), who’s Rector of Champton. Living at the Rectory alongside his widowed mother Audrey (Amanda Redman) and two dachshunds, life is as predictable as it can be. But when he announces a plan to install a lavatory in church, the parish suddenly becomes divided – and a body is found at the back of the church. The perfect cosy crime series. Arriving on Channel 5 on Tuesday 7th October.
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