{"id":434772,"date":"2026-05-19T09:22:15","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T09:22:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/434772\/"},"modified":"2026-05-19T09:22:15","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T09:22:15","slug":"best-new-bbc-detective-drama-this-year-daniel-mays-brilliant-police-procedural-to-binge-tonight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/434772\/","title":{"rendered":"Best new BBC detective drama this year! Daniel Mays’ brilliant police procedural to binge tonight"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lynley, a reboot of a classic crime series that landed on the BBC earlier this year, is probably one of the best new (not returning!) detective dramas to arrive to the broadcaster in 2026, winning praise from fans<\/a> who hailed it as “brilliant”. <\/p>\n

Based on Elizabeth George’s collection of Inspector Lynley novels, the titular detective is played by Leo Suter (Vikings: Valhalla, Sanditon) and in typical mismatched crime-fighting duo fashion, he’s paired with DS Barbara Havers (played by Ted Lasso and Prime Target star Sofia Barclay) \u2013 and their methods quickly clash. <\/p>\n

They are overseen by Daniel Mays’ DCI Brian Nies, who from the get-go appears to have something of a chip on his shoulder when it comes to the station’s new transfer, DI Thomas Lynley. <\/p>\n

\"daniel<\/p>\n

BBC<\/p>\n

The first episode of the crime drama starts with a genre-typical cold open, setting up a whodunnit that will immediately get the armchair sleuths in the audience guessing. With only four episodes to get through, Lynley could just be your next binge-watch \u2013 and you could easily get through it all in one night, if you so wished. <\/p>\n

At the time of Lynley’s premiere on the BBC, Digital Spy credited the equal approach to the main characters of Lynley and Havers, giving them each layers of characterisation, also saying that their storylines were “elevated by Suter and Barclay’s performances and chemistry”.<\/p>\n

“While Lynley isn’t going to go down as a groundbreaking or game-changing show, it’s a solid case-of-the-week that will surely be as enjoyable for fans of the original story as it is for a broader cosy crime audience,” our review<\/a> added. <\/p>\n

\"daniel<\/p>\n

BBC<\/p>\n

Who is in Lynley on the BBC?<\/p>\n

The cast of Lynley includes: <\/p>\n

\u2022 Leo Suter as DI Tommy Lynley
\u2022 Sofia Barclay as DS Barbara Havers
\u2022 Daniel Mays as DCI Brian Nies
\u2022 Michael Work\u00e9y\u00e8 as DC Tony Bekele
\u2022 Niamh Walsh as Helen Clyde
\u2022 Joshua Sher as Simon St James
\u2022 Rosalyn Wright as Maia Saunders
\u2022 Oliver Wellington as Leo Hodgson
\u2022 Sophie Harkness as Gemma Swift
\u2022 Helene Maksoud as Susan Myerson
\u2022 Eloise Thomas as Cynthia
\u2022 Nadia Parkes as Sofia
\u2022 Jack Archer as Frazer
\u2022 Tom Forbes as Gareth<\/p>\n

\"sofia<\/p>\n

BBC<\/p>\n

What’s been said about Lynley? <\/p>\n

The detective show currently sits with an impressive 91% score on Rotten Tomatoes<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Guardian<\/a>‘s three-star review branded it “the ultimate undemanding telly”, while Wall Street Journal<\/a> said it was “a beautiful-looking show” that “becomes increasingly absorbing along the way…”<\/p>\n

“Lynley is a worthy successor to The Inspector Lynley Mysteries, and a perfect chaser to some of the other gritty crime series BritBox has debuted this year,” wrote Collider<\/a>, who also concluded that the reboot delivered a “fresh take on one of the best British mysteries of the ’00s”. <\/p>\n

Lynley is available on BBC iPlayer now.
<\/p>\n

Visit our Streaming Guide<\/a> now to see at a glance where you can view ALL your favourite shows and movies.<\/p>\n

The new edition of Living Legends, a collector’s edition exploring the royal family, is here! Buy The Royals in newsagents or online<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Headshot<\/p>\n

TV Editor, Digital Spy<\/a> Laura has been watching television for over 30 years and professionally writing about entertainment for almost 10 of those. \u00a0Previously at LOOK and now heading up the TV<\/a> desk at the UK’s biggest TV and movies site Digital Spy, Laura has helped steer conversations around some of the most popular shows on the box. Laura has appeared on Channel 5 News and radio to talk viewing habits and TV recommendations. \u00a0As well as putting her nerd-level Buffy knowledge to good use during an IRL meet with Sarah Michelle Gellar, Laura also once had afternoon tea with One Direction, has sat around the fire pit of the Love Island villa, spoken to Sir David Attenborough about the world’s oceans and even interviewed Rylan from inside the Big Brother house (housemate status, forever pending).\u00a0<\/p>\n

linkedIn<\/a>
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