Broadchurch, Sherlock, Foyle's War, Shetland, and Inspector Morse's prequel, Endeavour would have made my list. Though, I'll grant that I've yet to see some of the classics that made this list.
@@leann848 I hadn't actually seen Lewis yet when I made the previous comment, but now that I have, yes, it absolutely would make my list! Also, Life on Mars, which I forgot to mention for some reason.
UK does crime drama best - a top 10 doesn't allow for all the great crime drama shows to come out of the UK. I think all the series listed are the intense crime dramas. But the UK, but especially ITV, have some really excellent long running detective series that are family favourites - they keep you guessing with a neat little twist at the end... Not a crime drama, but I enjoyed The Thin Blue Line with Rowan Atkinson. I also enjoyed Jonathan Creek & Blue Murder. Two spin offs from Morse - Endeavour (Morse prequel) & Lewis (post Morse). There was also a very unusual & clever crime drama with time travel - Crime Traveller. A touch of Frost was also excellent. And I adored Sherlock & Shetland, and (of course) Vera. Both Shetland & Vera based on books by Anne Cleeves. Her third series The Long Call was also adapted for tv (only 1 season though). The PD James adaptations were also very well done. Midsomer Murders is excellent (except by the end of the show almost half a village has been murdered - it seems the murder rate in small villages in rural UK is very high!). The Ruth Rendell Inspector Wexford dramas were also pretty good. Other - MacDonald & Dodds - The Chelsea Detective - Professor T - Foyle's War - Father Brown - Sister Bonniface Mysteries - Inspector George Gently - Inspector Lynley (the posh detective) There are also UK crime series based outside the UK - Death in Paradise (set in the Caribbean) - the Majorca Files (set in Majorca) I think you might need to do a UK Top 50 Crime & Police Series!
Just think yourself lucky that he didn't refer to the show's main actor as 'Mick McManus' lol. But yes indeed. Pretty crappy to get his name wrong if the show was indeed one of the best ever.
great video! really enjoyed the list and the insights you shared. however, i gotta say, i believe some of the shows on this list are a bit overrated. like, while "Sherlock" is clever, i think it gets way more praise than it deserves compared to lesser-known gems like "Broadchurch." just my opinion!
Hosts of 70s shows worth a mention, not just Sweeney. Special Branch for one. And the stalwarts of the 60s and 70s - Z Cars and Softly Softly. And yes, Sherlock was great and didn't overstay its welcome.
More time traveling/supernatural than procedural police show tbh. And personally I preferrred the sequel Ashes To Ashes. (though it's a 9.5/10 compared to a 9.4/10 if I'm being honest.)
@@carlbirtles4518 Well... Now you're talking.. I've watched the entire thing this year again. About 3-4 months ago over a bored weekend. That's an easy 9.9/10 show any day of the week. The characters all work. The stories work. And what a pair to front the show! Michael Brandon is my favourite American actor ever.
@@carlbirtles4518 I would hazard a guess and say the person who put this video together didn't like those programmes as much as the ones included. I also think there is a bit of box ticking going on here. Picking programmes because they have lots of diversity etc instead of just being great programmes. I mean the professionals isn't on this list and when surveys are done with the public (the people whose opinions actually matter) the professionals is always in the top 3. Even if it is never actually in mine.
How on earth could you not include A Touch of Frost? One of the absolute best written programs ever.
Broadchurch, Sherlock, Foyle's War, Shetland, and Inspector Morse's prequel, Endeavour would have made my list.
Though, I'll grant that I've yet to see some of the classics that made this list.
You forget Lewis!
@@leann848 I hadn't actually seen Lewis yet when I made the previous comment, but now that I have, yes, it absolutely would make my list! Also, Life on Mars, which I forgot to mention for some reason.
List is invalid bc Life on Mars isn't on there.
Ashes to Ashes
Dempsey and Makepeace
Inspector Lynley
And how can you leave off Sherlock Holmes?
Yes and Ashes to ashes
Line of Duty should be number one IMO. Just fantastic.
I'm a 44 yr old American and loooove midsomer, and poirot so much. Seen every episode numerous times. And my mom , or mum, loves Dr Blake
Dr. Blake is a Aussie production. 🙂I like the production too! 😊
I love "Midsomer Murders". How can you you NOT love a show that kills of a character with a wheel of cheese? 😊
……or a trebuchet?……
Scott and Bailey and Prime Suspect?? Should definitely be on this list.
Touch of Frost, Broadchurch, Sherlock and Death in Paradise!!!
Surprised that Shetland, Endeavour, Broadchurch, and Life On Mars/Ashes to Ashes are not on the list.
UK does crime drama best - a top 10 doesn't allow for all the great crime drama shows to come out of the UK. I think all the series listed are the intense crime dramas. But the UK, but especially ITV, have some really excellent long running detective series that are family favourites - they keep you guessing with a neat little twist at the end...
Not a crime drama, but I enjoyed The Thin Blue Line with Rowan Atkinson. I also enjoyed Jonathan Creek & Blue Murder. Two spin offs from Morse - Endeavour (Morse prequel) & Lewis (post Morse). There was also a very unusual & clever crime drama with time travel - Crime Traveller. A touch of Frost was also excellent. And I adored Sherlock & Shetland, and (of course) Vera.
Both Shetland & Vera based on books by Anne Cleeves. Her third series The Long Call was also adapted for tv (only 1 season though). The PD James adaptations were also very well done.
Midsomer Murders is excellent (except by the end of the show almost half a village has been murdered - it seems the murder rate in small villages in rural UK is very high!). The Ruth Rendell Inspector Wexford dramas were also pretty good.
Other
- MacDonald & Dodds
- The Chelsea Detective
- Professor T
- Foyle's War
- Father Brown
- Sister Bonniface Mysteries
- Inspector George Gently
- Inspector Lynley (the posh detective)
There are also UK crime series based outside the UK
- Death in Paradise (set in the Caribbean)
- the Majorca Files (set in Majorca)
I think you might need to do a UK Top 50 Crime & Police Series!
I know it wasn't on the list but I loved A Touch of Frost. Sir David Jason was amazing in that show!
Poirot is the best British mystery series, 100% hands down full-stop
Wire in the blood ???
Taggart's first name was Jim not John
Just think yourself lucky that he didn't refer to the show's main actor as 'Mick McManus' lol.
But yes indeed. Pretty crappy to get his name wrong if the show was indeed one of the best ever.
No a touch of frost
Or heartbeat
Life on Mars ashes to ashes
Not even Dempsey and Makepeace.
My picks. Luther, Midsummer Murders, Vera, Inspector Morse, Inspector Poirot, Inspector Lewis.
FYI - the woman in the interrogation room in The Sweeney clip is Benedict Cumberbatch’s mother!
Not a fan of midsummer murders but the uk make cracking police dramas and thrillers a fan from Australia grew up watching the bill one of my favs
You have Morse but no mention of Lewis?
Shocked that Gangs of London wasn't on this list. Maybe it's too violent for the BBC people.
You forgot Lewis And a touch of frost with David Jason
They didn't forget it. They just didn't pick it.
10. The Bill
9. Taggart
8. Luther
7. Midsommer Murders
6. Line of Duty
5. Vera
4. Happy Valley
3. Pirro and Marble
2. Inspector Morse
1. The Sweeney
great video! really enjoyed the list and the insights you shared. however, i gotta say, i believe some of the shows on this list are a bit overrated. like, while "Sherlock" is clever, i think it gets way more praise than it deserves compared to lesser-known gems like "Broadchurch." just my opinion!
Where the fuck is Sherlock Holmes
221B Baker Street?
What about Frost brilliant drama with a touch of comedy thanks to David Jason
I agree A Touch of Frost should've been on there.
scott and bailey 😮
I kept waiting for Life on Mars/Ashes to Ashes to appear on the list.
Top 20 British crime TV shows?
Um....Prime Suspect? THE WIDOWS TRILOGY? The three Widows series deserve more love
I thought Scott and Bailey and No Offense were great as well.
However, I grew up on Poitrot tv show
A touch of Frost is a great series
The Bill will always be number one for me, I fell in love with crimes shows because of it
Lol. I bet you like marvel powdered milk instead of real milk don't you?
Is this in order, if so Line Of Duty and Luther should both be sitting at the top here.
Hosts of 70s shows worth a mention, not just Sweeney. Special Branch for one. And the stalwarts of the 60s and 70s - Z Cars and Softly Softly. And yes, Sherlock was great and didn't overstay its welcome.
Life on Mars?
More time traveling/supernatural than procedural police show tbh. And personally I preferrred the sequel Ashes To Ashes. (though it's a 9.5/10 compared to a 9.4/10 if I'm being honest.)
@@frankbrodie5168
What about Dempsey and Makepeace?
@@carlbirtles4518 Well... Now you're talking.. I've watched the entire thing this year again. About 3-4 months ago over a bored weekend. That's an easy 9.9/10 show any day of the week. The characters all work. The stories work. And what a pair to front the show! Michael Brandon is my favourite American actor ever.
I've watched 7 of these but Morse is at the top of my list.
Who tf put midsummer murders in front of the Bill 😂
Longevity?
The Shadow Line?
Expected the bill to be higher up the list
still love the bill
Glad The Sweeney is number one but its Regan not Reagan.
……’Inspector Morse’ was the best! But many of the others’ are also excellent………
Personally I love the show Grace
Morse then Frost then Poroit then Shirlock Holmes
What about Wire In The Blood, A Touch of Frost, Broadchurch, Sherlock, Touching Evil
how do you not even mention ' touch of frost ' ??????
Taggarts first name was Jim, not John
I have to admit I didn't expect The Bill, my favourite TV show of all time, would make it onto the list.
Err "a touch of frost" ?
Seriously where was Frost?
No Law and Order: UK?
Silent Witness? Grantchester?
What about Dempsey and Makepeace?
It was sh!te.
Midsummer murders is shit❤
Great for the export trade apparently. Like the Christie stuff - stereotypical boring Brit imagery
So what do you think is good? It's all opinion but I am just curious.😊
Unforgotten is yet again underrated/left off a best list
to many to mention.
Absolutely! No one does it better than the Brits.😊
I'm American and I watch most of these shows. My personal favorite police show is Whitechapel. I guess that would count as a creepy police show.
What about Life on Mars, Ashes to Ashes or Dempsey and Makepeace?
Lol. What about them?
@@The.Magnificent.one.2025
Why didn’t they get included?
@@carlbirtles4518 I would hazard a guess and say the person who put this video together didn't like those programmes as much as the ones included. I also think there is a bit of box ticking going on here. Picking programmes because they have lots of diversity etc instead of just being great programmes. I mean the professionals isn't on this list and when surveys are done with the public (the people whose opinions actually matter) the professionals is always in the top 3. Even if it is never actually in mine.
Disappointed a touch of frost,rebus,life on mars to name but a few never featured.
Are you? 😂
Broadchurch, Shetland???.
Father Brown? Prime Suspect?
Worst one yet - this is crap fella ??
Another crap list. Another thumbs down.