Step aside, Shetland. If you’re longing for the dramatic landscapes and gripping mysteries of the ultimate Scottish detective drama, there’s plenty of other television to fill the void. We’ve watched all the latest releases, and gone back to some old favourites, to bring you the ultimate line-up to keep you company this rainy weekend.
From a classic Scottish mystery (think Shetland but cosier) to Ashley Jensen playing sleuth again – but this time in the Cotswolds – and ITV’s biggest drama of the year so far, you’re spoilt for choice. So, get the kettle on and get comfy – these are the 8 fantastic detective dramas to watch this weekend on ITV, Netflix, the BBC and more.
Hamish Macbeth
What could be more comforting than a murder mystery starring a lovable detective and his dog sidekick? Based on MC Beaton’s mystery novels, local police officer Constable Hamish Macbeth (Robert Carlyle) works alongside his West Highland Terrier, Wee Jock, to tackle crimes across the fictional town of Lochdubh on the west coast of Scotland. But he’s no ordinary detective, rather a reluctant hero. He’d rather spend his days drinking whisky and fishing than chasing a promotion. Nevertheless, he’s still the man to solve the neverending mysteries of the close-knit community. Then there’s his complicated romantic life to contend with. Think Shetland but much cosier. Hamish Macbeth is available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.
The Northumbria Mysteries
The new Grantchester is here. Robson Green leads the cast and swaps Cambridgeshire for Northumberland’s countryside. Joe Ruby (Robson) is an ex-con and volunteer at the local priory, where he’s attempting to start a new life. When the body of a monk is found buried in a remote part of the grounds, super-smart, Oxford-educated DI Rose (Liz White) is on the case with her partner, DS Raj Singh (Gurjeet Singh). Baffled, Rose realises she might have an unlikely ally in Joe, who has invaluable insight into the criminal world. The first four episodes of The Northumbria Mysteries are available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.
Agatha Raisin
It’s true, we can’t get enough of a countryside mystery. This time, a formidable female detective is in the spotlight. Enter: Agatha Raisin (played by Shetland’s Ashley Jensen). The part-time sleuth was a London PR hotshot until moving to the Cotswold village of Carsley for a quieter life – or so she thought. When a quiche competition turns deadly, Agatha is determined to prove her innocence and get to the bottom of it. She soon becomes the village’s very own private investigator. From the death of a field rambler to the discovery of a human torso at the Winter Fayre’s hog roast, there’s no case too bizarre for Agatha to solve. You can watch Agatha Raisin now on Acorn TV via Prime Video.
Dept. Q
We love an underdog and the lead of this show is certainly that. Brash but brilliant Carl Mørck (Matthew Goode) heads a new unit of misfits called Department Q to tackle Edinburgh’s cold cases. As with most television detectives, he’s got baggage. The drama begins with his return to work after an attack that left his partner, DCI Hardy (Jamie Sives), paralysed and another officer dead. His new gig sees him cast away to a dingy basement to take on a tricky cold case involving an esteemed prosecutor who vanished four years ago on a ferry across the Scottish Highlands. Dept. Q is available to watch now on Netflix.
Ludwig
Anna Maxwell Martin and David Mitchell are a match made in heaven. The BBC’s hit series follows John ‘Ludwig’ Taylor, a reclusive puzzle maker who doesn’t get out much. But when his identical twin brother, James, a high-flying Cambridgeshire Police detective, vanishes, he has to get out of his comfort zone – and fast. John masquerades as his brother to infiltrate the force in an attempt to find him. James’s wife, Lucy (played by Anna), joins the search, but they soon get caught up in a string of baffling murder cases, too. It’s fantastically fun and the ultimate comfort-watch. Ludwig is available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.
Winter
‘He can read a body like other people read a book’: introducing the skilled forensic pathologist Dr Ethan Winter (Richard Armitage). The new police drama set in Bristol begins with the discovery of a young woman’s body in the back of a truck. Winter joins thorny DI Lauren Bell (Annabel Scholey) on the case, but they don’t get off to the best of starts. While their partnership proves difficult, it’s also unstoppable – and they have more in common than they think. Winter is available to watch now on ITVX.
The Blame
If you’ve not yet seen what the fuss is all about with ITV’s biggest new drama (it racked up 6.6 million viewers for its launch episode), this weekend is the perfect chance to catch up. DI Emma Crane (Michelle Keegan) and her partner, DI Tom Radley (Douglas Booth), investigate the murder of 16-year-old ice skater Sophie Madsen (Matilda Freeman) in the sleepy town of Wakestead. However, as they dig deeper, they discover a disturbing trail of cover-ups and corruption linking back to misogynistic misconduct in the police force. It’s powerful and addictive. Blame is available to watch now on ITVX.
Jack Irish
Rugged, troubled, yet effortlessly likeable – Jack Irish (Guy Pearce) is an Australian detective we can’t help but root for. Jack started out as a lawyer and then became a debt collector and private investigator in Melbourne. Why? He couldn’t cope with the trauma of losing his wife, who was brutally murdered. His life takes an unexpected turn when a seemingly straightforward job pulls him into a mysterious case involving a dark religious group. Jack Irish is available to watch now on Channel 4.