British crime dramas

Over the decades, the crime drama genre has become increasingly complex and layered. The films or shows showcase investigators and detectives tactfully solving some of the most heinous crimes. British crime drama stories are internationally acclaimed, be it novels by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie, or Dorothy L Sayers.

Today, on the List hai toh hit hai theme special podcast, let's look into some of the best British crime drama series streaming exclusively on OTT. I'm your host Nikhil, let's begin with the list.

Luther

A psychological crime drama television show with 20 episodes split in 5 series between 2010 and 2019. Receiving 11 Primetime Emmy Award nominations in various categories, the show stars Idris Elba as the protagonist, who won the Golden Globe Award and few other prestigious accolades for portraying the role of DCI John Luther. Alongside him is Ruth Wilson, who plays the antagonist Alice Morgan. The story follows Luther, an honest Detective Chief Inspector whose dedication to his work is both a boon and a bane, since his investigations lead him into dangerous circumstances.

OTTplay Rating - 8.6

Available - Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Disney + Hotstar

Strike

Strike is a 2017 crime drama television series based on the Cormoran Strike detective novels by J K Rowling under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith. The show stars Tom Burke as Cormoran Strike and Holliday Grainger as Robin Ellacott. The plot depicts a story of a war veteran turned private detective who uses his unique abilities to solve brutal crimes. He operates out of a small office based in London and his business partner Ellacott assists him.

OTTplay Rating - 8.1

Available on - Disney + Hotstar

Sherlock

A crime television series based on Sherlock Holmes detective novels by Sir Authur Conan Doyle, aired between 2010 to 2017. The series is a reimagination of the mythos set in contemporary London in which Benedict Cumberbatch plays Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman essays Dr John Watson. Sherlock and Watson partner together to solve complex cases. If you have grown up listening to or reading Sherlock Holmes stories then don't miss this series.

OTTplay Rating - 9.5

Available - Exclusively on Netflix

Killing Eve

This is a 2018 spy television series led by Sandra Oh as Eve Polastri and Jodie Comer as Villanelle. Eve, a British intelligence officer is assigned a task to capture assassin Villanelle. After a trail of chases, they develop a mutual attraction for each other. The show has significantly emphasised on the LGBTQ+ community, and explored the relationship between Eve and Villanelle, which is a combination of enmity, friendship and romance.

OTTplay Rating - 7.9

Available - Amazon Prime Video and Disney + Hotstar

Bodyguard

A 2018 political thriller miniseries stars Richard Madden as David Budd and Keeley Hawes as Julia Montague in lead roles. The six-episode series has won the Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series - Drama, with Madden also winning the Best Actor Award. The story follows a British war veteran suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.. At his new job at London’s Metropolitan Police Service, he is assigned to be a protection officer to aspiring Home Secretary Julia. The action-packed story focuses on David and Julia’s relationship, national security, and also critiques on sociopolitical issues of mass surveillance and racial profiling. 

OTTplay Rating - 8.5

Available - Exclusively on Netflix

Peaky Blinders

A period crime drama television series that premiered in 2013, features an impressive cast of Cillian Murphy, Helen McCrory, and Paul Anderson. The story is set in early 19th century Birmingham, England, in the aftermath of World War I. It follows the fictional Shelby crime family and their leader Tommy Shelby - the boss of the Peaky Blinders. Tommy dreams of expanding his criminal enterprise beyond the slums of Birmingham, and to eventually rise through the social hierarchy of England. 

OTTplay Rating - 9.2

Available - Exclusively on Netflix

Marcella

The 2016 noir detective television series stars Nicholas Pinnock as Jason and Anna Friel as the titular character Marcella Backland, which won her the International Emmy Award for Best Actress.The series contains a total of 24 episodes and the story follows Marcella, a troubled police investigator who faces several daunting challenges both personally and professionally. Marcella’s dissociative identity disorder is partly to blame for her troubles and puts a strain on her marriage with her husband Jason. 

OTTplay Rating - 7.9

Available - Exclusively on Netflix

Thats the List hai toh hit hai theme based special podcast , I shall be back again with a new theme pretty soon. This is your host Nikhil signing off. 

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