The obsession with drama thrillers in our country is not a new phenomenon. Whether it’s , Silent Witness, or New Tricks, different generations hold specific shows very close to their hearts.
My fascination with crime shows was sparked when I first watched The Fall, a murder drama starring Gillian Anderson and Jamie Dornan. I quickly became infatuated with crime shows and now squeal excitedly when a new one drops on iPlayer.
As a self-proclaimed lover of this TV genre, I have rounded up the top 10 most binge-worthy dramas you can stream from your living room on
10. Nightsleeper
This show will have you hooked within minutes of the opening episode. Starring Alexandra Roach and Joe Cole, the six-part series follows a series of nightmarish events when an overnight train is mysteriously hacked.
Lives are quickly put in danger, and this action-packed journey will leave you on the edge of your seat until the final scene. If you can imagine your worst-ever rail experience – this show takes it to the next level.
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Richard Madden in the tense crime drama, Bodyguard (Image: BBC)
9. Bodyguard
lovers will recognise Richard Madden in this 2018 crime drama, which follows a war veteran working as a police sergeant to protect the Home Secretary. The six-part series captivated audiences from the get-go with its dramatic plot and intense cliffhangers.
8. The Responder
Martin Freeman gives one of the best performances of his career in this Liverpool-set crime series. It provides all the spills and thrills you’d expect from a quality police drama, and the eagerly awaited second series dropped last year.
7. The Missing
This brilliant mystery drama set in 2006 focuses on a missing child – and the journey to finding him is a rather difficult one. It stars James Nesbitt and Emily O’Connor, and the plot will leave you lying awake at night.
Martin Compston in the submarine series, Vigil (Image: BBC)
6. Trigger Point
This nail-biting crime drama starring Vicky McClure is a masterclass in pure, thrilling tension. The plot follows a London bomb squad and delivers much more than suspense – with plenty of last-minute shocks that’ll leave you reeling.
5. The Fall
This show had to be put on my list. If you want to be hooked on a dark, psychological drama starring a devilishly handsome Jamie Dornan – this is the show for you.
Set in Belfast, Gillian Anderson plays Stella Gibson, who attempts to catch a serial killer, Paul Spector. It was hailed by critics as one of the best dramas in 2013 due to its unbearably tense storyline.
Happy Valley ended in 2023 and stars Sarah Lancashire (Image: BBC)
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4. Vigil
If you do not like thriller dramas on trains or planes, how about suspense on a submarine? This cliffhanger-heavy series stars Suranne Jones and Martin Compston, who both find themselves in trouble after a sailor is murdered aboard a nuclear sub.
3. Time
This raw drama series is packed with a star-studded cast (Sean Bean and Stephen Graham to name a few) and is a profoundly moving tale about prison life laid bare. The three-part series can sometimes be hard to watch, but it is as good as gripping TV gets.
2. Happy Valley
Set in a small village in West Yorkshire, this is a true masterpiece in crime drama. Sarah Lancashire plays the role of Catherine Cawood, who comes face to face with her daughter’s rapist (played by James Norton). It sadly finished in 2023, but you can binge-watch every season now on iPlayer.
1. The Tourist
Another Jamie Dornan crime drama – you won’t be able to look away from his character as he gets chased in the Australian outback. He then wakes up in the hospital having lost his memory before he is hunted down by shadowy figures from his past. If you like exciting chases – definitely add this to your watch list.