If you’ve already binge-watched your way through the latest BBC murder mystery Death Valley, you could hardly be blamed.
The new series, starring Timothy Spall and Gwyneth Keyworth, is a real gem that feels as though it sprung out of nowhere, satisfying the craving for viewers that want to play armchair detective.
Within its first week, the show has already broken records for the BBC by becoming the largest overnight audience for a new BBC scripted comedy in five years. If you were one of those who flocked to the screen, and have now enthusiastically consumed all six episodes available on BBC iPlayer, then you’re probably searching the streaming services for what to watch next.
Well it’s time to abandon your frantic scrolling, because we’re here with some great recommendations.
Each of these whodunits, available now to fill that murder-mystery gap, are well worth a watch.
BBC
The Death in Paradise universe
Why list one, when you can list them all? Whichever Paradise you’re watching, be it Death in Paradise, Beyond Paradise or Return to Paradise, you’re guaranteed mystifying murder cases and plenty of twists. There’s also always a whole lot of heart beneath the wealth of comedy, so what’s not to love?
All current leading detectives – DiP’s Mervin Wilson (Don Gilet), BP’s Humphrey Goodman (Kris Marshall) and RtP’s Mackenzine Clarke (Anna Samson) – bring their own idiosyncratic flair to their respective shows in very different ways. Much like Death Valley’s DS Janie Mallowan (Keyworth) and honorary detective John Chapel (Spall), they too will win your heart.
Death in Paradise, Beyond Paradise and Return to Paradise are available to stream now on BBC iPlayer.
Eagle Eye Media//ITV
Professor T
If more bonkers cases helmed by a charming lead is what you’re after, then Professor T will no doubt hit the spot. Coming up on its fourth season, the ITV crime series stars former Death in Paradise lead Ben Miller as the brilliant and eccentric Cambridge University criminologist Jasper Tempest.
Like Spall’s John Chapel (but with much more relevant qualifications), Professor Tempest uses his forensic analysis expertise to aid the police with their investigations whilst battling past childhood traumas involving his father’s death.
Professor T seasons 1-3 are available to stream now on ITVX.
UKTV
Bergerac
Less comedy more drama, Bergerac still hits the right tone when it comes to the mystery element that fans of this genre crave.
The reboot is headed by Damien Molony as Jim Bergerac, a sharp but troubled detective who is still struggling to come to terms with the death of his wife whilst raising their daughter.
The recovering alcoholic stumbles, falls and gets back up repeatedly over the course of the show’s debut season, which creates a different kind of emotional investment.
Unlike the ‘case of the week’ shows previously mentioned, here viewers will see the development of one case over the course of the six episodes – but you know what that means: so many intriguing twists!
Bergerac season 1 is available to stream for free on U.
UKTV
The Marlow Murder Club
This one is from Death in Paradise creator Robert Thorogood, who has this time assembled a trio of bright, tenacious and brazen women who repeatedly meddle in the police’s murder investigations – with nothing but wit and bluff as their badges of authority.
It’s great. The leading ladies – Judith Potts (Samantha Bond) Suzie Harris (Jo Martin) and Becks Starling (Cara Horgan) – make the show what it is: funny, charming and utterly endearing.
The Marlow Murder Club season 1 and 2 are available to stream for free on U.
BBC
Murder is Easy
Short but sweet, Murder is Easy is a two-part limited series based on the 1939 Agatha Christie novel of the same name.
Marrying mystery with thriller, the show follows detective Luke Fitzwilliam who is determined to find the link between the seemingly random deaths that keep cropping up in a sleepy English village.
A serial killer is most definitely on the loose, and it’s down to detective Fitzwilliam to find them before anyone else is harmed.
Murder is Easy is available to stream now on BBC iPlayer.
Netflix
The Residence
The Residence leans towards the more wacky end of the whodunit spectrum, and is entertaining from start to finish. The Shondaland creation centres around a murder at the White House during a State dinner. The Chief Usher has been slain, and now investigator Detective Cordelia Cupp (Uzo Aduba) must figure out who the culprit is.
Using her keen bird-watching skills, the brilliantly astute Cupp begins working the case and rattling the cages of the very nervous suspects.
Tensions run extraordinarily high as the players in the piece do everything they can not to incriminate themselves, whilst incriminating themselves. The Netflix series is a real treat.
The Residence is available to stream now on Netflix.
BBC
Ludwig
A murder-of-the-week mystery with another accidental detective, Ludwig sees David Mitchell play the completely unprepared, reclusive puzzle designer John Taylor, who assumes the identity of his identical twin brother James – a high-ranking police officer.
Abandoning his loner lifestyle isn’t easy for John, who is thrust into James’ family life. Now he must navigate his responsibilities at home while attempting to solve crimes, one of them being the mystery of his missing brother. The show also stars Anna Maxwell Martin.
Ludwig was so popular, it’s set to return for a second series – so it’s the perfect time to catch up.
Ludwig is available now on BBC iPlayer.
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TV writer, Digital Spy Janet completed her Masters degree in Magazine Journalism in 2013 and has continued to grow professionally within the industry ever since. For six years she honed her analytical reviewing skills at the Good Housekeeping institute eventually becoming Acting Head of Food testing. She also freelanced in the field of film and TV journalism from 2013-2020, when she interviewed A-List stars such as Samuel L Jackson, Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson. In 2021 she joined Digital Spy as TV writer where she gets to delve into more of what she loves, watching copious amounts of telly all in the name of work. Since taking on the role she has conducted red carpet interviews with the cast of Bridgerton, covered the BAFTAs and been interviewed by BBC Radio and London Live. In her spare time she also moonlights as a published author, the book Gothic Angel.