British television has a long and illustrious history of great crime shows. From dark, psychological dramas to lighthearted cozy mysteries, these shows have entertained global audiences for decades. Tubi, the free, ad-supported streaming service, is home to a number of great British crime shows, available to all with no subscription required. But with the sheer number of titles on the service, it can be difficult to find the real goods. That’s why we’ve done the work for you! Read on to discover our handpicked selection of the best British crime shows you can stream for free on Tubi right now.
Created by Chris Chibnall, Broadchurchis a crime drama set in the titular (fictional) English town on the Dorset coast. The show stars David Tennant as Detective Inspector Alec Hardy and Olivia Colman as Detective Sergeant Ellie Miller, leading an ensemble cast that includes Jodie Whittaker, Andrew Buchan, Arthur Darvill, Carolyn Pickles, Jonathan Bailey, Matthew Gravelle, Charlotte Beaumont, and Adam Wilson. The first season revolves around the death of an 11-year-old boy, focusing on the child’s family. The second season continues this storyline while also dealing with a case from the past. The third and final season explores the aftermath of the case’s resolution and initiates a new story involving a rape at a birthday party.
Broadchurch premiered in 2013 to positive reviews, with critics praising the performances, writing, and cinematography. The show has also earned several accolades, including seven BAFTA nominations, and won Olivia Colman the BAFTA for Best Actress. The series is easily one of the most celebrated British crime shows of the 2010s and a favorite of mystery drama fans worldwide.
A crime drama series created and written by Allan Cubitt, The Fall stars Gillian Anderson as Detective Superintendent Stella Gibson and Jamie Dornan as serial killer Paul Spector. Filmed and set in Northern Ireland, the series follows Stella’s hunt for Spector, as well as the killer’s ongoing hunt for his next victim. Besides its two leads, the series also features John Lynch, Stuart Graham, Niamh McGrady, Archie Panjabi, Bronagh Waugh, Aisling Franciosi, Colin Morgan, and more in key roles.
First airing in Ireland on RTÉ One in 2013, The Fall received largely favorable reviews from critics for its first season. Two more seasons followed, with the last one released in 2016, and the show earned consistent acclaim throughout that time — not to mention several accolades. Over the course of its run, The Fall earned four Irish Film and Television Awards, a British Academy Television Craft Award, and an Edgar Allan Poe Award. A highly psychological story that forgoes the sensationalism of garden-variety police dramas, The Fall is a masterwork in character-driven storytelling. The show is further elevated by its stellar performances, especially those by Anderson and Dornan in the lead roles.
Created by Lynda La Plante, Prime Suspect is a police procedural starring Helen Mirren as Jane Tennison, one of the first female Detective Chief Inspectors in Greater London’s Metropolitan Police Service. The series chronicles her career as she solves cases and confronts institutionalized sexism within the police force, eventually rising to Detective Superintendent. Besides Mirren, the series also stars John Benfield, Richard Hawley, Tom Bell, and Jack Ellis, with Zoë Wanamaker, Ralph Fiennes, Peter Capaldi, David Thewlis, and more appearing in supporting and guest roles.
Prime Suspect premiered on ITV in 1991, airing a total of 15 episodes over seven seasons, the last released in 2006. The show received rave reviews throughout its run and won several awards, including eight BAFTAs, seven Emmys, and a Peabody. It’s a brilliantly acted crime drama that takes on important social issues like sexism and racism while presenting some genuinely engaging mysteries as well. This potent combination has helped Prime Suspect cement its status as one of the greatest British TV shows of all time. The series’ success led to the release of Prime Suspect: 1973, a 2017 prequel starring Stefanie Martini as a 22-year-old Jane Tennison investigating her first case.
Directors
Peter Smith, Sarah Hellings, Richard Holthouse, Renny Rye, Jeremy Silberston, Alex Pillai, David Tucker, Roberto Bangura, Paul Gibson, Matt Carter, Gill Wilkinson, Moira Armstrong, Baz Taylor, Audrey Cooke, Simon Langton, Nick Laughland, Toby Frow, Leon Lopez, Peter Cregeen, Charles Palmer, Luke Watson
Caroline Harker
Tamsin Proctor
Christopher Timothy
Ned Barnaby
Claudia Harrison
Eleanor Preston
Based on Caroline Graham’s Chief Inspector Barnaby novels, Midsomer Murders is a mystery drama series adapted by Anthony Horowitz and Douglas Watkinson. Set in the fictional English county of Midsomer, the show follows various murder investigations in the English countryside. The series originally starred John Nettles as DCI Tom Barnaby until his retirement in 2011, when he was replaced as lead star by Neil Dudgeon, playing Tom’s cousin John Barnaby. Besides its leads, the show also features Jane Wymark, Barry Jackson, Daniel Casey, John Hopkins, Jason Hughes, Nick Hendrix, and more in supporting roles.
One of Britain’s longest-running TV shows, Midsomer Murders has aired 24 seasons and counting since its premiere in 1997. Over that massive period, the series has developed a huge global fan following, largely thanks to its almost whimsical, lighthearted style (though the mysteries are sufficiently thrilling as well). It also has a surprisingly high body count, with multiple murders in each episode, which contrasts nicely with the quaint and nostalgic rural setting. All of that adds up to make Midsomer Murders an excellent comfort watch, especially for fans of old-school cozy British mysteries.
Also known internationally as Ash and Scribbs, Murder in Suburbia is a crime drama series that stars Lisa Faulkner and Caroline Catz as suburban police officers Emma Scribbins and Kate Ashurst, respectively. Assigned to the homicide squad of the fictional town of Middleford, Ash and Scribbs investigate small-town murders that are often more than they seem. Besides its two leads, the show also stars Jeremy Sheffield as Detective Chief Inspector Jeremy Sullivan, with Glen Davies and Stuart Nurse in recurring roles.
Murder in Suburbia premiered its first season on ITV in March 2004, receiving praise from critics and audiences for its witty narrative, engaging mysteries, and charming characters. Faulkner and Catz share excellent chemistry, which forms the backbone of the series. A second season, less well-received, was released in 2005, after which the show was canceled. A light police procedural that eschews gritty noir narratives for humorous yet surprisingly well-crafted mysteries, Murder in Suburbia is a highly underrated series that deserves more love.
Loosely based on G. K. Chesterton’s eponymous fictional sleuth, Father Brown is a period detective series starring Mark Williams as the titular crime-solving priest. Set in early 1950s England in the aftermath of the Second World War, the show follows Father Brown as he investigates murder cases involving members of his parish, as well as other strange and inexplicable mysteries. Besides Williams, the series also stars Sorcha Cusack, Hugo Speer, Kasia Koleczek, Tom Chambers, Nancy Carroll, and more.
Father Brown premiered on BBC One in January 2013, receiving largely favorable reviews. An ongoing series, the show premiered its 12th season in January 2025. Throughout its run, the series has earned praise for its cozy stories, well-developed characters, and charming narrative, as well as for the fairly uncommon premise of a Roman Catholic priest investigating crimes. The show has also developed quite a fan following, both in Britain and internationally, and a spin-off series, Sister Boniface Mysteries, which premiered in 2022.
Directors
David Caffrey, Douglas Mackinnon, Daniel Nettheim, Michael Keillor, John Strickland, Jed Mercurio, Sue Tully, Gareth Bryn, Jennie Darnell
Writers
Jed Mercurio
Created by Jed Mercurio, Line of Duty is a serial crime procedural that follows Anti-Corruption Unit 12, a team of officers tasked with policing the police. The show follows the team’s investigations into seemingly corrupt officers, with each season presenting a new story. The series stars Martin Compston, Vicky McClure, Adrian Dunbar, Lennie James, and more.
Line of Duty premiered on BBC Two in June 2012 and was highly successful with audiences, becoming BBC Two’s highest-rated series in a decade and developing an international cult following. The show was subsequently moved to BBC One, starting with the fourth season. A well-written and well-acted drama, the series has won universal acclaim from critics, earning special praise for its intense interrogation scenes. The show has also been awarded several accolades, including an Edgar Allan Poe Award and ten BAFTA nominations. Line of Duty aired six seasons in total, with the last one released in 2021.
Written by Nicole Taylor and directed by Philippa Lowthorpe, Three Girls is a three-part true crime drama series centered on the Rochdale child sex abuse scandal, which uncovered a massive grooming ring composed largely of British Pakistani men. The series presents a dramatized version of true events, following the perspectives of three of the victims, as well as the sexual health worker who drew attention to the case. The show stars Maxine Peake, Lesley Sharp, Molly Windsor, Ria Zmitrowicz, Liv Hill, Ace Bhatti, Paul Kaye, Jill Halfpenny, Bo Bragason, and Lisa Riley.
Three Girls originally aired on BBC One in May 2017, with strong viewership numbers for its initial broadcast. It also received positive reviews from critics. A hard-to-watch yet thoroughly gripping series, Three Girls makes a strong case against the authorities for failing to investigate rape allegations, accusing them of not looking into things because they were afraid of being seen as racist. The show has also been quite controversial, especially in the wake of the Islamophobic Finsbury Park attack — a terrorist attack launched against mosque-goers by a man who was reportedly obsessed with the series. A follow-up documentary, The Betrayed Girls, was released in July 2017.
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