Coming Soon
Autumn crime drama 2016
Autumn. The nights draw in and the barbecues stop. The TV goes on just that little bit earlier and, remote controls in hand, we’ll all be seeking out some juicy crime drama on the box. And what are we going to find? Well, plenty. So don’t worry. We’ve trawled the upcoming schedules and picked out some of the darkest, most thrilling, edge-of-your-seat programming coming up. So let’s take a look at it some of the most highly-anticipated crime dramas coming our way…
Autumn crime drama 2016
The Fall series 3
BBC Two
Fitting that autumn should see the return of The Fall – the tense serial killer drama starring Northern Irish heartthrob Jamie Dornan and Gillian Anderson in prime ice queen mode. Handsome serial murderer (only on television, folks) Paul Spector was shot at the crescendo of series two. Has he survived? Well, yes. Of course he has. And we can’t wait to see what happens in the final showdown.
Jonathan Creek
BBC One
Creek geeks rejoice! The shaggy-haired illusion-designer-turned-detective returns for a one-off special a full twenty years since he first graced our screens – and he’s as weary and cynical as ever. Last seen on telly back in 2014, Alan Davies and Sarah Alexander make a welcome return for the ‘spookiest episode ever’ and what promises to be inventive, amusing and entertaining stuff.
Paranoid
ITV 1, 22nd September
Robert Glenister, Neil Stuke, Indira Varma, Lesley Sharp and Kevin Doyle come together for this tightly-woven eight-part conspiracy thriller. It comes from the keyboard and mind of the man behind Lark Rise to Candleford and Conviction and tells of the complex investigation of a doctor’s murder in the Cheshire countryside. All is not what it seems though (when is it ever?) as the story develops and takes our detectives across Europe in a frantic bid to nail those responsible for the killing.
Witness for the Prosecution
BBC One
When you’re looking for inspiration for crime TV, it’s been a tried and tested routine to turn your attention to the enormous back catalogue of arguably crime fiction’s greatest ever writer, Agatha Christie. Based on one of her best-loved short stories, film fans may be familiar with Billy Wilder’s 1957 film version starring Tyrone Power and Marlene Dietrich. This two-parter is being adapted by Sarah Phelps who brought us the smash hit And Then There Were None last Christmas, so expect quality. Toby Jones, Sex and the City star Kim Cattrell and alabaster beauty Andrea Riseborough star.
The Missing series 2
BBC One
Last year, TV audiences were kept glued to their seats as James Nesbitt searched desperately for his missing son. Case resolved by the climax, the one-off series was near perfect. Still, the BBC was surprised by its runaway success and so, naturally, recommissioned the series – not that its return was greeted with cheers all round. Actor Ken Stott criticised the move, saying: “I really don’t know why they’re doing it. I have my own reasons why I think they’re doing it but it must be for financial reasons, not art. The first series was a success so they felt they could make more money doing the second series.” We’ll soon see if it can live up to the original.
Tennison
ITV
When it comes to quality British crime TV from the annals, you’re not digging for too long before the words ‘Prime’ and ‘Suspect’ come up. So we’re pretty excited about this prequel, starring Stefanie Martini as a young Helen Mirren. This six-parter should explain to us all just why Jane Tennison was so darn formidable. Definitely one not to miss, whether you were a fan of Prime Suspect or you’re new to it all.
The Moonstone
BBC One
Based on the novel by Wilkie Collins, this daytime adaptation will do well to live up to its illustrious source material. So respected and loved is the original literary version that TS Eliot once called it ‘the first and greatest of all the English detective novels’. Starring Sarah Hadland and John Thompson, The Moonstone has been in development hell for more than five years… Let’s hope it was worth the wait, eh?
The Level
ITV 1
Philip Glenister, Karla Crome, Noel Clarke and Amanda Burton star in this nail-biting crime drama which sees a detective sergeant’s career and life fall apart after her links to an infamous and dangerous drugs trafficker are uncovered. And that’s just the beginning of the trouble for DS Nancy Devlin in this twisting gripper. ITV might really have come up trumps with this one.
So there you have it. That box in the corner of your living room has more whip-smart crime offerings than you can shake a deerstalker at. There’s plenty to enjoy coming up this autumn – and we certainly can’t wait.
Which crime dramas are you looking forward to? Let us know in the comments below…
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