Fans left bereft by the conclusion of ITV’s much-loved detective drama Vera should look no further than these binge-worthy crime series.
Vera’s final season aired on ITV in 2025, bringing the curtain down on 14 years on our screens, reports the Express.
The show was adapted from celebrated crime writer Ann Cleeves’ Vera Stanhope novels, with the same author also responsible for Shetland’s detective Jimmy Perez.
Vera featured Oscar-nominated actress Brenda Blethyn in the lead role as the cantankerous yet razor-sharp sleuth, solving crimes across the North East of England.
On the cusp of retirement, Vera served as a detective chief inspector for the fictional Northumberland & City Police, with various team members passing through the ranks over the years.
Here are five other gritty crime dramas featuring formidable female detectives to rival Vera’s crime-busting brilliance.
View 6 ImagesHetty Wainthrop Investigates starred Patricia Routledge(Image: BBC)
Long before Vera came along, there was Hetty Wainthrop Investigates.
Fronted by Keeping Up Appearances icon and national treasure Patricia Routledge in the titular role, the series followed her as she tackled dark and sinister cases in Lancashire, aided by her trusty assistant Geoffrey Shawcross (played by Dominic Monaghan).
The programme was based on characters from David Crook’s 1986 novel Missing Persons.
View 6 ImagesKate Winslet in Mare of Easttown(Image: COURTESY OF HBO)
Oscar-winning actress Kate Winslet took centre stage as troubled detective Marianne ‘Mare’ Sheehan, tasked with investigating the disturbing death of a young mother.
Yet Mare’s turbulent personal life proves every bit as chaotic as the case she’s desperately trying to unravel, heaping yet more drama onto the series. The programme earned an impressive 16 Emmy nominations and widespread critical praise for British star Winslet’s convincing Pennsylvania accent.
Mare of Easttown has become such a hit that it’s set to return for a second season.
Where to watch: Sky, NOW, HBO Max UK & Ireland.
View 6 ImagesNicola Walker and Sanjeev Bhaskar in Unforgotten(Image: ITV)
Another standout ITV crime drama is Unforgotten, which follows a team of police detectives headed by Cassie Stuart (Nicola Walker) as they tackle cold cases.
Alongside her reliable partner Sunny Khan (Sanjeev Bhaskar), the duo find themselves investigating a range of cases that unearth skeletons from closets and bring long-hidden secrets into the open.
Each season centres on a separate case and introduces fresh cast members, including Line of Duty’s Mark Bonnar, acclaimed actor Tom Courtenay, The Crown’s Alex Jennings, and Bridgerton’s James Fleet.
Where to watch: ITVX.
Try ITVX Premium free for a weekThis article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
£59.99£0ITVXGet ITVX Premium here
ITVX Premium offers exclusive ad-free content that can be streamed on-demand and on the go, with everything from Hollywood blockbusters to bingeable British box sets.
An annual plan costs £59.99 – equal to £4.99 per month – after a seven-day free trial.
View 6 ImagesSharon D. Clarke and Andrew Gower in Ellis(Image: CHANNEL 5)
Channel 5’s hard-hitting crime drama Ellis is the latest entry on the list, having first launched in 2024, with a second season following earlier this year.
Ellis delivers with Sharon D. Clarke in the lead role as the detective tackling a succession of challenging cases alongside her dependable partner Chet Harper (Andrew Gower).
The detective pair are dropped into struggling police investigations at different local stations, resulting in considerable friction with local forces as they attempt to bring their specialist knowledge to difficult cases.
Where to watch: Channel 5.
View 6 ImagesHelen Mirren as Jane Tennison in Prime Suspect(Image: GETTY)
Helen Mirren’s much-loved and long-running detective drama Prime Suspect, penned by acclaimed screenwriter Lynda La Plante, is essential viewing for any crime drama enthusiast.
The show aired from 1991 to 2006, with Mirren portraying Jane Tennison, one of the Metropolitan Police Service’s first female detective chief inspectors.
Throughout the series, Tennison climbs the ranks while battling institutional sexism from her colleagues and tackling a series of gruelling cases.
ITV sought to breathe new life into the franchise with the 2015 prequel Prime Suspect 1973, which was adapted from La Plante’s novel Tennison.
Prime Suspect 1973 depicted a younger version of Tennison, played by Stefanie Martini.
Article continues below
Despite being axed after just one series, Prime Suspect remains quintessential viewing for fans of British crime drama.
Where to watch: ITVX