From headteachers to monarchs, brace yourself for heroines who play by their own rules.
From the slaughter spree at Sun Hill, to the ritual killing which baffled Taggart.
James Bolam stars as a disillusioned First World War veteran returning home to Tyneside.
What does it take to be a female copper in 1950s Britain? WPC Dawson is about to find out.
Brace yourself for the thrilling world of D’Artagnan, Porthos, Athos and Aramis…
When there’s been a murrrd’rrr, these are the detectives who’ll swing into action.
Mercy Street throws us into a new world. Let's say hello to the locals...
Here's why you will want to watch this epic series from the very beginning.
Sleek and sassy, Phryne Fisher is a far cry from your usual hard-bitten crime-buster…
From the defiant Dinah to Prince Shalem, meet the women and men of this ravishing epic.
How much does The Red Tent take from an ancient tale, and how much does it go its own way?
The Red Tent is no ordinary historical drama – it’s a sumptuous epic. Here’s why…
One of the greatest ever British dramas here. Here’s what you need to know.
From his battle with a robotic toilet to mayhem on roller skates…
We look at the highs, lows and near-death scrapes of Frank Spencer and his beloved Betty…
Never mind the big cities. In TV-land, it's the cuter and quieter locations...
NoneAre you ready for the unconventional hero of The Brokenwood Mysteries?
Make room for new detective drama in your life with The Brokenwood Mysteries
Jane Austen’s story manages to cover every last aspect of this strange thing we call love…
By Prof John Sutherland and Prof Amanda Vickery.
Artist creates real-life representation of Jane Austen's leading man.
What you can expect from the trailblazing drama which puts women right at the forefront.
Boon is up for anything.
Will any of these women live to see the end of the war?
Meet the investigator who never stops until she unmasks local villains...
These telly detectives all started out in the pages of a book…
Why the bleak and beautiful world of Nordic Noir, stand apart from other TV dramas…
Are you ready to enter the dark world of Kenneth Branagh’s iconic detective?
He’s a lover as well as a fighter.
From cowardly aristocrats to evil soldiers to scheming seducers...
Why the 60s-set series about a London copper going up north is a must-watch.
He’s charming, honourable and an all-round hero, but with an edge too.
Think the 1960s are all peace, love and long hair?
Sir John Middleton might just be the secret hero of Sense and Sensibility…
Why Jane Austen’s two great sagas are more alike and more different than you might think…
What we can learn from the adventures and entanglements of the Dashwood sisters…
The character played by Greg Wise is one of our favourite things about Cranford…
From the perils of eating oranges to the correct etiquette for extracting lace from a cat…
The most frightening and downright horrible stepdad...
Here’s why it has more to say about our own era than you might think…
From Sense and Sensibility to Call the Midwife...
David Copperfield isn’t just a big coming-of-age adventure through Victorian England…
Different hemispheres, different eras… yet these two crime shows have some similarities.
Welcome to Ballarat, the stalking ground of brilliant sleuth Dr Lucien Blake…
Other things, besides simply snaring murderers, are on these sleuths mind's...
A fringe benefit of cracking cases in Victorian Toronto...
Some of the situations they’ve dealt with have been downright bizarre.
Being able to take the mickey is a vital job skill…
One’s a rough, old school copper, the other’s a degree-educated smart alec.
His name is pronounced Dee-el. OK, so you knew that one...
Crusading for justice, sticking up for common folk, and cutting a dash in the courtroom.
John Deed always takes the side of ordinary folks against the Establishment…
We hereby find Sir John Deed guilty of being irresistibly attractive.
A few really important things Sir John Deed has taught us…
Even the cockiest crime-busters need help now and again.
Solving crimes without ever forgetting their manners…
Let’s leaf through some of Alleyn's most memorable cases…
Pour yourself an Earl Grey and settle in as we introduce the poshest copper since Lynley.
The most enjoyable backdrops to all the skulduggery.
He may just be our favourite human being ever to grace the small screen.
Far too long till you fly out on your summer trip abroad?
Even if you’re far too young to actually remember the era it’s set in.
A far cry from most TV detectives.
Here’s why you need to make time for Agatha Christie’s super-sleuth…
She’s had a long, illustrious career as England’s unlikeliest crime-solver.
If you’ve never seen Dangerfield, you’re in for a treat.
There’s certainly plenty of crime and intrigue going on.
An example to the rest of us oiks…
A valuable guide to dealing with your nearest and dearest.
Do you lack good breeding? Socially unfortunate?
It'll transport you to a by-gone realm and you won’t want to leave.
With its many matriarchs, Cranford is a town where men must tread very, very lightly…
If you didn’t think you had space in your heart for another handsome hero, think again…
Here are the cases that have really stood out…
Played with plucky charm by Emilia Fox.
Far from an open and shut case…
Go back to the very beginning of the world’s longest-running sitcom.
It’s clear who gave us the greatest love story of all time. Sort of.
Here's four reasons why Cadfael really stands apart from other crime dramas…
As a crime-solving medieval monk, Brother Cadfael always has his work cut out for him.
They’d probably have a scrap if they were all put in one room...
"It's alright, it's okay..."
When it comes to cracking cases, a bunch of brilliant minds is better than one...
Did you know New Tricks can actually improve your life?
It’s the show that’s become a national institution.
These heroines defy their eras and prove the power of women against incredible odds…
She's cycled into our hearts.
Here’s everything you need to know about Call The Midwife in a nutshell…
Each TV detective is good at catching the bad guy, but the each have different techniques.
Here’s why we think it’s a very fair cop.
From Highland escapades to gritty adventures on the mean streets of Edinburgh...
There may be many crime dramas on the box, but few look as stunning as Shetland…
How much does the gripping Scottish crime drama Shetland owe to the original novels?
New to Spooks? Here’s your essential briefing on the landmark show.
No writer has ever explored the soul of our nation like Charles Dickens.
Here’s what the star cast bring to the iconic roles they play in this Dickens adaptation.
Here are some of the writers whose worlds you can explore…
A stellar cast brings this great saga to life...
Here’s why he was the ideal man to play the Napoleonic hero.
Prepare yourself for brooding looks, unbuttoned shirts and cheekbones...
