If you like this genre like me, then you’re always looking to find the best crime dramas wherever they are. One good platform to watch these on is BBC iPlayer. They seem to have ramped up the quality and quantity of their crime drama productions. So, here are the top 10 best hard-line crime dramas to watch on BBC iPlayer.
10. Bloodlands (2 Series, 8 Episodes)
Bloodlands is a series we’ve covered before in our post: how to watch Bloodlands series 2 if you’re not from the UK. The series is set in Ireland and follows DCI Tom Brannick (played by James Nesbitt), a hardcore detected from Belfast who has to investigate the disappearance of a prominent IRA member, but the case is soon linked to a set of abductions/presumed murders from 1998.
However, in a sinister development, we learn that the Goliath case is actually linked to Brannick. So, if you’re looking for crime dramas to watch on BBC iPlayer, then Bloodlands might be for you.
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9. Luther (5 Series, 20 Episodes)
Luther was very popular when it first came out, particularly for the infamous “bus scene” where a woman is stabbed on a public bus during the night. It follows the story of a detective from London, who sometimes lets his personal life get in the way of investigations, nevertheless, he is a great detective, and always cracks the case in every episode.
Unlike most of the crime dramas on this list, Luther is mainly non-linear, so most of the episodes are not connected to each other. However, they make for some great storylines and feature some amazing characters. Also starring Idris Elba.
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8. Silent Witness (25 Series, 143 Episodes)
Silent Witness could possibly be one of the longest-running crime dramas from England, maybe even the world. Spanning all the way back to 1996 when the first episode was released, this series certainly has to be a good one.
You may have some catching up to do, although there is just so much content to get through. There are many different changing characters and the cast often shifts since it’s been running so long, but rest assured, you should be able to find an episode you like.
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7. Sherwood (1 Series, 6 Episodes)
Based on true events of the murder of two people in a remote former mining village near Nottingham, DCS Ian St Clair is called to investigate the death of the first victim, but soon after, a woman is also found dead in her home.
We’ve previously covered this title in our post: How to watch Sherwood if you’re not from the UK. The tensions certainly begin to rise as the series goes on. If you’re looking for crime dramas to watch on BBC iPlayer, then Sherwood might be a good watch.
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6. The Responder (1 Series, 5 Episodes)
The Responder came out at the beginning of this year, and stars Martin Freeman, who appeared in Sherlock, also on this list. It follows the story of a hardened police response officer, who gets paired up with a rookie cop: Rachel Hargreaves.
The main character, Chris, is struggling to keep his marriage together and his mental health is declining. He finds the police in a young heroine addict, who helps him. Or so he thinks. This is a great crime drama to watch on BBC iPlayer.
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Crime Dramas To Watch On BBC iPlayer
5. Vigil (1 Series, 6 Episodes)
After watching this gut-wrenching crime drama about a potential spy whose secret on-board the nuclear submarine: HMS Vigil, I can say for certain that Vigil is one of the top 10 Best hard-line crime dramas to watch on BBC iPlayer. This submarine is Britain’s nuclear deterrent. When one of the ship “Petty Officers” is killed in a suspicious supposed overdose, DCI Amy Silver is sent to the sub via helicopter to compose a report over 3 days and prepare a briefing.
However, she soon learns that everything is not what it seems on the sub, and with her fear of close spaces, her prescription drug problem, and her fear of losing her child to the mother of her dead husband, will she survive and catch the spy responsible for the deaths?
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4. Walking the Dead (9 Series, 88 Episodes)
Walking the Dead is a crime drama that is sort of similar to Silent Witness in a few ways. For example, both started either in the very late 1990s or the very early 2000s. Also, both follow a close nit team, usually in CID, with a whole host of other characters. The story of Walking the Dead goes as follows:
When a naked woman is found wandering the streets with no memory, and her DNA matches that found on a 1966 crime scene, Boyd finds himself dealing with a hot case as well as his cold case. But how are the two connected?
The woman regains her memory, but still cannot explain why her DNA was found in a Soho brothel in 1966. Is it a case of mistaken identity, is she lying, or is there a more sinister explanation? You should watch Walking the Dead if you’re into crime dramas on BBC iPlayer.
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3. London Kills (2 Series, 10 Episodes)
London Kills is a great crime drama to watch on BBC iPlayer, it has 2 series to enjoy and both have 5 episodes each. The crime drama follows the detectives of an elite murder investigation squad in London. With the world’s most recognizable city as its backdrop, London Kills will dramatize the experiences of a team of top murder detectives.
Slick, modern and fast-moving, the series will be shot like a cutting-edge documentary. Who had it in for an MP’s son? A cruelly displayed corpse leads Met Police, Murder Investigation Team (MIT) detectives to questionable decisions and concern over a deeper mystery.
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2. Time (1 Series, 3 Episodes)
Time is a hard line crime drama which follows the story of a middle aged teacher who is sent to prison for the death of a cyclist when he is drunk driving. He must learn how to survive in prison, and quickly learns that not everyone is on his side.
Mark Cobden is sent to prison and has to learn quickly how to survive. When an inmate identifies prison officer Eric McNally’s weakness, he faces an impossible choice. How will Mark help him out? And what choices will he be forced to make as well.
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1. Line Of Duty (6 Series, 35 Episodes)
With a memorable soundtrack, badass characters and a brilliant storyline, Line Of Duty is by far my favourite crime drama of all time. Being centred around the police, you might think this is just like any other police drama, but believe me it isn’t. Line Of Duty follows a police unit called AC-12 (anti corruption unit #12), headed by DSU Ted Hastings.
They are the police that police the police. After messing up a counter terrorism op, where an innocent man is shot dead in front of his wife, Steve Arnot is offered a job at AC-12 because Hastings sees how he didn’t lie when it came to the trial like he’s colleagues and boss.
Now the two must work together to investigate a corrupt but feared police detective. If you’re looking for the Top 10 Best Hard-Line Crime Dramas To Watch On BBC iPlayer, then by far, Line Of Duty is the best one on this list. I cannot praise it enough.
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