Neil Dudgeon and Nick Hendrix in Midsomer Murders Photo: ITV
Who would have thought? Well, Chief Inspector Barnaby might, but he's good at solving riddles. Midday Murders, a long-running ITV detective drama that has been derided by critics but loved by audiences, is now as popular in the US as it is in the UK, according to content tracker Parrot Analytics. And it's damn popular at home.
Who needs flashy detectives or harsh urban environments? It seems viewers on both sides of the Atlantic can't get enough of the outlandish murders in sleepy villages that are bizarrely revealed by deadpan middle-aged men in suits as a celebrity guest camps around them.
So, after you've watched all 132 (and still counting) episodes of good old Midsomer, where do you find your next round of quintessentially British cozy crime? We have selected a dozen similar dramas to dive into. Turn on the kettle and guess who it is.
1. Father Brown (BBC iPlayer/Alibi/Amazon Prime Video)
Preach from the pulpit, catch the guilty. A killer combination of classic G.K. Chesterton stories, nostalgic 1950s settings and gorgeous Cotswold scenery made this gentle daytime detective an unexpected global hit. It broadcasts to 235 territories worldwide, including prime time in the US. Mark Williams plays a crime-fighting Catholic priest from the rural parish of Kembleford. Like the clerical Miss Marple, his meek exterior hides a razor-sharp mind and a keen grasp of human nature that allows him to sniff out murders. For a more thorough reveal, try Sister Boniface's Mysteries, a spin-off about a crime-fighting nun.
2. Annika (Alibi/BBC iPlayer/Masterpiece)
Nicola Walker — in the Ghosts, Unforgotten and Last Tango in Halifax pedigree — is one of our top TV actresses, so enjoy her in this Radio 4 drama-based entertainment series while you still can. Walker plays Detective Inspector Annika Strandhead, a single mother who leads the Marine Corps Homicide Squad and solves seemingly unfathomable murders in Scottish waters. Two turns? Our heroine is a Norwegian immigrant, and she breaks the fourth wall to trust the audience. A trustworthy lakeside procedure illuminated by Walker's funny wit. Pass the salty licorice.
Nicola Walker in Annika By Graham Hunter 3. Dalziel & Pasco (Drama/BritBox/Amazon Prime Video)
Obviously, it's pronounced «D-ell.» Based on the novels by Reginald Hill, the award-winning BBC drama follows two mismatched Yorkshire detectives who get together and annoy each other as hell. DSI Andy Dalziel (Warren Clark) was a politically incorrect, heavy-drinking, old-school cop who was blunt to the point of being rude and prone to picking his nose. Inspector Inspector Peter Pascoe (Colin Buchanan) was a quick, well-mannered and university-educated snowflake. However, when the sparks flew, they made a formidable team. The series has remained remarkably stable, with 46 high-quality films shown over 11 years.
4. Miss Scarlett & Duke (Alibi/Masterpiece)
Not to be confused with the character Cluedo: Eliza Scarlett (played by Peaky Blinders' Kate Phillips) takes over her late father's detective agency in Victorian London and soon carves out a niche in the male-dominated world of veteran criminals. She is expertly aided in her adventures by her childhood friend William «The Duke» Wellington (Stuart Martin), now a rough detective at Scotland Yard. What follows is a lively romp with simmering romance between the protagonists and Eliza, modeled on Lizzy Bennet from Pride & Prejudice.
Kate Phillips and Stuart Martin in Miss Scarlet and the Duke 5. Agatha Raisin (Sky Max/iTunes/Amazon) Prime Video)
It all started with a one-shot «Kish of Death», turned out to be a delicious treat, and continues five episodes later. Based on the books by MC Beaton, this hilarious and colorful detective series stars Ashley Jensen as a PR man who moves from London to the seemingly sleepy Cotswolds village of Carsley in search of a quieter life. Great chance. This blond-haired amateur sleuth soon begins to solve kitsch but convincing crimes. Matthew Horne (Gavin and Stacey) and Cathy Wicks (Spooks) bring additional comic relief to their supporting roles. Ashley Jensen as Agatha Raisin Photo: Shutterstock 6. Bergerac (BritBox/Amazon Prime Video)
John Nettles was the original star of The Midsomer Murders, but he made a name for himself — not to mention his reputation as «the housewife's favorite» — as this rocky Eighties favorite. Sergeant Jim Bergerac was a recovering alcoholic trying to rebuild his career at Le Bureau des Étrangers in Jersey. He had a rogue ex-father-in-law in Charlie Hungerford (Terence Alexander), a longtime flirtation with glamorous jewel thief Philippa «The Ice Maiden» Weil (Lisa Goddard), drove a vintage Triumph roadster, and had a cool guitar theme song. . The reload is under development and expected next year.
John Nettles and Lisa Goddard in Bergerac Photo: Alamy 7 Investigation by Hetty Weinthropp (Alibi/BritBox/Amazon Prime Video)
Patricka Routledge had just played country snob Hyacinth Bucket (pronounced «Bouquet» naturally) on the sitcom Keeping the Look when she became a sleuth for that nineties drama. Cardigan-clad Henrietta Wainthropp was a cheerful pensioner from rural Lancashire who spent her days solving crimes ignored by the police, usually in the company of a young tenant, Geoffrey (Dominic «Merry the Hobbit» Monaghan). When the hit show was canceled after four episodes, Routledge called it «a betrayal… the BBC is run by rude 10-year-olds.» Tell them Hetty/Hyacinth.
Patricia Routledge in the Hetty Wainthropp investigation Photo: Alamie 8. Whitstable Pearl (Acorn/Amazon Prime Video)
«Sometimes it takes a small town detective to commit big crimes.» When her son leaves home, vacant Pearl Nolan (the excellent Kerry Godliman of After Life) fulfills her lifelong dream of opening a private detective agency at her family's gastropub in the delightful Kent coastal town of Whitstable. Locals flock to her with all sorts of cases, bodies begin to pile up, and Pearl finds herself falling out with DI Mike McGuire (Howard Charles), the city's new tough cop. Frances Barber, Robert Webb and Katie Tyson provide impeccable support in these extremely likable murder mysteries.
Kerry Godliman in Pearl Whitstable Photo: Mark Bourdillon/AcornTV 9. Shakespeare and amp; Hathaway: Private Investigators (BBC iPlayer/Alibi/Amazon Prime Video)
This deliberately quirky gimmick could have been a schedule addition in less experienced hands, but hosts Mark Benton and Joe Joyner took it to the next level. Playing former police detective Frank Hathaway and nosy former hairdresser Louella Shakespeare, this diverse duo squeeze into their red Mini Cooper to fight crime in postcard Stratford-upon-Avon. Their impeccable humor and light chemistry are admirable. Patrick Walsh McBride plays Sebastian's sarcastic secretary, a local guide and aspiring actor fit for the Bard's hometown.
10. Jonathan Creek (Drama/BritBox/AppleTV)
Presented as a British remix of «Columbo», writer David Renwick's diabolically clever creation is half screwball comedy, half locked room mystery. Curly-haired Alan Davis in a duffle coat enchants as a consultant to an award-winning magician, skillfully using his experience in creating illusions to solve seemingly impossible crimes. His first and best assistant was Caroline Quentin, who was later replaced by Julia Savaglia, Sheridan Smith and Sarah Alexander. Like The Midsomer Murders, they are supported by an ever-changing cast of familiar faces. And a windmill.
Caroline Quentin and Alan Davis at Jonathan Creek Posted by Alami 11. Rosemary and amp; Thyme (ITVX/BritBox)
«Murder, chaos… and gardening!» That was the slogan of this cozy detective series, which was undoubtedly conceived in the first place with the title. Green-fingered Rosemary Boxer (Felicity Kendal) and Laura Time (Pam Ferris) were brought together by sudden death, but discovered a mutual love of botany and started their own freelance gardening business. Helping the muddy-booted duo unravel the crimes is their ability to eavesdrop on secrets and find clues as they drive around town in a decrepit Land Rover. In four episodes, it became ITV's most watched drama with 10 million viewers, and could have been more appealing to the public if it had featured a shirtless Alan Titchmarsh grooming grassy borders.
12. Pie in the Sky (Drama/AppleTV)
The late Richard Griffiths may be known to many as Vernon Dursley from the Harry Potter films , Hector from The History Boys or Uncle Monty from Withnail & But in the mid-nineties, he starred in this underrated crime comedy-drama.
Pie in the Sky Credit: Fremantle Media/Shutterstock
The role of Inspector Henry Crabbe — a disillusioned, semi-retired cop and the chef of his own restaurant in Berkshire — was created for Griffiths, who inhabited it with his usual pleasure. Specialty of the house? His crispy steak and kidney pie. Long-suffering wife Maggie Steed supported the work of the institution, while Henry caught criminals and still managed to return for pudding.
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