My Top 5 TV Period Drama British Detectives

There’s something captivating about British period drama detective series. Not only do these shows bring mystery and suspense, but they transport viewers to bygone eras, adding historical intrigue to the cases being solved. Whether navigating war-torn England or solving crimes in the 1960s, these British TV detectives have left an indelible mark on detective fiction. Here are my top five period drama British detectives:

 

Christopher Foyle (Foyle’s War)

 

My absolute favourite! I simply love Foyle's War, the creation of a favourite writer of mine, Anthony Horowitz. I love the setting, i love the characters, and I love the crimes. In Christopher Foyle, we've got an intelligent detective, who does not have 'demons' - how refreshing. Instead, Foyle has principles - he's knows right from wrong, and he won't be pushed around by anybody in sticking to those principles - think his superior officer Rose who tried to make him turn a blind eye to acts of criminality.

 

I love Foyle's decency, but I also love the way the show captures the time brilliantly. I love the British understatedness of the show - a particular favourite scene of mine comes from The White Feather. Milner, bitter after being wounded and losing a leg, unknowingly finds himself being manipulated to a pro-Nazi and betraying Foyle's trust. Foyle confronts him in a Q&A across his desk. Milner realises the error of his ways and what does Foyle do? Does he rant and rave, throw Milner out of his office and off the force? No. He's prepared to put the whole affair behind them because he knows he's got a good sergeant in Milner. And they finish it off by shaking hands! I love this. If this was a contemporary police drama, there would be shouting and swearing, possibly even a fistfight. There's none of this, and it's all the better for it. Can you tell I love Foyle's War?

 

Favourite episode? Plan of Attack.

 

Sherlock Holmes (The Adventures, The Return, The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes (Granada))

As good as Benedict Cumberbatch in Sherlock, there is a definitive Sherlock Holmes for me and that is Jeremy Brett. Watch Brett, especially in The Adventures and The Return and you are watching Conan Doyle's and Sidney Paget's Holmes come to life.

 

Of the two Watsons, I like David Burke's portrayal - he changed Watson from a bumbling idiot into an intelligent, loyal man -  but Edward Hardwicke is Watson for me.

 

My favourite episode? It's difficult to pick just one, so I'm going to pick two: The Musgrave Ritual and The Second Stain.

 

Gene Hunt (Life on Mars/Ashes to Ashes)

 

Ah, Gene Hunt, a dinosaur from the 1970s. I'm not alone - everyone loved Gene Hunt when he burst onto our screens. We loved his lack of political correctness and his overt masculinity. But is he a great detective? Well... no, I wouldn't go that far. Gene isn't particularly clever, though he's smarter than the men who serve under him, it's true. But he is dedicated and he's ready to put himself in the firing line to catch the baddies.

 

Personally, I prefer the Gene Hunt of Ashes to Ashes, partly because the 1980s were my childhood and I have a definite sense of nostalgia when I watch the show, but also because Gene is a slightly different character here. He's a bit softer, a bit more rounded, and a little bit smarter.

 

Favourite episode? I don't really have a favourite because of the story arc that goes through them, but I do think the last episode is possibly the most perfect ending to a series I've ever watched.

 

Hercule Poirot (Agatha Christie's Poirot)

 

I don't think there's many who would argue that David Suchet is the definitive Hercule Poirot. An exceptional actor, Suchet looks the part and he certainly embodies the character. Unlike Ustinov, he doesn't make Poirot a comic character - we don't laugh at Suchet's Poirot; we smile at him fondly.

 

Poirot's flaws are what make him interesting: his immodesty (although you could argue he has nothing to be modest about), his fastidiousness, his very 'foreignness'.

 

What do I love about the TV Poirot series? I love the setting, most of all. The 1930s are the most glamourous and interesting of times for me, which is why I've set my Stannard novels at the very start of the decade. I love the costumes, i love the very Britishness of it all.

 

Favourite episode? Five Little Pigs.

George Gently (Inspector George Gently)

 

Set in 1960s North East England, Inspector George Gently follows the titular character, played by Martin Shaw, as he solves crimes during a period of social upheaval. Gently is a principled, seasoned detective, committed to fairness and justice in a world where corruption and prejudice are rampant.

 

George Gently stand out is his contrast to his sidekick, the younger, impulsive John Bacchus, and his calm, patient demeanour is a breath of fresh air in an era often characterized by rough-and-ready policing. The show’s exploration of the cultural changes of the 1960s adds a fascinating layer to the traditional crime-solving narrative.

 

I don't have a favourite episode for this series.

 

Endeavour Morse (Endeavour)

 

Endeavour follows the early career of the young Detective Constable Morse, portrayed by Shaun Evans. Set in the 1960s, this prequel to Inspector Morse shows the development of one of British TV's most iconic detectives. Morse is introspective, intelligent, and driven by a love for opera, poetry, and puzzles.

 

The setting in Oxford, with its cobbled streets and academic atmosphere, provides a rich backdrop for the show’s intricate plots. Morse’s keen observational skills and moral integrity shine as he navigates the evolving world of 1960s policing.

 

It's strange, I couldn't get into the Morse TV show but I really liked the first few series of Endeavour. My liking faded a little around series 3, mostly because I didn't like the story arc that began with Fred Thursday around this time. Up until then, Fred was decent, very likeable and he had his life sorted out. Then the writers gave him a lot of problems and he changed - as a writer, I realise why they did this, but I preferred Fred Thursday to be the one unchanging force in the series. I really didn't feel he deserved what the writers did to him. So, no favourite episode again.

 

 

Television image: Photographer: Hana Kirana, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons