The 70s police show formula was looking tired, and the genre was ripe for reinvention. Of the new shows, some would introduce a gritty documentary-like realism and include characters with real emotions and human flaws. Others became slicker and glossier as bigger budgets and the arrival of MTV influenced more stylised, glamorous shows with cutting edge music and fashion.
THROUGH THE DECADES
TELEVISION DETECTIVES
1980s & 90s
Through the 90s, shows increasingly became a vehicle for exploring the human cost of crime and police work. They introduced fresh ideas from the technical aspects of the investigative process, such as forensic detectives who solved crimes through scientific analysis of physical evidence. Demographic shifts in the field of policing during this period also led to more diversity on screen.
The 70s police show formula was looking tired, and the genre was ripe for reinvention. Of the new shows, some would introduce a gritty documentary-like realism and include characters with real emotions and human flaws. Others became slicker and glossier as bigger budgets and the arrival of MTV influenced more stylised, glamorous shows with cutting edge music and fashion.
Through the 90s, shows increasingly became a vehicle for exploring the human cost of crime and police work. They introduced fresh ideas from the technical aspects of the investigative process, such as forensic detectives who solved crimes through scientific analysis of physical evidence. Demographic shifts in the field of policing during this period also led to more diversity on screen.
HILL STREET BLUES
Featuring a large ensemble cast, Hill Street Blues chronicled the lives of the staff of a single fictional police station, 1981-87.
CAGNEY AND LACEY
Sharon Gless as Detective Christine Cagney and Tyne Daly as Detective Mary Beth Lacey, 1982-88.
PRIME SUSPECT
Helen Mirren as Detective Chief Inspector Jane Tennison, 1991-2006.
Noted for realistic scenes and dialogue, the chain-smoking, hard-drinking Jane Tennison spoke to a generation of successful and powerful women. Actress Helen Mirren said “They were a success in the workplace, but nobody had ever shown what it had been like for them to get there. Prime Suspect showed that.”
MURDER SHE WROTE
Angela Lansbury as mystery writer and amateur detective Jessica Fletcher, 1984-96.
INSPECTOR MORSE
John Thaw as DCI Endeavour Morse of the Thames Valley Police CID, 1987-2000.
BERGERAC
John Nettles as ex Police Detective Sergeant turned private detective, Jim Bergerac, 1981-91.
MAGNUM P.I.
Tom Selleck as Thomas Magnum, a private investigator living on Hawaii, 1980-1988.
DALZIEL AND PASCOE
Colin Buchanan as Detective Inspector Peter Pascoe and Warren Clarke as Detective Superintendent Andy Dalziel, 1996-2007.
MOONLIGHTING
A comedy crime drama starring Cybill Shepherd and Bruce Willis as private detectives Madelyn Hayes and David Addison, 1985-89.
MIAMI VICE
Don Johnson as Detective James “Sonny” Crockett and Philip Michael Thomas as Detective Ricardo “Rico” Tubbs, 1984-90.
2000s to PRESENT
Where traditional TV channels tended to represent crime and justice from a conservative, pro-establishment point of view, the emergence of U.S. cable shows and streaming services have set a new standard. Featuring exceptional writing, complex, fascinating characters, and high production values they altered the viewers expectations and ushered in a new age of television detectives.
Programme makers attempt more than ever, to accurately represent the day-to-day realities of crime and the procedures of a police investigation. Criminalistics and psychological profiling feature heavily as shows strive to be factually correct, while presenting detectives from an increasingly unique, stylised viewpoint.
Today, crime and police dramas are firmly entrenched in the television schedules. With such a viewing choice on offer, there is something for you whatever your tastes!
Where traditional TV channels tended to represent crime and justice from a conservative, pro-establishment point of view, the emergence of U.S. cable shows and streaming services have set a new standard. Featuring exceptional writing, complex, fascinating characters, and high production values they altered the viewers expectations and ushered in a new age of television detectives.
Programme makers attempt more than ever, to accurately represent the day-to-day realities of crime and the procedures of a police investigation. Criminalistics and psychological profiling feature heavily as shows strive to be factually correct, while presenting detectives from an increasingly unique, stylised viewpoint.
Today, crime and police dramas are firmly entrenched in the television schedules. With such a viewing choice on offer, there is something for you whatever your tastes!
BROADCHURCH
Olivia Colman as DS Ellie Miller and David Tennant as DI Alec Hardy, 2013-17.
THE WIRE
Wendell Pierce as Detective Bunk Moreland and Dominic West as Detective Jimmy McNulty, 2002-8.
LINE OF DUTY
Vicky McClure as DS Kate Fleming, Adrian Dunbar as Superintendent Ted Hastings and Martin Compston as DS Steve Arnott, 2012 to present.
TRUE DETECTIVE
Matthew McConaughey as Detective Rustin “Rust” Cohleand Woody Harrelson as Detective Martin “Marty” Hart, 2014-present. Each season features a different crime, cast and setting.
LUTHER
Idris Elba as Detective Chief Inspector John Luther, 2010-present.
Luther creator, Neil Cross, has said that the detective’s intellect and his application to solving crimes is influenced by Sherlock Holmes, whereas the show’s use of the inverted detective format was inspired by Columbo.
ENDEAVOUR
Shaun Evans as the young Endeavour Morse, beginning his career as a Detective Constable and later as a Detective Sergeant, 2012-present.
UNFORGOTTEN
Nicola Walker as DCI Cassie Stuart and Sanjeev Bhaskar as DI Sunny Khan, 2015 to present.
THE FALL
Gillian Anderson as Detective Superintendent Stella Gibson in the series set in Northern Ireland, 2013-16.
SHETLAND
Douglas Henshall as Detective Inspector Jimmy Perez, 2013 to present. Shetland is based on the novels by author Ann Cleeves, who also writes the Vera Stanhope series of books.
