From bleak northern moors to gritty London streets, British crime dramas have a unique knack for atmosphere and moral complexity. Rank these acclaimed series by how thoroughly they hooked you.
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Line of Duty
Jed Mercurio's interrogation-heavy thriller turned acronyms like OCG and CHIS into national vocabulary. The watercooler show that had millions theorising about H every Sunday night.
Happy Valley
Sally Wainwright's portrait of Sergeant Catherine Cawood combined kitchen-sink realism with genuine menace. Tommy Lee Royce became one of British TV's most chilling antagonists.

Broadchurch
David Tennant and Olivia Colman led a slow-burn investigation that captured grief and suspicion in equal measure. The Dorset cliffs became as much a character as the detectives.
Peaky Blinders
Steven Knight's stylised gangster epic blended Brummie grit with rock soundtracks and razor-edged tailoring. Cillian Murphy's Tommy Shelby became an icon of modern British TV.
Sherlock
Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman reinvented Conan Doyle's detective with breakneck pacing and visual flair. The Reichenbach Fall remains one of television's great cliffhangers.
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