A dozen crime shows returning in 2026 to look forward to
We thought we’d look ahead at the various crime shows returning to our screens in 2026. We stopped at a dozen, then realised even that was too much. We thought we’d list them all then focus on a few.
Our dozen crime shows returning in 2026
Our shows split into several groups:
— Three shows we expected in 2025 (including some of our previous look ahead, which also lists the three shows below!): Ludwig, Professor T and Shakespeare and Hathaway
— The three so called paraverse shows: Death in Paradise, Beyond Paradise and Return to Paradise
— Three shows you can watch via UKTV: Miss Scarlet, Signora Volpe and The Brokenwood Mysteries
— The rest: Death Valley, Only Murders in the Building and Patience.
Three shows we expected in 2025 and didn’t get
This time last year we were a little over zealous in our assumptions. Now all three shows will be arriving in 2026. Disappointment becomes something to look forward to.
Ludwig given how successful series 1 was, we thought series 2 would follow swiftly. We didn’t reckon on availability of various members of cast (and no doubt other factors) and filming in Cambridge only started in September. Master puzzle-setter John ‘Ludwig’ Taylor (Dvid Mitchell) is now a Crime Scene Consultant working on ‘impossible’ crimes for the Cambridge Police Authority. No longer having to masquerade as his brother, he’s openly more ‘Ludwig’ than ever — brilliant at solving puzzles but hopeless at everything else.
Professor T is another quirky Cambridge based detective series, but this one has filmed its fourth series, which has also been show in the US. For no explained reason, the UK release has been pushed into 2026. We have no specifics. Another disappointment, but the silver lining is series 5 is already happening.
Shakespeare and Hathaway for a show we had assumed cancelled, it turns out it was just resting. Series 5 aired on U&Alibi earlier this year so not available via the streaming U service. A BBC release was promised, but failed to arrive. We assume the show will arrive in 2026, presumably in a BBC One afternoon slot. Like Professor T, there’s good news as series 6 is happening, though with a change in the regular lineup.
Crime in Paradise
We have already had the Christmas special for Beyond Paradise and it’s back to St Marie tonight (Sunday 28 December) for Death in Paradise. Both shows return in the new year, our assumption being once the new series of Traitors has happened. As to Return to Paradise, we’d like a third series and Christmas special. There was little news on series 2 production in 2025, but the show returned stronger (in our view) than before. Fingers crossed for more.
Shows to watch via UKTV
Here’s where we’ll fudge a little. Although we listed three shows, we could have added both Harry Wild and The Chelsea Detective. Nothing is in the schedule (yet), but both shows have filmed a further series and come to UKTV and U regularly.
We’ve chosen:
Miss Scarlet the fourth series (when it was still Miss Scarlet and the Duke) only just arrive on U, but that means it’s entirely reasonable to expect series 5 (ie just Miss Scarlet) same time next year (and there’s another in the queue).
Signora Volpe Similarly, we know series 3 has filmed, so expect more glorious Italian scenery with Emilia Fox in 2026.
The Brokenwood Mysteries and the 12th series of The Brokenwood Mysteries finished filming recently, so every reason to expect a return to New Zealand.
Speaking of which, we could even had added A Remarkable Place to Die, but felt we’d draw a line at a dozen.
The rest
Last, but not least, we chose:
Death Valley series 2 and it’s back to Wales (presumably on a Sunday evening) to rejoin Timothy Spall and Gwyneth Keyworth as they investigate the most cozy of crimes in an easy watch show we rather enjoyed.
Only Murders in the Building season 6 takes the show’s format and shakes it up by taking the action to London. The show will certainly look very different and we hope the experiment pays off. This needs a Disney+ subscription.
Patience series 2 is a return to York for Ella Maisy Purvis as she navigates the world of crime as an autistic police archivist. Season 1 of this remake of a French show impressed us, and we look forward to seeing how series 2 develops.
That’s the end of this look ahead — we hope we’ve reminded you of some of your favourites, tempted you with some new titles and end with best wishes for 2026. Keep watching!