TV fans are only just discovering 'brilliant' murder mystery series with a twist
The Chelsea Detective centres around murder cases in the affluent London borough of Chelsea
The Chelsea Detective season 3 official trailer
Many television viewers have only recently stumbled upon a gripping murder mystery series that has been flying under the radar.
The Chelsea Detective, a traditional British crime drama created by Peter Fincham, initially premiered on Acorn TV.
The programme consists of four-episode seasons, each of which centres around a murder investigation that doesn't get resolved until the season finale.
The show's inaugural season debuted in February 2022. The second season wrapped up by September 2023, and the third kicked off in May.
Here's a rundown of the key information about the programme, including plot, characters, and audience response, reports Surrey Live.
What is The Chelsea Detective about?
The Chelsea Detective revolves around Adrian Scarborough, known for his role in Gavin and Stacey, who portrays the unyielding Detective Inspector Max Arnold.
In the prosperous London borough of Chelsea, DI Arnold investigates various murder cases.
The show's official synopsis teases: "London's Chelsea neighbourhood is a beautiful borough for beautiful people, but it has a dark underside of deception, violence, greed and murder.
"Bodies have a way of showing up, and things are rarely what they seem. DI Max Arnold and his partner, DS Priya Shamsie (Sonita Henry), must root out the truth and bring those responsible to justice, no matter their wealth or status."
Following Priya's departure at the end of the first season, DS Layla Walsh (Vanessa Emme) is soon introduced as the newest protagonist in season two.
The latest series features four new murder mysteries, including the suspicious death of a former popstar, the discovery of an ex-soldier's body in an allotment, the brutal murder of an antiques dealer and the peculiar case of a climate scientist found dead in a stolen car.
Who is in the cast of The Chelsea Detective?
The stellar cast includes Adrian, Priya and Vanessa, joined by Peter Bankole as DC Connor Pollock, Lucy Phelps as DC Jess Lombard, and Sophie Stone playing Chief Forensics Officer Ashley Wilton.
Adding to the line-up are Anamaria Marinca from Fury, Frances Barber of Silk fame, and Alex Kingston, known for her role in Doctor Who.
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What are viewers saying about The Chelsea Detective?
Viewers have been loving the series, with many taking to X (formerly Twitter) to share their praise.
"Only just discovering this a few nights ago, and I am really enjoying it. It's one of those shows that is relaxing, even though it is about murder etc. It just takes me away from all the noise that's going on in the world now," one person wrote.
"I think a lot of viewers are missing out on this, it should be on BBC or ITV," another added, while someone else chimed in with: "The only problem with series 3 is there's not enough episodes. I love The Chelsea Detective. More please."
Joining the chorus, another fan stated: "Great show! I'm on my third rewatch," and one more offered: "Brilliant series!!!!"
The Chelsea Detective is currently airing on U&Drama and streaming on U
