10 Best Crime TV Shows (Since Breaking Bad)

10. Peaky Blinders

Few shows have had as immediate a cultural impact as Peaky Blinders, if not on TV itself then on fashion. No one could have predicted the rise of the tweed waistcoat, suspenders and flat cap, but through the undeniable brash cool of Cillian Murphy and co, the Peaky Blinders look has become a must-have.

There’s a lot more to Peaky Blinders than sartorial trend setting, of course. Set in post-World War One Birmingham, the show takes us into a world seldom seen on screen, that of gang-run horse racing.

From there it blossoms with an ambition seen far too infrequently on British TV. The seasons are short, only six episodes apiece, but they cram a lot in, winning fans over with fast moving, often brutal action and a focus that boldly shifts from season to season (the progression of lead character Tommy Shelby beggars belief).

It’s not without its flaws (it tends towards the melodramatic), but Peaky Blinders is original and often daring, with an instantly iconic performance from Murphy and a relentless approach that keeps you coming back.