Police drama hailed ‘easily among the best of British TV’ now streaming on Netflix

The latest detective drama addition to Netflix’s streaming ranks is one that easily taps into the appeal of 20th-century-set dramas, like Call the Midwife and Mr Selfridge.

Foyle’s War has no shortage of viewers prepared to sing its praises, with a single-minded and stiff-upper-lip detective at its centre in DCI Christopher Foyle, played by Michael Kitchen.

The drama, which originally aired on ITV in the noughties, was first set in the Second World War but continued to tackle crime all the way up to the Cold War. 

With film-length episodes packed with the best British stars on offer – we’re talking two Doctors, Peter Capaldi and David Tennant, as well as Emily Blunt, Rosamund Pike and Andrew Scott – each episode sees a new murder case cracked.

DCI Foyle is stuck at home during the war and frustrated, so sets himself to investigating provincial murders. Expect a picturesque countryside and plenty of period detail: vintage cars, mackintoshes, all men wearing hats.

Penned by Anthony Horowitz, the detective drama was first commissioned by ITV in 2002 – and is still all on ITVX if you don’t have Netflix – as an intended replacement for Inspector Morse when its star, John Thaw, died.

However, ITV tried to unceremoniously cancel Foyle’s War in 2007, with the seventh series finale jumping to VJ Day. A total of 7.6million viewers tuned in and were furious at the decision – so the show was saved by the indignant reaction from fans.

Viewers wrote furious letters complaining about the decision to the broadcaster, asking for more. The series subsequently came back in 2013 for a further batch of supersized episodes in the thick of the Cold War. 

The show has an avid fanbase – including one Steve Coogan, he recently admitted on a podcast – and has been touted as one of Britain’s best dramas.

One Google review from Anil Heendeniya said the show is ‘easily among the best police procedurals ever broadcast’, adding: ‘Masterfully done, it’s a prime example of what a television series can do when it engages the audience by respecting our intelligence and putting us in the passenger seat of an enjoyable ride.’

Cousin Jack wrote in their review: ‘What a series! One of the best presentations I have seen in my many decades of watching British TV. 

‘The cast; the settings; the stories were all great and it is a must watch for anybody remotely interested in this genre, and also for a lot of people who are not. My only regrets are that (a) It finished; and (b) someone saw fit to cancel the series in 2005, causing us to miss out on what would have been some brilliant episodes.’

Asanka Sovis labelled it ‘one of the best TV series in my favourite list’, noting the quality stays high through the whole series run. 

‘Buckle up, because you’re going to want to watch all episodes till the end non-stop,’ they wrote.

Foyle’s War is available to stream on Netflix and ITVX.

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