Inspector Ellis: Sharon D Clarke’s Acclaimed Crime Drama Wins Over Viewers With Clever Twists and Compelling Mysteries

British crime drama fans searching for their next fix after Broadchurch, Endeavour or Happy Valley may want to put Inspector Ellis firmly on their watchlist.

Led by three-time Olivier Award winner and BAFTA nominee Sharon D Clarke, the detective series has earned an enthusiastic following for its carefully constructed mysteries, unexpected twists and an unusual central partnership. Clarke stars as the formidable DCI Ellis, while Andrew Gower plays her trusted colleague, DS Chet Harper.

Rather than remaining attached to one station, the pair are dispatched across northern England to assist police forces struggling with investigations that have stalled or gone badly wrong. Ellis often arrives to resistance from local officers, but her sharp instincts and determination make her a formidable presence.

The drama first premiered on Channel 5 in October 2024, with its success leading Acorn TV and 5 to commission a second season.

A detective called in when investigations are falling apart

At the heart of the series is DCI Ellis, an exceptionally capable investigator who has nevertheless frequently found herself overlooked professionally.

Alongside Harper, she is sent into unfamiliar communities where local detectives have reached dead ends. Each new assignment brings another complicated murder investigation, with Ellis forced to separate genuine evidence from misleading clues while navigating officers who aren’t always pleased to have an outsider taking control.

That structure gives the series a slightly different identity from traditional police procedurals. Instead of watching the same team investigate crimes in one location, viewers follow Ellis and Harper into new communities, with fresh suspects and tensions surrounding each mystery.

Their relationship gradually becomes another important part of the drama. Ellis brings authority, experience and remarkable observational skills, while Harper’s contrasting personality creates a partnership that viewers have responded warmly to.

Sharon D Clarke earns praise as DCI Ellis

Clarke’s performance has become one of the show’s biggest attractions.

The acclaimed stage and screen actress brings both authority and empathy to Ellis, avoiding the colder characterization sometimes associated with brilliant television detectives.

Critics took notice following the first season. The New York Times praised the appeal of watching Ellis’s sheer competence, while The Hollywood Reporter described Clarke as “a titan.”

Audience reactions have been similarly enthusiastic.

One Rotten Tomatoes reviewer described the show as an unexpected discovery that remained engaging from beginning to end, praising its writing, production and Clarke’s performance. Other viewers highlighted the red herrings and twists that allow the mysteries to remain uncertain until their eventual reveals.

Another fan praised the developing dynamic between Ellis and Harper, comparing their relationship to that of a mentor and mentee and applauding the warmth Clarke brings to her detective.

For some viewers, the series has even helped fill the gap left by Endeavour, with one fan calling it the best show they had discovered since that acclaimed detective drama ended.

Season 2 expands Ellis and Harper’s world

Following the response to the first season, the drama returned in 2026 with another collection of investigations.

The second season places Ellis and Harper amid fractured communities, hidden resentments and suspicious deaths. One investigation takes them into a rural community after the death of a prominent local businessman, while another involves the death of a young woman and secrets surrounding a stoneworks.

The cases once again challenge Ellis’s investigative abilities while exploring the people and communities surrounding each crime.

Charlotte McCurry joins the continuing story as DC Kate Trent, while Allison Harding plays ACC Alison Leighton. Clarke and Gower remain at the centre as Ellis and Harper.

The format also changed slightly. While the first season consisted of three feature-length mysteries, Season 2 comprises four episodes built around two two-part investigations.

Why the drama has connected with crime fans

Part of Inspector Ellis‘ appeal lies in how familiar and distinctive it feels at the same time.

There are the expected ingredients of a classic British mystery — suspicious deaths, carefully planted clues, red herrings and communities filled with potential suspects — but Ellis herself gives the series its strongest identity.

She’s intelligent without being portrayed as infallible, determined without becoming emotionally detached and capable of challenging both suspects and fellow police officers when an investigation isn’t being handled properly.

Meanwhile, Harper provides a complementary presence, and watching their professional relationship evolve gives viewers another reason to keep returning between cases.

For audiences who prefer character-driven mysteries where the identity of the culprit isn’t immediately obvious, the combination has proved particularly effective.

With Sharon D Clarke commanding the screen, Andrew Gower alongside her and mysteries designed to keep viewers guessing until the final reveal, Inspector Ellis has quietly established itself as another British detective drama worth discovering.