Prime Suspect: Trailer, certificate and where to watch
Lynda La Plante's masterpiece stars Helen Mirren as indomitable DCI Jane Tennison
Year: 1991-2006
Certificate: 18
Over 30 years since its debut, Prime Suspect remains Lynda La Plante's masterpiece. Helen Mirren plays Jane Tennison, a DCI on the trail of perverts and psychos. All the while she must contend with the casual sexism of a police force that refuses to take the idea of a lady cop - not to mention crimes against women - seriously.
Mirren is wonderful - she was nominated for six Best Actress BAFTAs for the role and won three of them - but don't miss Tom Bell as a hacked-off sergeant determined to do Tennison down, and Stuart Wilson as her tortured analyst boyfriend. Prime Suspect went on a couple of seasons too long, but this is still the series every whodunnit wants to be. (Seven series)
