It’s time to trade fingerprints for paintbrushes and evidence bags for easels as ‘Art Detectives’ lands on U&Drama this October. The new six-part crime drama, starring and executive produced by Stephen Moyer (True Blood), blends mystery, romance and art-world intrigue into one very stylish British whodunnit.
The series follows DI Mick Palmer (Moyer), an art-loving detective in the newly formed Heritage Crime Unit. Partnered with the sharp, straight-talking DC Shazia Malik, played by Nina Singh (Virdee, The Lazarus Project), Mick is tasked with investigating murders and thefts tied to the world of fine art and antiques. Each episode sees the duo delving into cases steeped in beauty, history and deception, from Old Master paintings and Banksy murals to Viking gold, rare Chinese porcelain and even artefacts rescued from the Titanic.
But while Mick and Shazia unravel crimes driven by greed, obsession and revenge, their personal lives prove just as messy. Mick is juggling a budding romance with Rosa, a witty museum curator played by Sarah Alexander (Coupling, Green Wing), and trying to keep his professional life on track after the surprise return of his father Ron (played by Larry Lamb (Gavin & Stacey, EastEnders)), a legendary art forger with a knack for trouble. The complicated father-son dynamic adds an extra layer of moral tension to the series, blurring the lines between those who protect art and those who exploit it.
The opening episode finds Mick dispatched to the imposing Astleigh House in Yorkshire after the brutal murder of art historian Francis Crozier. With the mansion’s owner desperate to open his new gallery and family secrets bubbling beneath the surface, the case soon becomes more than a simple homicide. From paintball vandalism to cryptic notes, every clue points toward a tangled web of deception and a mystery that will pull Mick and Shazia deep into the shadows of Britain’s art scene.
Behind the camera, the series showcases the rich textures of the UK’s art world, from stately homes to backstreet galleries, while pairing its mystery plots with a wry sense of humour. The show’s tone has drawn comparisons to Father Brown and Death in Paradise, but with a distinctly modern edge and a lot more oil paint.
Having already made a splash in North America earlier this year, ‘Art Detectives’ became Acorn TV’s most-watched series premiere of all time. Its UK debut marks a homecoming for the show’s stars and creators, who blend glossy production design with traditional detective storytelling.
‘Art Detectives’ Season 1 premieres Thursday, 30th October 2025 at 8pm on U&Drama, with the full box set available to stream on U the same day.
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