Bancroft

A dark and compelling thriller centering on Detective Superintendent Elizabeth Bancroft, a female detective with an explosive secret.

Bancroft (2017-2020) is a British crime drama series created by Kate Brooke for ITV1. Sarah Parish plays Detective Superintendent Elizabeth Bancroft, a senior officer carrying an explosive secret that could unravel her career and personal life. Faye Marsay plays Katherine Stevens, Linus Roache plays Tim Fraser, and Adrian Edmondson plays Superintendent Cliff Walker, all woven around the detective's investigations and the pressures of hidden loyalties. The engine of the series is the tension between Bancroft's public duty and the private truth she must keep buried, as each case threatens to expose her. Across two seasons totaling seven one-hour episodes, the show moves through procedural police work, interview rooms, and corridors of power in contemporary England. Its tone is dark, tense, and character-driven, with a steady undercurrent of paranoia and moral unease. Fans of Line of Duty, Happy Valley and Unforgotten will find resonance in its British police setting, its morally compromised characters, and its slow-building dread. The series is a short, compact run that rewards close attention and suits viewers who enjoy grounded, secret-driven thrillers.

• Line of Dutyfemale detective lead, dark conspiratorial police drama, British crime thriller tones
• Happy ValleyBritish police thriller, morally compromised institutional drama, tense procedural tones
• UnforgottenBritish detective drama with a secret-laden protagonist and layered crime plotting

Created by

Kate Brooke

Release Date

2017-12-11

Episode runtime

60 min

Rating

6.9 / 10 (38)

What is Bancroft about?

A senior British detective's explosive secret puts her career and relationships at risk in this dark, compelling thriller.

What is Bancroft like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Bancroft as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.

Is Bancroft violent?

Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Bancroft as mild.

Which shows are like Bancroft?

Shows with a similar feel include Line of Duty, Happy Valley, and Unforgotten.

How long is Bancroft?

Bancroft: 2 seasons, 7 episodes.

Is Bancroft still running?

No, Bancroft was canceled.

Where can I watch Bancroft?

In United States, Bancroft streams on Amazon Prime Video, Britbox Apple TV channel, BritBox, BritBox Amazon Channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Shout! Factory Amazon Channel.