British crime drama Dalgliesh will be coming back to solve more crimes in the near future, it’s been announced, but fans will have to brace themselves for a big change.

Starring Bertie Carvel (Doctor Foster) as Commander Adam Dalgliesh, the series is based on the best-selling detective novels of the same name by the late PD James.
Dalgliesh season 3 aired throughout December 2024, and fans will no doubt be delighted to hear that their favourite poet-slash-detective will be returning for new adventures, although they’ll have to wait until 2027 to see them.
Producers Acorn TV and New Pictures announced today that, yes, Carvel’s Dalgliesh will return, but when he does, his adventures won’t be broadcast on UK network 5 anymore.
Instead, season 4 of Dalgliesh will premiere on streaming service Acorn TV in the UK, US and Canada. Radio Times has reached out for comment on 5’s involvement in Dalgliesh.
Speaking on the renewal, Elaine Pyke, co-founder and creative director, new pictures and executive producer of Dalgliesh said: “It’s a real pleasure returning to the world of Dalgliesh, brought to life by the brilliant Helen Edmundson and Bertie Carvel.”
Don Klees, senior vice president of programming for Acorn TV added: “Dalgleish delivers exactly the type of suspenseful, character-driven drama out audience craves and we’re thrilled for it to return to our lineup of the very best in crime drama murder mystery.”
One reason for the big wait in-between seasons, of course, is just how in demand star Carvel is.
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Late last year, it was announced that the Olivier and Tony award-winning actor would be reprising his role as cheating husband Simon Foster in BBC One’s Doctor Foster for a third season.
Carvel will be reuniting with his on-screen ex-wife Gemma Foster (Suranne Jones) and teenage son Tom (Tom Taylor), with the new season picking up almost ten years after the conclusion of the second season, which saw Tom make the decision to run away from his family, given the toxic relationship between his mother and father.
Doctor Foster’s third season is set to film this spring – with its three main characters all reuniting at a recent read-through – and will be aired on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Dalgliesh season 1-3 are available to stream online via 5. Season 4 comes to Acorn TV in 2027.
Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what’s on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.

