Nicola Walker may have another gripping detective drama hiding in plain sight – and fans of Unforgotten could find themselves hooked from the very first episode.

With her return to our screens in Alice and Steve still at least six months away, viewers looking for their next Nicola Walker fix need not wait. The 56-year-old actress stars alongside Robson Green in Touching Evil, a gritty ITV crime drama that has been described as having everything that makes Unforgotten compelling, only with a considerably darker edge.

Originally broadcast between 1997 and 1999, the series may be approaching its 30th anniversary, but its unsettling investigations, psychologically complex characters and intense performances have lost little of their impact.

And with two series available to stream now, there’s plenty to get stuck into.

A Dark Detective Drama That Gets Inside the Criminal Mind

Touching Evil follows Detective Inspector Dave Creegan (Robson Green) and his partner, Detective Inspector Susan Taylor (Nicola Walker), members of the Organised & Serial Crime Unit (OSC), an elite rapid-response police force tasked with tackling some of the most disturbing cases.

The two detectives couldn’t be more different.

Creegan is intense, unpredictable and often consumed by his investigations. Taylor, meanwhile, is more measured and empathetic, bringing a sense of balance to a partnership that could easily spiral out of control.

Across three original series, the pair confront a disturbing range of crimes, from the abduction of three children to the hunt for a serial killer.

But this isn’t simply another police procedural built around catching criminals.

What sets Touching Evil apart is its willingness to explore the psychology behind the crimes. The drama examines what drives people to commit horrific acts, while also revealing the emotional and psychological damage that investigating such cases can inflict on the detectives themselves.

That darker, more personal approach gives the series an intensity that still makes it compelling decades after its original broadcast.

Nicola Walker Once Admitted She’d Make a Terrible Police Officer

Despite her impressive collection of detective roles, Walker has made it clear that playing a police officer on television is very different from doing the job in real life.

Speaking to PBS Masterpiece, the actress was asked whether years of portraying detectives had given her any real-life investigative instincts.

Her answer was refreshingly honest.

“It’s so funny with actors – I think it’s more worrying when actors have done medical dramas and they think they know what to do in a medical emergency,” she said.

She then admitted that she would be far from suited to police work.

“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I would be the worst police officer because I would spend my time either a) too terrified to chase after the bad person, and b) sobbing at the cases I saw, being totally ineffectual, too emotional.”

Walker went on to explain that the emotional sensitivity that makes someone effective as an actor could actually become a disadvantage in such a demanding profession.

“The things that make you right for acting, your ability to empathise and bring emotion to the surface quite quickly, I think would make you a terrible police officer in real life.”

It’s an amusing admission from an actress who has spent so much of her career convincingly bringing complex detectives to life.

Who Stars in Touching Evil?

Alongside Walker and Green, the series features a strong ensemble cast.

The main cast includes:

• Nicola Walker (Collateral) as DI Susan Taylor
• Robson Green (Grantchester) as DI Dave Creegan
• Shaun Dingwall (Above Suspicion) as DC Mark Rivers
• Michael Feast (Murphy’s Law) as Commander Stephen Enwright
• Mary Cunningham (Peak Practice) as Police Psychologist Marion
• Adam Kotz (Five Daughters) as DC Jonathan Kreitman
• Andrew Scarborough (Our Girl) as DC Martin Simmons
• Saskia Downes (Coronation Street) as Kerry Creegan
• Antony Byrne (Straightheads) as Barry
• Molly Moloney (Appetite) as Ruby Creegan

Why Touching Evil Is Worth Watching

For fans of Unforgotten or anyone who enjoys a detective drama with a genuinely unsettling atmosphere, Touching Evil comes highly recommended.

Its greatest strength lies in the relationship between its two central characters.

Creegan is far from the conventional television detective. A complex and emotionally tortured figure, he has survived a near-fatal gunshot wound to the head – an experience that helps explain his unpredictable behaviour and troubled outlook.

Taylor provides the counterbalance he desperately needs. Her empathy and understanding frequently prevent her partner from becoming consumed by an obsession or pursuing an investigation down a dangerous rabbit hole.

The contrast between them gives the series much of its dramatic power.

Green and Walker make a particularly compelling pairing, creating a partnership built on contrasting personalities, professional tension and an understanding of each other’s strengths and weaknesses.

Their performances are a major reason the drama remains such a rewarding watch.

Watch the Touching Evil Trailer

Want a taste of the series before committing to two seasons?

The Touching Evil trailer from Acorn TV offers a glimpse of the dark investigations and tense atmosphere that define the drama.

Where Can You Watch Touching Evil?

There’s no need to hunt through multiple streaming platforms to find the series.

Both Series 1 and Series 2 of Touching Evil are currently available to stream on:

• ITVX.
• Prime Video.

With both series available, viewers can dive straight into Creegan and Taylor’s investigations.

Two More Nicola Walker Dramas to Add to Your Watchlist

If Touching Evil leaves you wanting more, there are two other Nicola Walker performances worth seeking out.

Annika

In Annika, Walker plays DI Annika Strandhed, who leads a specialist Marine Homicide Unit (MHU). Her job involves investigating baffling murders discovered in Scotland’s waterways.

Alongside the investigations, Annika shares her own wry, often humorous observations, giving the series a distinctive personality.

You can watch Annika on BBC iPlayer.

Mary & George

For something completely different, Mary & George offers a historical drama inspired by the true story of Mary Villiers (Julianne Moore), who uses her son, George (Nicholas Galitzine), to seduce King James I (Tony Curran).

Walker appears as Lady Elizabeth Hatton, lady-in-waiting to Queen consort Anne of Denmark, delivering another memorable performance in a very different setting.

Mary & George is available on Sky and NOW.

For anyone missing Nicola Walker’s unforgettable detective performances, Touching Evil is a particularly compelling place to start – and its darker approach to crime makes it a series well worth rediscovering.