- Peter Ansorge, 1997.

Given the diversity of concepts and setting of crime dramas currently being produced this comment may or may not seem as convincing as it may have been when authored.

Take one crime drama series and investigate the respects in which it both: 1) reworks established crime drama formula and conventions; and 2) offers novelty in terms of such aspects as concept, characterisations, episode structure and visual style.

In 1997, Senior Commissioning Editor for Drama on channel four in Britain, Peter Ansorges', made the comment, that there were too many crime dramas, and they were becoming all too frequently the same, in terms of storylines, style and structure. Whether this statement is still relevant, seven years on is subject to discussion.

American contemporary crime...