BBC reveals when Manchester crime series ‘The Detectives’ will be back on our screens and why it stopped

The Detectives: Fighting Organised Crime is arguably one of the best BBC docuseries to air in years: So why did it stop airing after just 2 episodes?

The series, which first hit screens across the UK back in March, gave viewers a rare glimpse into Manchester’s world of crime.

Real-life investigations led by Greater Manchester Police into criminal activity and organised crime gangs spanning across two years were shown in a startlingly candid manner, as were the gang members behind the heinous crimes happening across the city. 

BBC

The first episode, which aired on March 23rd, saw police officers called out to a hostage situation in central Manchester, where a man had been taken by an armed gang in front of his wife and children and only released after a £34,000 ransom was paid.

It also introduced the nation to the slightly terrifying Paris Bostock, who was eventually convicted and sent down for kidnap and torture. 

Episode two, which aired the following week, followed Greater Manchester Police’s Major Incident Team as they launched a murder investigation into the murder of a known drug dealer, with officers meticulously piecing together CCTV evidence and information from phone records to uncover a large-scale conspiracy.

Both episodes proved to be hugely successful, with millions of people tuning in from all across the country. 

However, despite the anticipation surrounding the next episode, it was never aired.

Quite bizarrely, BBC 2 never broadcasted the third instalment of the series, and it was nowhere to be found on the TV guide. 

Fans of the show quickly implored the BBC for a reason as to why the programme had been seemingly discontinued, but they didn’t receive an answer.

But now, nearly two months on, it has become apparent that the show’s creators are simply waiting to unleash a three-part episode on a single investigation this summer. 

Replying to someone’s inquisitive tweet, BBC iPlayer explained: “The first two episodes were self-contained narratives.

“There are three remaining episodes that are planned later in the summer which follow one complete story.”

Though there are rumours of the show’s second run focusing on Rochdale grooming gangs, the BBC are yet to confirm what the series will follow and when exactly it will air, with them simply asking people to ‘keep an eye on the programme page for dates nearer the time.’