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Entertainment • TV Series

Luther

Luther is a British psychological crime drama television series created and written by Neil Cross.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Luther is a British psychological crime drama television series created and written by Neil Cross. It stars Idris Elba as DCI John Luther, a London detective who investigates serious crimes while struggling with his own personal and professional demons. The series originally aired on BBC One from 2010 to 2019 and later continued with the sequel film Luther: The Fallen Sun.

Premise

The series follows DCI John Luther as he investigates murder cases, often involving dangerous offenders and serial killers. It combines police procedural elements with psychological thriller storytelling.

Broadcast history

Luther premiered on BBC One in the United Kingdom on 4 May 2010. It ran for five series through 2019, with a total of 20 episodes.

Cast and characters

Idris Elba plays the title character, while Ruth Wilson appears as Alice Morgan, a recurring figure with a complex relationship to Luther. Other notable cast members across the series include Warren Brown, Dermot Crowley, Michael Smiley, and Saskia Reeves.

Continuation

The television series was followed by the feature film Luther: The Fallen Sun, which continued the story after the fifth series. The film was released in 2023.

Key facts

  • The series centres on DCI John Luther, a homicide detective in London.
  • Idris Elba stars as Luther, and Ruth Wilson plays Alice Morgan.
  • The first series aired in 2010 and consisted of six episodes.
  • A second series aired in 2011, a third in 2013, a fourth in 2015, and a fifth in 2019.
  • All episodes were written by creator Neil Cross.
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Canadian context

Luther has been available to Canadian audiences through international streaming and television distribution, making it part of the wider UK crime-drama viewership in Canada.

Frequently asked questions

What is Luther about?
It is about London detective John Luther as he investigates serious crimes, especially murders, while confronting personal and ethical challenges.
Who created Luther?
Luther was created and written by Neil Cross.
Who stars in Luther?
The series stars Idris Elba as John Luther and Ruth Wilson as Alice Morgan.
How many series and episodes does Luther have?
The series has five series and 20 episodes in total.
When did Luther first air?
It first aired on BBC One on 4 May 2010.
Was Luther continued after the TV series ended?
Yes. The story continued in the 2023 film Luther: The Fallen Sun.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luther_(TV_series)
    Supports: Series premise, cast, creator, broadcast run, and distribution
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Luther_episodes
    Supports: Episode count, broadcast history, and sequel film
  3. Netflix — https://www.netflix.com/title/70175633
    Supports: Series description, creator, cast, and genre
  4. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1474684/
    Supports: Series format, creator, cast, and genre
  5. TV Guide — https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/luther/1030387761/
    Supports: Series premise and run