The concluding episode of Scottish detective drama Granite Harbour, a series that has drawn comparisons to Death in Paradise, airs tonight on BBC.
The series, which first launched in 2022, returned for a third run earlier this year, two years after its second series aired in May 2024. The finale, broadcast at 8pm and available on BBC iPlayer, follows detectives Lindo and Bart as they race against time to find the real killer, with long-held secrets finally revealed.
Star on returning for new series
Romario Simpson, who plays detective Lindo, expressed his excitement about reprising the role. "It feels exciting to be back. It's thrilling to be able to delve back into these characters and explore a completely different crime and tell a story set within the travelling community," he said. "It's another story that people can relate to and learn from. It's exciting to be able to do it all again."
Discussing his character's evolution, Simpson added: "We find Lindo in his third year as a detective. He's much more comfortable in his role and is dealing with bigger, more intricate cases. We also explore his love life a bit more, and you still see him sticking to his renegade tactics of going off the books for the greater good. It's never selfish — it's always about helping others. This series really shows Lindo in his element."
Viewer comparisons to Shetland and Death in Paradise
The show has been compared to Shetland and Death in Paradise, with viewers sharing their thoughts on IMDb. One viewer wrote: "The other reviews are just negative for the portrayal of Aberdeen and the comparison to Shetland. I've heard of neither, so this is purely based on the show. Three episodes and a simple whodunnit case. Very easy watch and I genuinely didn't guess the end when I usually do at shows like this."
Another noted visual similarities to Shetland: "The sweeping scenery is reminiscent of Shetland, but the bizarre music is an odd choice for this arena." Not all were impressed, with one commenting: "It was nice to have a crime drama set in Aberdeen and in Scotland, but this isn't a Shetland or Taggart or Vera." Another drew a different comparison: "Death in Paradise meets Taggart."
BBC confirms what follows the finale
The third and final episode runs from 8pm to 9pm, and the BBC has confirmed what will fill the slot the following Friday. The One Show will broadcast a special hour-long episode on Friday, August 14, marking its 20th anniversary, followed by the European Athletics Championships, running from 8pm to 10pm.
The athletics event, held in Birmingham, will be broadcast on BBC One with Gabby Logan hosting. The synopsis reads: "Gabby Logan presents further coverage of the evening session on day five from Alexander Stadium." The women's 800m is a highlight, with reigning champion Keely Hodgkinson of Great Britain, Dutch 400m world record-holder Femke Broeders-Bol, and Swiss star Audrey Werro expected to compete. Finals also take place in the men's high jump, 400m hurdles and 200m, and the women's discus, with analysis from Jessica Ennis-Hill and Greg Rutherford, and commentary by Steve Cram, Steve Backley, Andrew Cotter, Colin Jackson and Paula Radcliffe.
Granite Harbour is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
