I tend to watch television sporadically. Usually, I check the channels and rarely find anything that appeals. I tend to shy away from anything American. But recently, there has been a surge of good drama and most of it has been British.

The series Shetland has Douglas Henshall as Detective Inspector Jimmy Perez based on Lerwick, a town with a population of only 7,500. The island of Fairisle, which is also in his patch, has only 68, hardly enough to knit a jumper, never mind hide a killer. These are complex storylines from the books of Ann Cleeves filmed in an area of compellingly stark beauty that makes you wonder: why would anybody choose to live there?

Currently, the excellent John Simm is a detective on the run in Manchester, trying to prove his innocence after being accused of the murder of his wife and child, in the taught thriller Prey.

Then there’s Hinterland, low key thrillers set in Aberystwyth, of all places, with Richard Harrington as the detective investigating murder among locals who speak Welsh. The series comes with subtitles and is billed as Celtic Noir.

The brilliant and under-rated Sarah Lancashire is the police sergeant in Happy Valley filmed in Sowerby Bridge, Huddersfield and other parts of West Yorkshire. It’s by award winning writer Sally Wainwright, who was responsible for Last Tango In Halifax and Scott and Bailey, and is breathtakingly good.

All these benefit from being made in fresh locations rather than the usual London-centric dramas.

Generation War, the three part German mini series, tells the story of the Second World War from the German point of view, is compelling and absorbing and benefits from featuring actors unseen over here.

I have long been a fan of Nordic Noir and have also found, on Netflix, the Swedish crime thriller series Arne Dahl, so my cup runneth over at the moment. Great drama, great locations and not an American in sight.

Unfortunately, I expect this bonus to end as summer arrives and the television schedules are filled with repeats and the World Cup.

Until then, it’s happy viewing.