The Vice (1999): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1999, The Vice is a crime and drama series.

What it’s about. The Vice is an ITV police drama about the Metropolitan Police Vice Unit. Spanning five short series from 1999 and 2003, it follows the London Metropolitan police force's vice squad, where prostitution, underage sex, and such organised crime are regular occurrences. Most episodes end where the main villain is caught but often not in a 'naturally' concluded way expected from other TV dramas, and often ending with more unanswered questions than answered. Leader DI Pat Chappel struggles to manage the balance between his private and professional lives — as do the rest of the team. Working in the seedy underworld leads to a continual dilemma — the tension between the Vice Squad and vice-related crimes runs throughout the series and gives the show a rich viewing experience. The line of the team staying on the right side of the law is often blurred, as almost every member at different points submits briefly or permanently to the dubious temptations, sometimes with drastic consequences.

Who’s in it. The Vice stars Caroline Catz as PC Cheryl Hutchins, David Harewood as DS Joe Robinson, Ken Stott as DI Pat Chappel and Rosie Marcel as PC Kirsty Morgan, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 5.6/10, The Vice has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.

Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Amazon Prime Video, Britbox Apple TV Channel , BritBox and BritBox Amazon Channel. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Vice page.

If you liked it. Fans of The Vice tend to enjoy Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, Lucifer and Riverdale.