9 TV shows based on real crimes

Taking place in the 1970s, Narcos chronicles the life of Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar as he evades the police to keep control of his cocaine empire. The real Escobar had an estimated net worth of $30 billion by the early 1990s, when he was shot dead by the Colombian police.

This BBC series charts the rise of the titular gang on the streets of post-World War 1 Birmingham. While the gangs themselves existed, the characters are all fictional.

Set against the backdrop of American Prohibition in the 1920s, Boardwalk Empire showcases the corruption and violence in post-war Atlantic City, New Jersey – with Steve Buscemi playing the central figure Enoch "Nucky" Thompson. While the shows central cast were largely fictional creations, some actors played versions of real gangsters, including infamous Chicago gangster Al Capone.

Over twenty years after O.J. Simpson was found not guilty of murdering Nicole Brown Simpson & Ron Goldman, American Crime Story examines the trial that became a media sensation in 1995. With an all-star cast including John Travolta, David Schwimmer and Cuba Gooding Jr, the series was extremely well-received and led to renewed interest in the case. A follow-up series of ACS, focusing on the 2005 Hurricane Katrina disaster, is expected to launch in 2017.

Over its five seasons, The Wire examined several issues that are prevalent in real-life Baltimore, such as the policing of drug dealers, corruption in local politics, and the role of the city's media.

Andrew Garfield stars in this trilogy of TV films focusing on the Yorkshire police force between 1974 and 1983. As well as fictional elements, the films contained references to real-life investigations; including the Yorkshire Ripper killings.

This 2011 two-part ITV miniseries stars Dominic West and Monica Dolan as Fred and Rose West. The series takes place in 1994, when the pair were arrested and tried for multiple murders between 1967-1987.

The Netflix series is based on the 2010 memoir by Piper Kerman, who served a 15 month sentence in prison for a money laundering conviction. The book was adapted for television by Jenji Kohan, creator of another TV comedy-drama about criminals – Weeds.

Another fictional show with a background in real crime, Whitechapel tells the story of police officers who are tasked with tracking down criminals who recreate or pay homage to historical crimes. Famous crimes that the series focuses on include the Jack the Ripper murders and the crimes of the Kray Twins.