Paris is beautiful. Paris is dangerous. And from 29 January 2026, it becomes the battleground for one of television’s most compelling new detectives as brand-new crime drama Maigret makes its debut on Universal TV (DStv Channel 117).
Premiering at 8 PM with back-to-back episodes every Thursday, the six-episode series will run until its season finale on 12 February 2026, offering viewers tightly constructed, two-hour crime stories set against the moody elegance of the French capital.
At the centre of it all is Benjamin Wainwright (Belgravia: The Next Chapter, The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim), who steps into the role of Chief Inspector Jules Maigret — a detective as empathetic as he is fearless.
A Crime Series Built on Depth, Not Gimmicks
Maigret unfolds as a sequence of three self-contained, two-hour investigations, each delving into the psychology of crime as much as the mechanics of justice.
The series opens with Maigret & the Lazy Burglar, where Maigret hunts down the brutal killers of a skilled burglar while simultaneously dismantling a gang responsible for audacious bank heists terrorising Paris.
The second instalment, Maigret’s Failure, sees Maigret grappling with the consequences of his limitations when he fails to protect Ferdinand Fumal, one of France’s wealthiest men, from escalating death threats.
The season concludes with Maigret Comes Home, a deeply personal case in which Maigret investigates the murder of the young heir to a powerful perfume dynasty — while also confronting the death of Sophie, the Countess of Saint-Fiacre, in the village that holds his childhood memories.
Who Is Jules Maigret?
After losing his parents, Maigret left his childhood home for Paris, rising swiftly through the ranks of the police thanks to his deep understanding of criminal gangs and his refusal to fear danger. Now newly appointed Chief Inspector of the Brigade Criminelle — the elite investigative arm of the Paris Police — Maigret is a study in contradiction.
He is empathetic toward perpetrators, unimpressed by hierarchy and indifferent to authority. His refuge is the quiet of his home with his wife Louise (played by Stefanie Martini), yet his past continues to haunt him, surfacing in dreams filled with beauty, sadness and unresolved truths.
Meet Les Maigrets: The Team Behind the Badge
Maigret does not work alone. His unit, known as Les Maigrets, is a tightly bonded group of detectives whose personal complexities often rival the cases they investigate.
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Sergeant Andrea Lucas (Kerrie Hayes) is Maigret’s steadfast second-in-command — loyal, perceptive, and quietly aware of both his brilliance and his flaws.
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Sergeant Joseph Torrence (Blake Harrison) is an old-school detective with street smarts and sharp wit, weighed down by unhealthy habits and a lifetime of experience.
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Detective Berthe Janvier (Shaniqua Okwok) is fearless, stylish and fast — in her thinking and behind the wheel — while hiding a forbidden attraction to the married Torrence.
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Detective Karim Lapointe (Reda Elazouar), the squad’s computer expert, is bright and intuitive, chafing even more than Maigret against authority and rigid discipline.
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Inspector Justin Cavre (Robert Kazinsky) resents Maigret’s promotion, leading him to overreach, misstep and draw suspicion from his colleagues about where his loyalties truly lie.
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Prosecutor Mathilde Kernavel (Nathalie Armin) is ambitious and driven, rapidly climbing the ranks of France’s legal system as one of the Ministry of Justice’s top prosecutors.
A Prestige Production with Global Reach
Produced by Playground Entertainment for PBS Masterpiece (US), Maigret is directed by Patrick Harbinson, Faye Gilbert and David Evans, with Banijay Rights handling international distribution.
The result is a crime drama rooted in character, atmosphere and moral complexity — a series that values emotional intelligence as much as investigative prowess.
When and Where to Watch
Maigret premieres on Universal TV on 29 January 2026 at 8 PM, with back-to-back episodes airing every Thursday until 12 February 2026.
Universal TV is available across Africa on DStv Channel 117.
For viewers who appreciate intelligent crime drama, richly drawn characters and Paris as a living, breathing backdrop, Maigret promises to be unmissable.
