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If you're looking for a crime drama with a bit of a difference, ITVX has just what you need. Cadfael, which ran from 1994 until 1998, stars stage and screen legend Sir Derek Jacobi as a mystery-solving medieval monk.

Presented as 13 feature-length episodes, the programme is based on a series of novels, The Cadfael Chronicles, by Ellis Peters, the pen name of British writer Edith Pargeter. The series is largely set in and around Benedictine Abbey in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, and sees Brother Cadfael using his skills of observation, and his talents as a herbalist, to bring the guilty to justice - and clear the name of the wrongly accused. Actors appearing alongside Sir Derek include Sean Pertwee, Eoin McCarthy, and Mark Charnock, best known as Emmerdale's Marlon Dingle.

And the series boasts a murderer's row of guest stars, with names including Hugh Bonneville, Toby Jones, Anna Friel, Julian Glover, Ian McNeice, and others appearing. The series, originally broadcast on ITV, has an 8.1 out of 10 rating on IMDB, with viewers all saying the same thing - they wished there were more episodes.

One reviewer called it "CSI goes medieval". They said: "A first-rate show, even more so for the historically literate.

"Although some of the later episodes hobbled their plots with ponderous soap opera 'blasts from the past' from Cadfael's former life as a crusader, I was sad to see the series end. I never read any of the books, but understand that there are still a few that have not been filmed. I would love to see the series revived, although this winning combination of casting and production would be hard to repeat and harder still to beat."

Another said: "I just love the authenticity of the settings, photography, and costumes, and the beautiful, haunting music that remained true to the music of the time. The writing is excellent, never stilted and always thoughtful, while also managing to stick to the spirit of the prose of the books, and the stories are beautifully structured and always interesting, likewise with the characterisation.

"The acting is wonderful, especially Derek Jacobi, although Jacobi is such a brilliant actor who rarely disappoints, I will always consider Cadfael one of his best roles. All in all, I wish it lasted longer than it did, but Cadfael is wonderful all the same."

However, some fans of the original novels said they were disappointed with some of the changes made in the transition to television. One said: "People who have read the books might be a bit disappointed with the TV adaptations.

"Characters get missed out or changed, as do some incidents. For example Aline Siward does not appear after episode one in the series, and no mention is made of her marrying Hugh Beringar. In the books she appears frequently as Hugh's wife and a close personal friend of Cadfael. However, my inner historian cannot help but love this series."

However, another said: "This is a great, great show that manages to mix mystery with an authentic period feel." All four series of Cadfael are available to stream for free, with adverts, on ITVX.