Former Coronation Street star Katherine Kelly returns in one of her darkest roles as The Crow Girl returns

For millions of Coronation Street viewers, Katherine Kelly will always be remembered as Becky McDonald, the outspoken, quick witted favourite who became one of Weatherfield’s most popular modern characters.

After leaving Coronation Street in January 2012, Katherine Kelly went on to build one of British television’s most respected post soap careers. From Happy Valley and Mr Bates vs The Post Office to Criminal: UK, The Long Shadow and In Flight, she has consistently taken on challenging dramatic roles. Her latest role as Dr Sophia Craven in The Crow Girl continues that trend.

If you’re thinking about watching the series for the first time, don’t worry. This article is completely spoiler free. We won’t reveal any major twists, character revelations or the ending of the first series. Instead, here’s why Katherine Kelly’s latest role deserves a place on your watchlist.

From Coronation Street favourite to award winning actress

When Katherine Kelly first arrived on Coronation Street as Becky Granger in 2006, few could have predicted just how popular the character would become.

Becky quickly developed into one of the soap’s biggest stars thanks to her humour, resilience and memorable relationship with Steve McDonald. During her six years on the cobbles, Kelly won widespread praise from critics and viewers alike before deciding to leave in 2012 to pursue new acting opportunities.

It was a bold decision, but one that has paid off. Rather than being forever associated with one iconic role, Kelly has built an impressive career by choosing a wide variety of challenging television dramas.

A career packed with acclaimed dramas

Since leaving Coronation Street, Katherine Kelly has rarely been off screen.

Her television credits include Happy Valley, Mr Bates vs The Post Office, The Long Shadow, Criminal: UK, Gentleman Jack, Liar, In Flight and numerous other critically acclaimed productions.

Each role has demonstrated a different side of her acting ability, helping establish her as one of the UK’s most versatile performers.

Whether playing police officers, professionals or complex women facing impossible situations, Kelly has consistently chosen characters that feel believable and emotionally authentic.

A completely different challenge in The Crow Girl

Her role as Dr Sophia Craven continues that trend.

Without giving away any plot details, Sophia is an experienced psychotherapist whose work becomes closely connected to the central investigation.

It’s a performance built on intelligence, restraint and emotional depth rather than dramatic outbursts, allowing Kelly to showcase another side of her acting talent.

For viewers who only know her from Coronation Street, the contrast couldn’t be greater.

Working alongside Eve Myles

Kelly is joined by another hugely respected actress in Eve Myles, who leads the series as DCI Jeanette Kilburn.

Together they anchor a drama that blends police investigation with psychological storytelling, creating a series that feels very different from a conventional crime drama.

Rather than racing from one action sequence to another, The Crow Girl gradually builds suspense, rewarding viewers who enjoy carefully constructed mysteries and layered characters.

Why The Crow Girl has attracted so much attention

Since its debut, The Crow Girl has developed a loyal following among fans of psychological thrillers.

Critics praised its atmosphere, performances and willingness to let the mystery unfold at its own pace, while audiences have responded positively to its intelligent storytelling and strong cast.

At the time of writing, the series holds an IMDb rating of 6.8 out of 10, based on thousands of user ratings, reflecting the positive reception it has received ahead of its return.

Why Corrie fans should give it a chance

Soap fans often enjoy seeing familiar faces take on completely different challenges, and Katherine Kelly is one of the best examples of that.

Watching her transform from Becky McDonald into Dr Sophia Craven highlights just how versatile she has become since leaving Weatherfield.

It’s also a reminder that many of Britain’s finest television dramas are now being produced outside the traditional terrestrial channels, with streaming platforms increasingly investing in ambitious British productions.

If you’re looking for a thoughtful psychological thriller led by an outstanding cast, The Crow Girl is well worth adding to your watchlist.

Series 2 arrives on Paramount+

The second series premieres exclusively on Paramount+ on Monday 20 July, continuing the story with six brand new episodes.

For existing fans, it’s the return of one of the platform’s most talked about British dramas.

For anyone yet to discover it, there’s still time to catch up before the new season begins.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1.Is The Crow Girl worth watching?

If you enjoy intelligent psychological thrillers, slow burning crime dramas and character driven mysteries, The Crow Girl is well worth watching. Rather than relying on constant action, it builds suspense through its story and performances.

2.Is The Crow Girl scary?

The Crow Girl is more unsettling than frightening. It contains dark themes, psychological tension and disturbing criminal investigations, but it is not a horror series built around jump scares.

3.Does The Crow Girl contain adult content?

Yes. The series is aimed at an adult audience and contains strong language, scenes of violence, disturbing themes and references to abuse. Viewer discretion is advised.

4.What age rating is The Crow Girl?

In the UK, The Crow Girl carries an 18 age rating on Paramount+ due to its mature themes, violence and strong language.

5.Is The Crow Girl based on a true story?

No. The series is a fictional adaptation of the bestselling crime novels by Swedish writing duo Erik Axl Sund.

6.Is The Crow Girl based on a book?

Yes. The television series is based on the internationally bestselling novels by Erik Axl Sund, the pen name of authors Jerker Eriksson and Håkan Axlander Sundquist.

7.Who is Katherine Kelly in The Crow Girl?

Katherine Kelly plays Dr Sophia Craven, a psychotherapist whose work becomes closely connected to the central murder investigation.

8.Was Katherine Kelly in Coronation Street?

Yes. Katherine Kelly played Becky McDonald between 2006 and 2012, becoming one of Coronation Street’s most popular modern characters before leaving to pursue a successful television career.

9.Who else stars in The Crow Girl?

The series stars Eve Myles, Katherine Kelly, Dougray Scott, Clara Rugaard, Victoria Hamilton, Elliot Edusah and Raphael Sowole.

10.Where can I watch The Crow Girl?

Both Series 1 and the new series are available exclusively on Paramount+ in the UK.

11.Does Paramount+ offer a free trial?

Yes. Paramount+ currently offers a seven day free trial for new UK subscribers, although promotions can change over time. After the trial ends, your subscription will automatically renew unless you cancel beforehand.

12.When does Series 2 start?

The second series premieres exclusively on Paramount+ on Monday 20 July.

13.How many episodes are there?

Series 1 consists of six episodes, while Series 2 also runs for six episodes.

14.Do I need to watch Series 1 first?

Yes. Series 2 continues the existing story, so it’s recommended that new viewers watch the first six episodes before starting the new season.

15.What is The Crow Girl rated on IMDb?

At the time of publication, The Crow Girl has an IMDb rating of 6.8/10 from around 3,800 user ratings. As IMDb scores are based on user votes, the rating may change over time.

16.Does The Crow Girl include LGBTQ+ representation?

Yes. The series includes LGBTQ+ representation as part of its wider story, although it remains first and foremost a psychological crime thriller.

17.Does this guide contain spoilers?

No. We’ve deliberately kept this article spoiler free, so you can decide whether The Crow Girl is right for you without any major twists, character reveals or the ending of Series 1 being disclosed.