What is the name of the fictional detective in the television series Luther?

The fictional detective in the television series Luther is John Luther.

Played by Idris Elba, Detective Chief Inspector John Luther works for the Serious Crime Unit in London. The series focuses on his exceptional psychological insight, difficult cases and the personal costs of his obsessive approach to policing.

Luther is not a traditional puzzle-solving detective who simply explains a solution at the end. Episodes often emphasize criminal psychology, moral pressure and the effect of violence on both investigators and victims. Luther’s methods can be confrontational and risky, which gives the drama much of its tension.

The BBC series debuted in 2010 and ran across five series. Elba also reprised the role in the 2023 feature film Luther: The Fallen Sun. The character’s first name is John, so he should not be confused with Ian Rankin’s Inspector Rebus or Mark Billingham’s Tom Thorne.