crime drama

UKTV acquires The Silence of the Lambs spin-off series

A spin-off from Thomas Harris’ 1988 novel The Silence of the Lambs and its 1991 film adaptation, the thirteen-part series picks up a year after the events of the original.

Rebecca Breeds (Pretty Little Liars) stars as FBI Agent Clarice Starling, who returns to the force in 1993 but is still dealing with the fallout and trauma of the Buffalo Bill case.

She is undergoing therapy but remains as brilliant and brave a detective as ever, which draws monsters and madmen to her.

A new crime drama era for Alibi

We Hunt Together (Credit: UKTV)

There’s a firm logic in the recent push to serve up more original drama by the likes of Channel 5 (Boleyn, The Drowning) and BritBox (The Beast Must Die, Crime). For viewers, a gripping drama is a calling card that helps define a channel in an increasingly crowded market.

Within the industry, it is a stake in the ground, a display of creativity and clout. So, it is fascinating to see that the pay-TV crime channel Alibi, owned by UKTV, has thrown its towel in the ring, and shown its full commitment with a succession of new shows in the second half of 2021.

Death In Paradise set to return for two more series

Credit: BBC

The tenth series will start this month, which was filmed during the pandemic with just a three-month delay in production. 

Set on the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe, the next two series will welcome back cast regulars and introduce new faces to Saint Marie.

The crime drama will continue to feature perplexing and mysterious murders and puzzles, with plenty of surprises in store for viewers. 

Executive producer Tim Key, promised that the next two series will keep viewers “on their toes.”

UKTV commissions Radio 4 adaptation Annika

Nicola Walker (Credit: UKTV)

The six-part series, produced by Black Camel Pictures, is based on the Radio 4 drama written by Nick Walker. 

Nicola Walker will take on the role of DI Annika Strandhed. Known for being quick-witted and mysterious, Strandhed is the new head of a specialist Marine Homicide Unit, which investigates the brutal and bewildering murders that are discovered in the waterways of Scotland. 

Strandhed invites the audience into her world by breaking the fourth wall and revealing her thoughts on the cases and her own life. 

New drama Manhunt II: The Night Stalker heads to ITV

Clunes will reprise his role as the former London Metropolitan Police detective, DCI Colin Sutton, this time in pursuit of a notorious serial rapist who has been terrorising elderly people in south east London for 17 years.

Based on Sutton’s real life diaries, the series will recount the steps he took to serve justice.

Writer Ed Whitmore also wrote the first series, which told the real life story of the murder Amelie Delagrange on Twickenham Green in 2004.

Rosario Dawson crime drama Briarpatch heads to Alibi

Rosario Dawson (Credit: UKTV)

The ten-part series is based on the novel of the same name by Ross Thomas and has added a modern spin on the pulp fiction genre.

The series sees straightforward and dogged detective Allegra Dill (Rosario Dawson) return to her eccentric hometown, San Bonifacio, after her sister is tragically murdered.

Dill finds herself trying to work through her grief, while searching for the killer and straightening out her corrupted hometown.

ITV has commissioned new crime drama The Yorkshire Ripper

The true crime drama, written by George Kay, will uncover the shocking cat and mouse hunt for Peter Sutcliffe, also known as The Yorkshire Ripper, which was one of the biggest manhunts in British history.

The hunt for the Sutcliffe took place between October 1975 and January 1981, involving thousands of police officers and forever changed the British police force.

The six-part series is based on the book Wicked Beyond Belief: The Hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper by Michael Bilton and is produced by New Pictures.

Detective drama McDonald & Dodds will return for a second series

 Tala Gouveia and Jason Watkins (Credit: ITV)

Set in Bath, the series stars Tala Gouveia as the ambitious and determined DCI McDonald and Jason Watkins as the humble yet resourceful DS Dodds, with the new series seeing them tackle three new murder mysteries.

DCI McDonald was transferred from the Met Police in London and her fiery spirit is at odds with the modest DS Dodds, who is happy to work away in the background and avoid the spotlight.

Despite having nothing in common, they make an excellent crime-fighting duo and act as the ying to the other person's yang.