crime drama

Alibi commissions first original drama Traces

Writer Amelia Bullmore (Credit: UKTV)

Set in Scotland, Traces follows three female forensic professionals, Emma Hedges, Sarah Gordon and Kathy Torrance, as they uncover the truth of a murder case and bring a killer to justice.

Working in the Scottish Institute of Forensic Science (SIFA), Emma Hedges signs up for a forensic science course but finds her educational case study has a shocking link to her past.

Guided by professors Sarah Gordon and Kathy Torrance, 23-year old Emma’s investigations lead her to the dark truth and ultimately unveils a killer.

“I was introduced to people in the neighbourhood, which helped”: 4 Blocks creative team talk making drama

Kida Khodr Ramadan (Ali “Toni” Hamady) at the screening (Credit: Paul Hampartsoumian)

4 Blocks tells the story of the Hamady crime family, which is engaged in a bloody fight for control of the drug trade in the Neukölln district of Berlin with the rival al-Saafi clan.

Kida Khodr Ramadan, who plays the head of the clan, Ali “Toni” Hamady, was at the screening, and told the audience: “It’s a pleasure to see you all here in my first time in London."

Top TV picks: Boxing Day

The Crystal Maze: Celebrity Christmas Special

Channel 4, 8.00pm

The Crystal Maze gets festive with a panto-themed special and a selection of famous faces are put to the test in a series of challenges.

Facing the maze is pantomime star and actor Christopher Biggins, entrepreneur Deborah Meaden, Made In Chelsea star Jamie Laing, singer Frankie Bridge and football pundit Chris Kamara.

Presenter Richard Ayoade returns to guide the celebs on their journey through the mysterious maze.

 

Martin Freeman and Imelda Staunton to star in ITV drama A Confession

Imelda Staunton previously starred in Finding Your Feed (Credit: Sky Cinema/Entertainment One)

Based on a true story, the six-part drama focuses on Detective Superintendent Steve Fulcher (Martin Freeman), who breached police protocol to catch a killer, costing him his career.

Following the disappearance of 22-year-old Sian O’Callaghan in Swindon in 2011, Fulcher launched an investigation to find her, believing that someone may be holding her against her will.

Rob Lowe to star in new ITV drama Wild Bill

(Credit: Sky)

Wild Bill centres around US cop Bill Hixon (Rob Lowe) who transfers to Boston, Lincolnshire, with his 14-year-old daughter Kelsey, in the hopes of escaping a recent tragedy.

Impressively qualified, Hixon is promoted to Chief Constable of the East Lincolnshire Police Force but is taken aback by the unimpressed Boston community who share similar attitudes to his own.

Hixon adapts to his new environment as he reconsiders his relationships with those he holds dear.

Meet Dragomir Mrsic: the bank robber-turned-TV star

Dragomir Mrsic stars as crooked cop Alex Leko in Swedish drama Alex (Credit: Global Series Network)

A stolen car sits, boot open, guarded by one man. A short distance away, two other masked men are carrying out the biggest robbery in the history of Sweden.

They tackle two female guards and crack open the safe of an armoured transport car, stealing away with around 730 million SEK, although much of it in unusable government bonds.

Three days later the men board a plane in Copenhagen having purchased round-the-world tickets costing over 55 000 SEK for the three.

One of those men, the man who stood guard while the robbery took place, is Dragomir Mrsic.

Channel 4 commissions factual drama about farmhouse shootings

Steve Pemberton appearing on UKTV's Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled (Credit: UKTV)

The story became notorious at the time, due to the public outcry that his sentence of life imprisonment prompted, Martin having argued that he had used reasonable force to defend his property. One of the burglars, Fred Barras was 16 years old at the time of his death. 

Martin later appealed against his original conviction and was successful, his sentence was reduced and he was released after three years.

Adrien Brody joins the cast of Peaky Blinders

The fourth series begins with Thomas Shelby's realisation that the Peaky Blinders are in danger of annihilation after he receives a mysterious letter on Christmas Eve.

With the threat of the enemy closing in on him, Shelby deserts his country house and high society lifestyle and returns to the streets of Small Heath, Birmingham, where he must fight for survival. 

Gritty Canadian drama Cardinal heads to BBC Four

Detective John Cardinal (Billy Campbell, The Killing) is the eponymous star of the series, who joins forces with Lise Delorme (Karine Vanasse, Revenge) to hunt down a vicious serial killer in the icy wastes of a small Northern Ontario town.

Adapted from Giles Blunt’s award-winning novel Forty Words for Sorrow, the first in the John Cardinal series, the six-part drama will air later this year.

Highland crime drama comes to BBC One

Credit: BBC

One of Us will explore morality and human nature, as the lines between right and wrong become blurred.

It is set in the wake of the murder of two childhood sweethearts  just after their honeymoon.

Their families, living in the remote Highland village of Braeston, are shell-shocked when the murderer arrives on their doorstep the night after the killing.