UKTV

Lockdown boosts viewership for UKTV

In 2020, UKTV’s network share grew by 3.2% to achieve 4.63%, reaching over 18 million viewers a week, and grew its SOCI by 4%.

UKTV Play increased direct-to-consumer views by 42%, with shows such as Red Dwarf: The Promised Land, The Bill: The Early Years, Meet The Richardsons, EastEnders and Hypothetical topping the VOD service.

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. 

Yesterday announces the Secrets of the Transport Museum

Credit: UKTV

The ten-part series, narrated by Sanjeev Bhaskar, will go behind the scenes of the Brooklands Museum in Surrey and meet the skilled and passionate volunteers who endeavour to preserve the museum’s historic racing cars, motorbikes and aeroplanes.

Brooklands has a special place in motoring history as the birthplace of motor racing and the location of the first British Grand Prix.

The museum prides itself on being one of the most important heritage sites for the auto and aviation engineering world. 

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.

Strongman Eddie Hall to undertake Christmas dinner eating challenge on Dave

(credit: UKTV)

The four-part festive special will see the 6ft 3in, 26st man-mountain Eddie take on a variety of eating challenges involving traditional Christmas foods from international communities across the UK.

These will include the polish ’12 Dishes of Christmas’, a huge South American barbecue meat-feast and a Bradford curry house’s infamous three-kilo naan bread.

Alongside the colossal calorie consumption, Eddie will also be undertaking festive-themed gruelling physical challenges, involving yule-logs, Christmas trees and Santa-van pushes.

UKTV announces two more series of The Architecture The Railways Built

Tim Dunn (Credit: UKTV)

The two ten-part series will be led by railway historian and architecture enthusiast Tim Dunn, following him as he travels around Britain and beyond visiting the unique architecture that lines the railway networks.

With behind the scenes access, Dunn gets to explore beyond the viaducts and stations, discovering other buildings with stunning architecture that were created due to the railways, including signal boxes, tunnels, pedestrian passages, workshops and hotels.

UKTV recommissions Women on the Force

Credit: UKTV

The ten-part documentary will follow the brave women who must balance their crucial work as part of the police force with their lives once they are out of the uniform.

The North Yorkshire Police is led by the magnetic Chief Constable Lisa Winward, who must oversee and manage a team of 1,505 police officers, 99 special constables, 237 police community support officers and 1,049 police staff who must work together to serve and protect people across an area of 3,208 square miles.

Comfort Classic: Blackadder

It is hard to think of another great BBC sitcom blessed by such a strong pedigree as that of Blackadder. Running over four series, spanning 1983 to 1989 – plus the occasional special – the creators and stars of this comic masterpiece read like a roll call of late-20th-century British screen talent.

Dave announces documentary series Cops on The Rock

Cops on The Rock takes an in-depth look at the work of the Royal Gibraltar Police, who tackle everything from the growing threat of terrorism, to investigating murders, burglaries and fraud. 

The series will also look at how the police patrol and protect Gibraltar’s international waters, airport, port and land border with Spain.

Produced by Rare TV, the series will go behind the scenes of a unique part of British policing and will allow viewers to join the Marine Unit safeguarding the coastline, the Border Force and police officers on the streets.