On Christmas Day evening the whole family enjoyed Lapland, a play that followed a dysfunctional family from Liverpool as they attempted to enjoy Christmas together in the land of Santa Claus, following a death in the family.  The dry, black comedy was brilliantly executed as a family who don’t quite see eye-to-eye  gradually falls apart under the strain of having to spend Christmas together.

Then, between Christmas and New Year there was, what is now, the ubiquitous year in review as Charlie Brooker put his normal sarcastic spin on the 2011 news stories in another edition of his Screen Wipe.  And that was it!

My son is one of many going loopy over the US sitcom, The Big Bang Theory.  He received a DVD and two t shirts for Christmas, and was very happy.  But I’m afraid it doesn’t do anything for me.
So, was 2012 going to be any better?

Fortunately the second series of Sherlock began on New Year’s Day.  Three more episodes written by the likes of Steven Moffat, Steve Thompson and Mark Gatiss – one third of The League Of Gentlemen & writer and presenter of the fabulous A History of Horror which was screened last year on BBC4.

I am loving the second series of Sherlock, the 21st century re-interpreting of Arthur Conan Doyle’s most famous detective, Sherlock Holmes. The writing and acting is sublime, witty and truly original, as such.  The idea of bringing the most famous Victorian detective, who first appeared in 1887, into the present as Holmes and his fabulous sidekick Dr Watson use text messages & a blog to help advertise their services and solve detective mysteries.  With the drug-addicted Holmes preferring nicotine patches over opium pipes.

I’ve just watched the second of three episodes, a reworking of the most famous of Conan Doyle’s stories, The Hound of Baskerville (based on The Hound of the Baskervilles) which was written by Mark Gatiss. I don’t want to give the story away, and only urge you to watch it on Catch-Up TV or the iPlayer if you have so far given the series a swerve.

Sherlock stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman as Doctor John Watson; and there is support from the wonderful Una Stubbs as their mothering landlady.
I’m hoping there is something else to look forward to after next Sunday’s final episode. Any ideas?

The Reichenbach Fall, the final episode of the current series of Sherlock is on Sunday 15th January on BBC1.  Sherlock -the second series is scheduled to be released on DVD and Blu-ray on 23 January 2012.

New Crime Drama - Body of Proof

There is a new nine part crime drama series starting on UKTV’s Alibi (Sky 132, Virgin Media 130) on Tuesday 19th July at 9pm.

The hit US crime drama Body of Proof stars Dana Delany (Desperate Housewives) as Dr Megan Hunt and Jeri Ryan (Star Trek: Voyager) as Dr Hunt’s sidekick, Kate Murphey.

UKTV have already begun promoting the show via Facebook and YouTube.

The US television remake of the critically acclaimed Danish crime thriller series The Killing began its UK premiere on Channel 4 last Thursday with a double bill.  For those not familiar with the original series, The Killing revolves around the murder of a teenager girl.  Various sub-plots weave a gripping storyline which will have you guessing to the last as to who may have been involved, as much as to blame for such a heinous crime.

The US version is based in Seattle, the victim is Rosie Larsen and the Faroe Island jumper wearing detective in charge of solving the mystery is Sarah Linden.  The names and places have been altered but going by the first two episodes, the storyline is very similar to the original, Forbrydelsen, which was aired in the UK earlier this year.

As a big fan of the Danish version I was not sure whether I would enjoy the US remake of The Killing.  However, if the first two episodes are anything to go on, my concerns were unwarranted.  The dark brooding atmosphere is still present, as is the mood-driven electronic soundtrack; and Seattle looks like the perfect replacement for Copenhagen.

The Killing masterfully entwines three stories around a single murder: the dysfunctional personal life of detective Sarah Linden, the family’s grieving, and the various suspects including a boyfriend, teacher, a candidate for local Mayor, close friends of the family and employees of the family-run business.

If you missed the beginning it would be wise to catch-up before you watch episode three, not only to get the complete picture of events but to add to the gripping suspense.

The first two episodes were shown last Thursday and can be viewed on the Channel 4 website and various ‘Catch-Up TV’ services while the third of 12 episodes will be shown on Channel 4 on Thursday 14th July at 9pm.

The Killing - Danish Crime Thriller DVD

Is it just me or is time going faster?  Maybe it’s a part of my old age creeping in.  But before I know it, it’s the weekend again and I have a list of chores to do before I even consider sitting down to watch the programmes I have recorded on my trusted satellite box.

But with so many television channels now available it’s common to miss a programme or worse a series that everyone starts to rave about after a few episodes.

At the beginning of the year BBC4 began showing The Killing, a Danish crime thriller and it was nowhere to be seen on my radar.  By the time I decided this was something I must see, the first episode was no longer available online or as part of the Catch up TV service from my cable television provider.

At this point I decided to wait for the DVD release but was shocked at the price.  £48 for a 5-disc 20 episodes box set was more than I wanted to pay for something I was more than likely only ever going to watch once.

With the added incentive of a one month free trial I opened an account with lovefilm.com and within days received the first disc.  I began watching the first four episodes and immediately realised why everyone was raving about this series.  The disc was soon winging its way back through the post in a prepaid envelope via my local letterbox.

A few days later, the second of the five discs arrived. The process was simple and the cost much cheaper than buying DVDs.

The Killing was absorbing, dark, intriguing and had more twists than a curly wurly in a way that Nordic crime thrillers do best.  It is therefore with some delight I hear the BBC will be showing The Killing 2 later this year but it’s with some trepidation to know that a US version of The Killing is on its way.

Similar to the British remake of Wallander starring Kenneth Brannagh I find that as disturbing as the storyline itself.  I’m intrigued to know what the US version will be like and will have to take a look.  But like Kenneth Brannagh’s version of Wallander, I think it will probably be more for those who haven’t watched the original or find watching foreign films with subtitles distracting.

John Wayne Gacy - Killer Clown

The Crime & Investigation Network invites us to share our Sunday’s with some of the most notorious serial killers during February and beyond.

Serial Killers Sunday begins by looking at the unsolved mysteries of two of the most infamous killers, whose identities remain unknown despite their stories being retold a million times.

Starting with Monster of Florence, revealing the true stories behind the elusive ‘Il Mostro’ who stalked the picturesque city of Florence and murdered 16 people, and who evades capture to this day.

Next up Crime & Investigation attempts to piece the clues together to finally find out who was the real terror of Whitechapel in the definitive story of Jack The Ripper.

The season continues with an investigation into one of the most infamous killers of all, Ed Gein: The Real Psycho and explores the man who inspired some of the greatest horror films of all time, including Silence of the Lambs and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

The series also looks into the background of cases involving Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacy and Aileen Wournos in an attempt to find out how they managed to fool those around them into believing they were normal, while committing such horrendous crimes.

Monster of Florence                                       06/02 at 10pm
Jack The Ripper: The Definitive Story    13/02 at 10pm
Ted Bundy: Born To Kill                               20/02 at 10pm
John Wayne Gacy: Born To Kill                27/02 at 10pm
Aileen Wuornos: Born To Kill                    06/03 at 10pm

Serial Killer Sunday starts this weekend February 6th at 10pm on Crime & Investigation Network

The Squad: Prison Police

You would be forgiven for believing that the job of the police is done once a criminal is sentenced and put behind bars, but that is not necessarily the case. A crack squad of police allocated to the prison service are responsible for keeping inmates in order, out of trouble and under control.

Of course this is real life and things seldom go to plan, when 10,000 prisoners are crammed into one of the worlds toughest prisons tempers are bound to flare and this series on Crime & Investigation Network follows the work of the Prison Police in enforcing law and order inside the prison blocks.

Chosen for their interrogation skills, forensic expertise and ability to keep cool in life-threatening situations, The Squad must investigate riots, assaults, escapes, organised crime, drugs and even murder in the notorious Tennessee State Prison.

With nothing to lose, inmates are desperate to gain whatever power they can, often resorting to violence to get their way. When someone crosses the line, it’s up to The Squad to bring justice and restore order.

With a new case each week, the prison police’s skills will be tested to the limit. With gangs and criminals getting in the way on both sides of every investigation and lockdowns raising the pressure, they can’t trust anyone and must rely on their wits and experience to discover the truth.

Learn how they keep control of the most violent men in America on The Squad: Prison Police. The series starts on January 29th at 10pm on CI.

Theresa

Appearing to be the proud father at his daughter Chanel’s wedding, Terry Rodgers went on to commit the crime of shooting the young girl dead just seven weeks later.

Crime & Investigations‘ current series Married to a Murderer uncovers Rodgers violent past with his first wife Theresa and second wife Anne, violence and cruelty that resulted in the death of Chanel.

In Anne & Theresa’s story we discover that unbeknown to Anne, Rodgers had also tried to kill his first wife (Theresa) after she attempted to leave him. Anne wasn’t even she aware that he had also been jailed for eighteen months for the brutal attack.

Anne & Theresa were both taunted by and attacked by Rodgers and his aggressive and controlling behaviour continued to get worse. In public Rodgers would portray himself and a good father, husband and gentleman, but he would ultimately go on to seek the cruelest revenge on his wife by murdering their only daughter.

Married to a Murderer – Anne & Theresa’s story on Crime & Investigation Thursday November 25th at 9pm.

married to a murderer

Throughout November Crime & Investigation Network will be telling the stories of the innocent women who were married to some of the most violent killers in the UK, tormented and exploited by their partners, CI asks why did these tortured women stay?

Hear the astonishing stories told by these women in their own words. Harrowing accounts of murder and marriage are intertwined with criminal detectives’ accounts and forensic scientists who are at the forefront of the painstaking police investigations.

In Beverley’s story we hear how husband Ronald Castree subjected her to years of torment and violent abuse before she finally escaped. Castree abducted eleven year old Lesley Molseed and just three days later she was found having been brutally murdered on the Yorkshire Moors. In one of Britain’s most notorious miscarriages of justice, an innocent man, Stefan Kiszko was found guilty of her murder and sentenced to life in prison while Castree was free to continue his reign of terror over his family.

In another episode CI tells the story of the violent nature and twisted past of killer Tony Jasinskyi, who would manipulate his wife to create dependency and exploitation.

He would then go on to commit brutal attacks on local women, leading to the death of fourteen year old Marion Crofts. Despite a major police investigation by Hampshire Constabulary, it would be a further twenty years before Jasinskyj would finally be charged.

Uncover the shocking, heart-breaking and terrifying stories of the women married to Britain’s most notorious killers on Crime & Investigation channel throughout November, every Thursday at 9pm.

caroline dickinson

Crime & Investigation Network (CI) continue their month long UK Crime theme with the latest installment of Murderous Mondays, which investigates the background into the murder of British schoolgirl Caroline Dickinson who was brutally attacked and murdered while on a school holiday in France.

Thirteen-year-old Caroline Dickinson was enjoying a school holiday in the quaint French town of Pleine-Fougères when she was brutally attacked and murdered in the hostel room she shared with friends. The case quickly fell apart as the authorities failed to produce results and had police all over Europe hunting for clues.

Frustrated by the French investigation, Caroline’s father launched his own appeal, gaining media coverage and appealing for help from further afield. It was thanks to him that the case was picked up by an American investigator with a hunch which set in motion a huge international manhunt.

Interviews and dramatic reconstructions help to piece together this dramatic and tragic story which ultimately led to a conviction finally bringing Caroline’s killer to justice.

The Caroline Dickinson Murder premieres on Crime & Investigation Network tonight, October 25th at 9pm

British Crime Month

On Crime & Investigation channel throughout October, British Crime Month will be exposing some of the worst crimes and murder stories from recent times in the UK.

Using dramatic reconstructions, interviews and personal accounts, CI delves into the minds of the worst killers Britain has ever seen.

With personal accounts from the people involved revealing information never before told, these groundbreaking documentaries attempt find out what led these seemingly normal people to commit such hideous crimes.

In ‘Wolf Pack’ CI follows the disturbing story of a gang of paedophiles as they worked together in the mid 1980s. The group, dubbed the ‘Wolf Pack’ would abduct and murder young boys on the streets of London, subjecting them to brutal assaults.

Also featured in British Crime Month, is the UK premiere of ‘The Cambridge Rapist’ a story which resulted in one of the biggest manhunts in British history. Peter Cook caused an eight month reign of terror over the town, dressing as a woman to avoid detection by the police.

Other shows featured in British Crime Month include hard-hitting programmes featuring Vanessa George: Evil Up Close, Rena Salmon: The Beauty Salon Murder, Britain’s Biggest Heists and Crimes That Shook Britain.

Prepare to be captivated with a selection of exclusive premieres this October as CI uncovers the most notorious crimes in British history.

British Crime Month Only on Crime & Investigation Network Weekdays starting at 8pm throughout October 2010