​​​Life
Series 1/Episode 5
Tuesday 27 October 2020
BBC One
21:00

Written by Mike Bartlett
Series Producer: Kate Crowther
Executive Producer: Jude Liknaitzky
Executive Producer: Roanna Benn
​​​Executive Producer: Mike Bartlett

The neighbours all remain trapped in situations of their own making: can they escape?

Gai has a new style and a new stance on life, but is soon forced to face the consequences of her actions. Belle's sister Ruth moves in, bringing even more chaos than Maya and forcing Belle to see things in a new way.

David finally realises that Belle may hold the key to the answers he seeks.  But even when he reaches the truth, he must contend with his faith and his morals in order to decide how to act.

At Hannah's hen party, she grapples with indecision and tries to understand where Andy's heart lies. 

​And a conversation with Hannah and Gail sheds devastating light on both of their situations.

​​Life
Series 1/Episode 4
Tuesday 20 October 2020
BBC One
21:00

Written by Mike Bartlett
Series Producer: Kate Crowther
Executive Producer: Jude Liknaitzky
Executive Producer: Roanna Benn
​​​Executive Producer: Mike Bartlett

The lives of the neighbours collide dramatically on a night where secrets and lies start to come to a head.

Henry grapples with the consequences of Gail's decision and tries to keep things under wraps from friends and family.

Secrets are circled during a tense dinner party hosted by Hannah and Liam.

David and Saira start a new chapter, but an intervention from Belle ruffles both of their feathers.

Neil makes Belle an unexpected offer, leading Belle into a confrontation with the neighbours.

The formerly separate existences of the neighbours are starting to cross over in ways which will be life changing for all of them.

​Life
Series 1/Episode 3
Tuesday 13 October 2020
BBC One
21:00

Written by Mike Bartlett
Series Producer: Kate Crowther
Executive Producer: Jude Liknaitzky
Executive Producer: Roanna Benn
​​​Executive Producer: Mike Bartlett

Each character confronts a truth in their life, and each of them commits an action which cannot be undone.

David investigates Kelly's past, unsure of what he’s hoping to find.  Can he assuage his doubts, or will he always fear that she wasn't the woman he thought she was?

An argument with Liam propels Hannah towards Andy, but their unexpected moment of intimacy is interrupted...

Belle's ex-husband Neil walks back into her life and tests her loyalty to Maya, on the night when Maya needs her most.  Gail finally tells Henry her true feelings about their relationship in an explosive confrontation which dissects their marriage from its very beginnings.  Will Gail stay true to her commitment to Henry or will she finally make a decision for herself?

Honour
Series 1/Episode 1
Monday 28 September 2020
ITV/STV
21:00

​Written by Gwyneth Hughes
Directed by Richard Laxton
Series Producer: Alliea Nazar
Executive Producer Liza Marshall
Executive Producer Gwyneth Hughes
Executive Producer Peter Kosminsky
Executive Producer Keeley Hawes

Brand new series. 

​DCI Caroline Goode first hears of Banaz Mahmod when her boyfriend reports her missing. 

Caroline discovers that Banaz had been to the police five times to report threats to life, even presenting a list of people wanting to kill her for shaming her family.

Caroline searches for the people on Banaz’ list.  Ringleader Uncle Ari is questioned but denies the charges.  Caroline speaks to estranged sister Bekhal and Kurdish activist, Diana Nammi and realises that this could be a murder enquiry.  It is confirmed when one of the suspects confesses over the phone to the rape, torture and murder of Banaz.

​Two part factual drama, Honour, starring Keeley Hawes and Buket Komur, airs on ITV/STV this month.

​Written by Gwyneth Hughes and directed by Richard Laxton, Keeley stars as the real-life detective who brought five killers to justice in the heartbreaking true story of Banaz Mahmod, the young Londoner murdered for falling in love with the wrong man.

​Produced by Hera Pictures in association with Buddy Club, Honour tells the powerful story of Detective Chief Inspector Caroline Goode's passionate search to discover the fate of missing 20-year old Banaz. 

DCI Goode discovered that Banaz had been to the police five times to report threats to her life from members of her own family. 

Appalled that her own colleagues had missed multiple chances to save a young woman’s life and prevent a so-called “honour” killing, Caroline vowed that she would not rest until she finally got justice for Banaz. 

It was a promise that quickly became personally consuming. This tense and emotionally vivid drama brings Caroline's long and unwavering quest to life.

Honour begins Monday 28 September at 21:00. 

Life
Series 1/Episode 1
Tuesday 29 September 2020
BBC One
21:00

Written by Mike Bartlett
Series Producer: Kate Crowther
Executive Producer: Jude Liknaitzky
Executive Producer: Roanna Benn
​​​Executive Producer: Mike Bartlett

Brand new series. 

In a house in Greater Manchester divided into four flats, we are introduced to four interweaving stories about love, parenthood, loss and self-discovery.

Gail bumps into an old friend who makes a startling observation about Gail's marriage to Henry.

The ordered life of Belle is thrown into disarray by the hospitalisation of sister Ruth, and the subsequent arrival of wayward niece Maya.

David goes on holiday without his wife Kelly and has his head turned unexpectedly by Saira.  And heavily pregnant Hannah, recently coupled up with Liam, is surprised by her connection with Andy - the father of her unborn child - who has been away travelling for the duration of the pregnancy.

​These disruptive arrivals turn each person's life upside down, setting off a chain of events which we will follow across the series.

From the team who brought you Doctor Foster, Life is a six-episode series.

Life is created and written by Mike Bartlett, and made by Drama Republic for BBC One.

Executive Producers are Roanna Benn, Jude Liknaitzky and Mike Bartlett for Drama Republic, and Ben Irving for BBC One.

The series is produced by Kate Crowther.

Kate Hewitt is Life's Associate Producer and directed the series’ final three episodes.

Each episode will last approximately 60 minutes. 

​Des: Series 1/Episode 3
Wednesday 16 September 2020
ITV/STV/UTV
21:00

Written by Luke Neal
Directed by Lewis Arnold

Series Producer: David Meanti
Executive Producer: Kim Varvell
Executive Producer: Lewis Arnold
Executive Producer: Willow Grylls
Executive Producer: Charlie Pattinson
Executive Producer: Elaine Pyke
Executive Producer: Luke Neal
Executive Producer: David Tennant

Reeling from Des' change in plea, Jay and the police throw themselves into proving premeditation.  If they can show the court that Des was undoubtedly of sound mind when he committed his crimes, he will go down and never be released.  If they fail, Des could get a cushier sentence on diminished responsibility and effectively escape justice.

As the trial begins and the defence start to tear strips off key witnesses, Jay and his team are shocked by just how flimsy their case against Nilsen seems to be.  Could this seemingly open-and-shut murder investigation really be close to collapsing?  Meanwhile, Brian is forced to watch the trial unfold in front of him, anxiously wondering how much of an effect his 'friendship' with Nilsen may have had on this turn of events.

​Des: Series 1/Episode 2
Tuesday 15 September 2020
ITV/STV/UTV
21:00

Written by Luke Neal
Directed by Lewis Arnold

Series Producer: David Meanti
Executive Producer: Kim Varvell
Executive Producer: Lewis Arnold
Executive Producer: Willow Grylls
Executive Producer: Charlie Pattinson
Executive Producer: Elaine Pyke
Executive Producer: Luke Neal
Executive Producer: David Tennant

With limited resources, Jay and the police continue to dig into Dennis Nilsen's memories in an effort to identify and convict him for the murder of every one of his victims.  But when Des suddenly withdraws his cooperation and stops talking to the police, Jay fears justice will be lost.

Meanwhile, Des confides increasingly in Brian, which proves a unique obstacle for Jay, who has never had to deal with a criminal biographer before.  As Brian's sessions give Des the opportunity to analyse and confront the possible reasons for his crimes, he considers the prospect that he may not be guilty of murder after all.

Through ingenious detective work, Jay's team manage to identify six victims, yet Jay is deeply frustrated as Nilsen will escape justice for the majority of his crimes.  At the pre-trial hearing, Nilsen shockingly pleads not guilty.  Brian is dumbfounded that he might be partly responsible for this change of heart, while Jay is devastated that having feared he might not get justice for the nine victims they have not identified, now he might not even get justice for the six they have.

Des: Series 1/Episode 1
Monday 14 September 2020
ITV/STV/UTV
21:00

Written by Luke Neal
Directed by Lewis Arnold

Series Producer: David Meanti
Executive Producer: Kim Varvell
Executive Producer: Lewis Arnold
Executive Producer: Willow Grylls
Executive Producer: Charlie Pattinson
Executive Producer: Elaine Pyke
Executive Producer: Luke Neal
Executive Producer: David Tennant

On Wednesday 9 February 1983, Detective Chief Inspector Peter Jay is called to the leafy North London address of 23 Cranley Gardens, where he discovers the drains clogged with rotting flesh and bones.  But the extent of this grisly discovery only becomes apparent when the culprit returns from work.

Dennis Nilsen, a meek man, freely admits to the police that it is not just one or two bodies but "15 or 16, I think".

How had they allowed this to happen under their noses for five years, and what had driven this seemingly ordinary civil servant to commit such atrocities?

As the police try to secure a conviction and identify the victims from scant DNA evidence, biographer Brian Masters attempts to understand why.

A game of chess with 'Des' begins, and while Brian may be exhilarated by his newest subject, he is unaware what this new obsession could do to his life.