What to watch on UKTV Play this December

The Killing Season

Kicking everything off with some true crime, The Killing Season is an American series that follows documentarians Joshua Zeman and Rachel Mills as they explore the case of the Long Island serial killer and other unsolved crimes such as the Eastbound Strangler.

They put significant focus on the victims and investigations that have been connected to the cases, and often contact internet amateur crime investigation group Websleuths.com group members for their help.

The Brokenwood Mysteries

Set in a fictitious New Zealand town, The Brokenwood Mysteries is a wonderful detective series that we’re sure you’ll love. The plot focuses on Detective Inspector Mike Shepherd as he’s sent from Auckland to Brokenwood to investigate a local police officer. With a possible murder investigation underway that might link the two, Shepherd takes charge.

Shepherd, who has an unconventional approach to police work, is assisted by local Detective Kristin Sims, who is precise and efficient at her job of solving murders. As the series progresses, the working relationship between the two characters begins to go from rocky to functional as they make the effort to appreciate each other's talents.

Red Dwarf XII

A sci-fi cult classic that most Brits will be familiar with, the twelfth series of Red Dwarf is available to watch on UKTV Play.

The original series followed the misfortunes of Dave Lister, who is stranded three million years in the future, together with his former bunkmate and immediate superior, Arnold Rimmer, a vain creature known only as Cat, and the ship's eccentric computer, Holly.

In this most recent series, the original crew members continue their adventures back on Red Dwarf after everything that’s gone down in the last thirty years.

Dickensian

If you’re looking for something a little more festive to watch, try out Dickensian. A drama that premiered on BBC One back in December 2015, the 20-part series brings together iconic characters from many of Charles Dickens’s well-known novels in one Victorian London neighbourhood, where Inspector Bucket is in the midst of investigating the murder of Ebenezer Scrooge's business partner, Jacob Marley.

It’s a perfect compromise for when you can’t decide whether to watch Great Expectations, A Christmas Carol or Oliver!

The Beast

Starring Patrick Swayze in his final acting performance before his death in 2009, The Beast was an American crime drama series that only ran for one season despite gaining high praise from critics.

Consisting of 13 episodes, the series follows FBI agent Charles Barker, played by Swayze, who is known for applying controversial techniques to his attempts to bring criminals to justice. His actions often unsettle his uninitiated partner, Ellis Dove, and Barker is investigated by fellow FBI agents for alleged misconduct.

Dove's loyalty to his partner is challenged when internal affairs agent Ray Beaumont approaches him to gain information, but as he begins to learn of darker secrets in Barker's past, he begins to understand the man’s actions. Gripping stuff!