Miniseries · ITV1
Des
Who's in it
Cast
The principal ensemble across the run of the series.
David Tennant
Dennis Nilsen
3 eps
Daniel Mays
DCI Peter Jay
3 eps
Jason Watkins
Brian Masters
3 eps
Ron Cook
DSI Chambers
3 eps
Faye McKeever
Linda Jay
3 eps
Barry Ward
DI Steve McCusker
3 eps
Ben Bailey Smith
DC Brian Lodge
3 eps
Alex Bhat
DS Jones
3 eps
Jay Simpson
DS Chris Healey
3 eps
Bronagh Waugh
Charlotte Proctor
3 eps
Chanel Cresswell
Lesley Mead
1 eps
Joel Morris
Tim Wells
3 eps
Laurie Kynaston
Carl Stottor
3 eps
Pip Torrens
Ivan Lawrence QC
1 eps
Alexander Bhat
DS Jones
3 eps
Andy Jaye
News Correspondent
3 eps
Laura Elphinstone
Tilly
1 eps
Tony Way
Mike Cattran
1 eps
Stuart McQuarrie
Ronald Moss
1 eps
Pauline Turner
Elizabeth Sinclair
1 eps
Beth Goddard
Frances
1 eps
Tor Clark
Foreman of the Jury
1 eps
Ross Anderson
Douglas Stewart
1 eps
Cal MacAninch
Neil Sinclair
2 eps
Oscar Salem
Juan
2 eps
Andrew Woodall
Dr Hardy
1 eps
Ken Bones
Judge Croom-Johnson
1 eps
Silas Carson
Russell Cavendish
1 eps
Jonathan Coy
Professor David Bowen
2 eps
Gerard Horan
Commander Gerald Lookwood
1 eps
Neil Edmond
Clerk of the Court
2 eps
Amaka Okafor
Emily
1 eps
The Nutevio profile
TV DNA
How Des actually feels to watch, measured on the traits our editors track across every series.
Signature profile
Des reads strongest on Serialized, Character Depth and Bingeability.
How much each hour depends on the one before it.
How fully written and psychologically layered the ensemble is.
How hard it is to stop after one episode.
How much the series is designed to affect you.
The sustained pressure the series keeps you under.
How often an episode ends on a hook you can't ignore.
Visual ambition — scale, craft and set-piece filmmaking.
The scale, internal logic and texture of the world.
How often the series is genuinely funny, by design.
The story
What it's about
The story of one of the most infamous cases in UK criminal history, that of serial killer Dennis Nilsen. Told through the prism of three men, the series explores the personal and professional consequences of coming into contact with a man like Nilsen.
Where the series peaks
Best Episodes
The hours that define the show, ranked by audience response and editorial signal.
S01E03
Episode 3
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.
- Directed by Lewis Arnold
- Written by Kelly Jones
S01E01
Episode 1
On 9 February 1983, Detective Chief Inspector Peter Jay discovers a drain clogged with rotting flesh and bones. The culprit, Dennis Nilsen, freely admits to the police that it's not just one or two bodies, but "15 or 16, I think".
- Directed by Lewis Arnold
- Written by Luke Neal
S01E02
Episode 2
With limited resources, Jay and the police continue to dig into Nilsen's memories in an effort to convict him for the murder of every one of his victims. But when Des withdraws his cooperation and stops talking, Jay fears justice will be lost.
- Directed by Lewis Arnold
- Written by Luke Neal
Behind the series
Created by
Showrunners, creators, executive producers and the writers who set the voice of the series.
The craft
Key Crew
Directing, writing, production, camera, music and editing.
Executive production
- Luke NealExecutive Producer
- David MeantiProducer
- Charlie PattinsonExecutive Producer
- David TennantExecutive Producer
- Willow GryllsExecutive Producer
- Lewis ArnoldExecutive Producer
Writing
- Luke NealWriter
- Kelly JonesWriter
Direction
- Lewis ArnoldDirector
Cinematography
- Mark WolfDirector of Photography
Music
- Sarah WarneOriginal Music Composer
Where to watch
Streaming
Availability verified against regional listings.
- Amazon VideoBuy
- Apple TV StoreBuy
- PhiloStreaming
- Google Play MoviesBuy
- AMC Plus Apple TV Channel Streaming
- Britbox Apple TV Channel Streaming
- AMC+ Amazon ChannelStreaming
- AMC+Streaming
- Fandango At HomeBuy
- Sundance NowStreaming
- BritBoxStreaming
- BritBox Amazon ChannelStreaming
- Spectrum On DemandStreaming
- Shout! Factory Amazon ChannelStreaming
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Where to go from here
Watch Next
Our editors' suggestion for the show you should start tonight — and why.
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Another invented world built with the same seriousness — start at episode one.
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Where our editors would send you after the credits roll.
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Never stop watching
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