Alibi is TV’s home of crime drama, showcasing the world’s best-known TV detectives, and attracting an upmarket audience. Famous faces such as Miss Marple, Inspector Lynley and Jessica Fletcher are joined by the teams from Silent Witness and New Tricks, plus there’s murder most foul in original commission Murdoch Mysteries. Each TV detective has their own quirks, their own kinks, and their own demons to conquer. The one thing they all have in common is a supreme capacity for getting into trouble, as well as the instinctive gift of sniffing out a criminal.

Alibi is available on Sky 132 and Virgin Media 130.

Brand New Shows In May

Castle

Wednesdays, 9pm

US primetime hit Castle continues exclusively on Alibi in May with more amateur sleuthing and simmering sexual tension.

Desperate Housewives’s Nathan Fillion stars as a famous murder mystery novelist who helps the NYPD homicide department to solve crimes.

Originally investigated by the NYPD when a victim of a murder matched the description of a victim in one of his novels, Castle is inspired by his run-in with the beautiful detective Kate Beckett (Stana Katic) and through his connections with the Mayor he gets permission to accompany her team as a consultant to do research for his book.

Beckett is initially horrified by the idea of Castle tagging along, but as time progresses she learns to appreciate his unique approach to solving crimes.

This month’s episodes see the reluctant partners investigate a macabre murder at a construction site, which reminds Beckett of an old case… but also brings back buried memories. Noting his muse’s reaction, Castle thinks he might just have something for his new novel.

In Always Buy Retail, Castle and Beckett investigate a ritualistic killing and find themselves navigating tricky religious ground, while Home Is Where The Heart Stops focuses on the murder of a wealthy socialite and Beckett’s reluctance at becoming Castle’s date for a charity ball.

Finally this month, a two-year-old girl goes missing and Beckett is teamed with an ex-boyfriend for the investigation – much to Castle’s annoyance.

Murdoch Mysteries

Tuesdays, 9pm

Yannick Bisson stars in a brand new thrilling third series exclusive to Alibi, based on the award-winning novels by Maureen Jennings. Set in Victorian Toronto, the show follows the exploits of detective William Murdoch who brings evil to justice thanks to the new science of forensics.

Set in the late 1890s, Murdoch takes a new, more scientific approach to solving crimes. Murdoch introduces new concepts, such as finger marks and lie detecting machines. He has the support of the somewhat doubtful Inspector Brackenreid (played by Thomas Craig), though at times, even he finds Murdoch’s methods – and claims – somewhat astounding.

June Highlights

New Tricks

Series 6, Tuesday, 8pm

Superintendent Sandra Pullman (Amanda Redman) and her Unsolved Crime and Open Case Squad make a return to Alibi as the motley crew re-open more troublesome cases that were never laid to rest. Brought out of retirement, Jack Halford (James Bolan), Brian Lane (Alun Armstrong) and Gerry Standing (Dennis Waterman) make for an unconventional, grumpy but experienced and effective crime-solving team.

New Tricks isn’t just a serial whodunit. The three cops have been retired for some time, and are baffled and amused by the advancements in technology and changes in police protocol that have taken place since they left the force. Since they’re not officially police officers anymore, they can break all the rules, and they do!

Dalziel and Pascoe

Thursday at 8pm

Andy Dalziel does not suffer fools gladly, but he has even more trouble with what he calls the “smart arses” of this world. So when the inexperienced, soft-spoken, whiz-kid graduate Peter Pascoe joins his team at Mid-Yorkshire CID, there could be problems. Pascoe is one of the new breed of career police officers, armed with a degree in Social Sciences, a caring attitude and a sharp brain. At first Pascoe is somewhat taken aback by his brash and ballsy boss, but it soon becomes apparent there is more to Andy Dalziel than meets the eye.

Silent Witness

Thursdays, 9pm

Emilia Fox, William Gaminara and Tom Ward return as a team of forensic pathologists trying to uncover the truth behind murders. The fantastic Silent Witness continues to push the boundaries of British procedural drama.

One of Alibi’s most popular shows, Silent Witness was created by Nigel McCrery, a former murder squad detective in Nottingham. The show began starring Amanda Burton as the iconic Sam Ryan. She was later joined by Harry and Leo, and at the beginning of Series 8, Sam left after investigating a case of police corruption in Northern Ireland, and laying some of her own ghosts to rest.

Shortly after, Leo found Nikki brushing her teeth in the mortuary. She was working in the university’s archaeology department, and had gatecrashed the lab to use it for some forensic work on her bones. A qualified pathologist, but also an expert on archaeology and anthropology, Nikki ended up helping Harry and Leo on the case they were investigating, and never left.

Taggart

Fridays, 9pm

Like your thrillers tough and meaty? Hit the mean streets of Glasgow and discover a world of grotesque criminals, gruesome plot twists and the grizzliest of murders. Twenty five years after Mark McManus first walked onto our screens as hard-boiled detective Jim Taggart, the gritty police drama is still going strong.

View alibi’s Channel Performance

For more information please go to www.theperfectalibi.co.uk

The Deadliest Place on TV.

Alibi strengthens its 2010 schedule with the acquisition of ABC Studios’ hit crime drama CASTLE

Alibi, has acquired the exclusive pay rights to ABC Studios’ high-rating police drama, Castle from The Walt Disney Company.

Starring Nathan Fillion (Desperate Housewives) as crime writer Richard Castle, the series regularly pulls in over 10 million viewers in the US and will form an integral part of Alibi’s Spring and Autumn schedules.

UKTV’s Acquisitions Manager, Alexandra Finlay, says, “It is a fantastic coup to bring Castle to Alibi. This acquisition exemplifies the channel’s ambition to secure other key US and international crime content in the future.”

Alibi’s Channel Head, Steve Hornsey, adds, “Alibi is well known for its high quality British content and introducing a hugely successful US series in Castle will not only broaden the appeal of the channel but also the editorial mix. Adding Castle to our schedule should be seen as a clear message of intent as Alibi continues to assert itself as the home of crime drama.”

The Walt Disney Company’s Catherine Powell, General Manager, Media Distribution, UK, also adds,“This original concept from ABC Studios is a captivating comedic crime series and a perfect strategic fit for Alibi’s audience of crime drama fans. We are delighted that by working with Alibi we are introducing this great series to UK audiences.”

Alongside crime writer Richard Castle (Nathan Fillion) Castle also stars Stana Katic (Quantum of Solace) as NYC homicide Detective Kate Beckett. The pair meet when Beckett calls Castle in to help her solve a copy cat murder based on his novels. Castle jumps at the chance to work with Beckett and while she is initially horrified by the idea of Castle tagging along, as time progresses she begins to appreciate his unique approach to solving crimes.

Inspired by his encounter with Beckett and also suffering from a bad case of writer’s block Castle decides to use Beckett as the model for a main character in his next book. Much to her chagrin, he manages to exploit his connections with the mayor and is granted permission to hang out as a consultant at the precinct. As well as a murder to solve in each episode, there is an engrossing subplot involving the murder of Detective Beckett’s mother.