Luther

[tammyy2j]

Idris Elba stars in Neil Cross's six-part series Luther, a psychological crime thriller that takes a new look at the detective genre on BBC One.

Elba, best known for his performance in the award-winning HBO series The Wire, playing drug kingpin Russell "Stringer" Bell, now finds himself on the other side of the law as John Luther, a near-genius murder detective whose brilliant mind cannot always save him from the dangerous violence of his passions.

Joining Elba in the cast are Ruth Wilson, Steven Macintosh, Paul McGann and Warren Brown.

Creator and writer Neil Cross is an acclaimed suspense novelist and was lead writer on two series of BBC One's Spooks.

"I'm delighted that BBC One is bringing Luther to life," he says. "It's an intense psychological thriller which examines not only human depravity but the complex nature of love … and how it's often this – our finest attribute – that leads us into darkness."

[tammyy2j]

Episode One

DCI John Luther returns to work after a spell of leave following the traumatic arrest of the serial killer Henry Madsen.

Luther's first case is investigating the murder of the parents of child genius, Alice Morgan. He quickly deduces that Alice is responsible for the deaths, but the seemingly perfect crime leaves no evidence with which to convict Alice.

Outside of work Luther is trying to win back his wife now he's got his life back on track. She has moved, on however, and has a new man in her life – Mark, who is the antithesis of Luther. Will Luther be able to save his fractured marriage to Zoe?

As the murder case proceeds, Luther realises he has become Alice's next project and that Zoe is in danger – because he dared to question Alice's brilliance.

Luther and Alice seem to have a strange connection – both extraordinarily intelligent – they verbally spar with each other and seem to delight in the competition.

Luther's brilliant mind soon works out how Alice managed to kill her parents without leaving a trace but without the evidence of the gun, there is nothing he can do. On this occasion, it seems Alice has won but Luther refuses to give up.

In the meantime, unbeknown to Luther, Alice has tracked down Henry Madsen to his hospital bedside where he lies in a coma. But what does she intend to do now that she has found him?


Episode Two

Luther is called to the shooting of two uniformed police officers. The murders are cold blooded but appear motiveless.

Luther quickly realises that the killer is a soldier and that he seems to be targeting anyone wearing a police uniform.

With Ripley's help, Luther identifies the killer as Owen Lynch but not before they are called to the scene of another police shooting. Three more police officers are gunned down.

Meanwhile, Alice has been investigating Luther and to his horror, seems to know what happened to Madsen during his arrest. She baits him further by asking what Zoe would think if she knew the truth.

Concerned for her safety, Luther urges Zoe to leave London as he fears Alice will come after her again but Zoe refuses to believe him.

Trying to uncover the killer's motives, Luther discovers that Owen is taking his orders from his father, Terry Lynch, a convicted police killer.

Terry wants his sentence squashed and is threatening further deaths unless his terms are met.

Determined to flush Owen out, Luther gives a taunting television interview, ensuring that all of Owen's anger and hatred is focused on him. However, in an effort to catch his killer, has Luther just signed his own death warrant?

[lizann]

When does it start? I've seen it advertised on BBC 1

[tammyy2j]

When does it start? I've seen it advertised on BBC 1

Luther begins on BBC One on May 4

[Chloe O'brien]

I can see this being a cracking drama.

[JustJodi]

this guy who plays Luther(Idris Elba) was in Guy Richies ROCK n ROLLA,, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1032755/
He was interviewed on One Show last week... I am looking forward to seeing this program :-)

[moonstorm]

This one looks fantastic!!

[Perdita]

Tuesday 1 June
9.00-10.00pm BBC ONE and BBC HD

* www.bbc.co.uk/luther

When an art dealer's wife is taken hostage at gunpoint, Luther leads a tense investigation, as the dark psychological thriller continues.

The hostage takers want payment in diamonds so, stalling for time, Luther substitutes a bag of replacement diamonds from the Serious Crime Unit's evidence safe. Luther and DCI Reed are on hand to arrest the gang members picking up the gems, but when everything starts to unravel Luther begins to suspect that even Reed has double-crossed him.

Luther tries to persuade Reed that between them they can make it work, but Reed knows it is only a matter of time before Luther has to give him up. Terrified and distraught, Reed goes to the only person he knows Luther will listen to – Zoe.

DCI John Luther is played by Idris Elba, DCI Ian Reed by Steven Mackintosh and Zoe Luther by Indira Varma. This episode also features Thomas Lockyer as art dealer James Carrodus; Donatienne Dupont as his wife, Jessica; Ross McCall as hostage taker Daniel Sugarman; Danny Lee Wynter as Tom Meyer; and Alexander Morton as Bill Winingham.

[JustJodi]

I totally love this program !!!!!!!!!!!! it is so intense , its dark, its just terrific,, if any one has not started to watch this program it is SOOOOOOOOO worth watching :-) Ruth Wilson is great as Mary Morgan ,,

[Chloe O'brien]

I need to catch this on iplayer as it clashes with CSI. Anyone watching Strike back on Sky1

[alan45]

I have watched bot episodes of this. Sorry its too far-fetched for my likng.

The business last week with the police radi was totally wrong. The type of radio used can be located instantly so the police would have known where he was. It can also be decoded so as to render it useless to anyone who steals it. Multiple murders etc. Bit like a Marquess episode of The Bill

[Dazzle]

I've seen the first episode but haven't decided whether to watch the rest of the series. I didn't really enjoy it, although it's got a great cast. Idris Elba can do so much better than this - he was my favourite person in The Wire, which had a brilliant ensemble cast.

[alan45]

I've seen the first episode but haven't decided whether to watch the rest of the series. I didn't really enjoy it, although it's got a great cast. Idris Elba can do so much better than this - he was my favourite person in The Wire, which had a brilliant ensemble cast.
Luther isnt a patch on The Wire. They seem to be trying to show London as Baltimore and frankly it just isnt working. I dont think I will be watching any more of it.

[Dazzle]

Can any show be a patch on The Wire, though? It's one of my favourite TV programmes ever, so I'll always compare other cop shows to it.

[Perdita]

I watched it and I don't like it much

[Chloe O'brien]

Oh you've put me of it now.

[Dazzle]

Don't be put off Chloe - Luther does have an excellent cast. Sometimes I love programmes that most people seem to hate. I think you should watch it and decide for yourself. :)

[moonstorm]

Ok, tried this one and just can't get into it - as has been said, too far fetched.

[Perdita]

Oh you've put me of it now.

I agree with Dazzle, Kath, give it a try, you might like it, the actors are good, I just could not get into the storylines :)

[JustJodi]

guess i am the only one who really likes this show,,,oh well .. to each their own :-D

[alan45]

New BBC detective series Luther suffered a massive drop in its audience on Tuesday night.

The programme, which stars The Wire's Idris Elba, appealed to 4.05m (17.9%) on BBC One from 9pm, representing an almost 1.3m week-on-week drop.

However, the show still comfortably won the 9pm hour, after The Bill attracted just 2.66m (11.7%) to ITV1.

Holby City, which was not shown last week due to a BBC News special on David Cameron becoming prime minister, pulled in 5.71m (26.7%) for BBC One in the 8pm hour.

On ITV1, documentary series Children's Hospital appealed to 2.5m (12.4%) from 7.30pm, and Who Wants To Be A Millionaire gained 3.19m (14.9%) in the 8pm hour.

BBC Two's Coast averaged 1.61m (8.4%) from 7pm. It was followed by Theo's Adventure Capitalists, with 900k (4.2%), a 360k week-on-week increase.

The Story of Science took 1.72m (7.6%) for BBC Two in the 9pm hour, but it was beaten by Heston's Ultimate Feast, which pulled in 1.86m (8.3%) for Channel 4 and 217k (1.2%) on timeshift.

Also on Channel 4, Supersize vs Superskinny averaged 1.9m (8.9%) in the 8pm hour and 254k (1.1%) on timeshift, and documentary Our Daughter: The Mermaid had 1.52m (9.1%) from 10pm and 118k (1.3%) on timeshift.

Cowboy Builders saw an impressive 330k week-on-week increase to 1.34m (6.5%) on Five in the 8pm hour.

Later on the channel, CSI appealed to 2.02m (8.9%) from 9pm to 10pm.

Overall, BBC One dominated primetime with 24.5% compared to ITV1's 14.7%. Channel 4 took third place with 7.4% (+1: 0.9%), ahead of BBC Two with 6.2% and Five with 5.8%.

Elsewhere, the final episode of Blood, Sweat And Luxuries pulled in 612k (2.7%) for BBC Three in the 9pm hour, then a repeat of EastEnders managed 996k (5.1%) from 10pm.

[Smellena]

oh i really love this program!!! think its soooo goof although proberly unrealisitc i LOVE it! :D
wish there will be a series 2!!!!

[JustJodi]

oh i really love this program!!! think its soooo goof although proberly unrealisitc i LOVE it! :D
wish there will be a series 2!!!!

Oh I love the show myself, I find it DIFFERENT from most cop shows,, but thats just me,,

[tammyy2j]

Its renewed for a 2nd season

[tammyy2j]

Season 2 Promo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHDeIspEW6Q

[Perdita]

Tuesday 28 June
9.00-10.00pm BBC ONE and BBC ONE HD
www.bbc.co.uk/luther

As Luther's affection grows for Jenny, the quirky girl who is integrating herself into his life, so does his determination to protect her, as the crime drama continues. His wish to get her back on her feet even overrides his obsession with work and, for the first time in too long, he takes a holiday to help her. Their domestic morning is interrupted, however, by news of a violent attack at a petrol station. Luther reluctantly leaves Jenny, warning her to be careful.

Meanwhile, Baba and her heavies continue to make their demands on Luther. As yet, he has been unable to find a way to end their blackmail. However, when Toby and Frank set Luther another task, he sees an opening through the obvious antagonism between the two men. For Jenny's sake he knows he must do what they say but, slowly, a plan to exploit Frank's frustration with Toby starts to formulate in his mind...

[tammyy2j]

I thought it was back on the 14th of June?

[Perdita]

It is.

Tuesday 14 June
9.00-10.00pm BBC ONE and BBC ONE HD
www.bbc.co.uk/luther


Luther (Idris Elba) returns as the near-genius murder detective. A year after the death of estranged wife Zoe and best friend Ian Reed's betrayal, Luther remains tortured by the past, as the drama starring Idris Elba as the near-genius murder detective returns.

While Alice bides her time in a psychiatric unit and Ripley languishes in uniform, Luther has been shut away with dusty files working on cold cases. His only solace exists in his newfound friendship with Mark North and their late-night chess games – forever bonded by the person that once divided them: Zoe.

Former investigating officer Martin Schenk offers Luther a role in the new Serious and Serial Unit, and Luther accepts. He is determined to devote his energy to reinstating DS Justin Ripley as a rising star in the police force and help those who he inadvertently hurt or compromised in the past, including Alice.

The team, complete with the new addition of ambitious DS Erin Gray, is immediately faced with a surreal and nightmarish case. They must catch a man who hides behind a Punch mask as he brutally murders his victims. Luther quickly concludes that this man is obsessed with fairytale and mythology and is determined to enter into historical folklore himself by accomplishing one final devastating set piece.

Luther's focus is disrupted by the arrival of Caroline Jones, the wife of a man Luther committed to prison long ago. Caroline blames Luther for the destruction of her family and now demands his help to rescue her daughter, Jenny.

[Perdita]

Tuesday 21 June
9.00-10.00pm BBC ONE and BBC ONE HD
www.bbc.co.uk/luther

Luther (Idris Elba) is devastated by news of his colleague's abduction. Luther is devastated by the news of his colleague's abduction and throws himself into the investigation, knowing Cameron has an ultimate plan that is far more horrific than any of his previous murders.

A desperate call from Caroline forces Luther to put his investigation on hold. At Caroline's house he comes face to face with Baba, Jenny's ruthless and vengeful gang boss. Baba considers Jenny her property and wants compensation from Luther for taking Jenny from her. Luther must either help her or both Caroline and Jenny will die. Baba wants him to prevent a witness, currently held in a safehouse, from implicating her grandson, Toby, in a forthcoming trial. Unable to see an alternative, Luther agrees, frustrated at once again finding himself forced to act outside of police procedure.

[Chloe O'brien]

I didn't catch Luther last year as it clashed with CSI, but I'm going to catch this series.

[Dutchgirl]

Wow I love this serie. It is so out of the box. The tension is building in just one episode. And the ending of episode one is again totally unexpected. You gotta love this.

[Perdita]

Tuesday 5 July
9.00-10.00pm BBC ONE and BBC ONE HD

Luther's (Idris Elba) life spirals out of controlLuther's personal and professional life spirals out of control as he tries to cover up a death and appease a suspicious Baba, in the concluding part of the crime drama. He must also protect Jenny from any further harm.

At work there's also a killer at large whose actions are ruled by his dice. How do you stop a man who sees life and death as a game and whose actions can't be predicted?

Confronted with the gruesome reality of his actions, Luther has a momentary flicker of doubt, questioning whether he can go through with his plan. He knows that by continuing he is moving further into the dark abyss of the criminal world than he ever has before. But he must, for Jenny. Steeling his nerves he commits to his plan before hurrying back to work.

[Chloe O'brien]

I just new the killer was going to appear at the end. I was waiting for him to be standing in the room when Erin closed the curtains but no he wasn't there so yes he had to be in the car. Still jumped out my skin though.

[Perdita]

Luther creator Neil Cross has revealed that he is planning a film spinoff.

The writer told BBC Radio 4's Front Row that he intends to make the movie once the BBC crime drama has ended.

"We'll wrap up Luther as a TV show, but I think we'll then probably make the leap to the big screen," he said.

Cross added that the television incarnation of Luther would have a "powerful and moving ending".

"The final scene of the final episode is great and we wouldn't want to continue [beyond that]," he explained. "We'll go out big and leave it at that."

Last year, Luther star Idris Elba admitted that he is also keen to make a film based on the show.

"I really do want to make Luther into a film," he said. "I think that's where the ultimate Luther story will unfold - the big silver screen."

The Golden Globe-winning drama will return for a third run of four 60-minute episodes later this year.