Former Match of the Day host Des Lynam says current MOTD presenter Gary Lineker "wasn't awfully good" as a pundit when he started on the show.

Lynam, who hosted the show which is celebrating its 60th anniversary between 1988 and 1999, said that when he started as a pundit Lineker didn't have many opinions and wouldn't criticise players. 

He told What to Watch he couldn't imagine the former England star would go on to become the show's host for so long.

"I didn't, because as a pundit he wasn't awfully good. He didn't have many opinions and he didn't like to criticise players. But I left the BBC to go to ITV in 1999, leaving the way open for him and he's become a fantastic presenter. People criticise him, but I know what the job entails and I think he's first class. 

Lynam says he still watches the show, which returns on Saturday on BBC One for the opening round of Premier League matches.

"I either watch it live or I record it, but it's absolutely compulsory in my house! I particularly enjoy Gary's opening and closing remarks. Sometimes they don't work, but often it's very, very clever, how he finishes the show and on one or two occasions, I’ve thought, 'I wish I'd said that!'"

Des says he was stunned when he was asked to host the show. "I was shocked because Jimmy Hill was the host and had been doing it for many years. I got a phone call asking if I wanted to stop doing Grandstand and take over on Match of the Day and I said, 'Does Jimmy know about this? He's a friend of mine, I can't suddenly take his job without mentioning it to him beforehand!' But Jimmy was very happy about it, because he thought he was better off being a pundit."

Match of the Day is recognised by Guinness World Records as the longest-running football TV programme in the world, with millions of fans still tuning in each week.

Match of the Day returns to BBC One on Saturday 17 August at 10.20 pm.

Despite her emergency trip to the hospital, Sheila Canning is still plotting to win back her ex, Clive on Neighbours. And she needs help from Des!

Sheila Canning's (played by Colette Mann) family and friends are all worried about her health following her SHOCK collapse on Neighbours (1:45pm/5:30pm on Channel 5, see our TV Guide for full listings).

But little do they know, even from her hospital bed, crafty Sheila is up to no good!

Sheila has convinced Des Clarke (Paul Keane) to stick around in Erinsborough for a while, hoping he'll be able to distract his ex-wife, Jane Harris (Annie Jones) who is now dating Sheila's ex, Clive Gibbons (Geoff Paine).

Sheila is determined to win back Clive, even if it means playing dirty and making poor Des her puppet!

Meanwhile, Hendrix Greyson (Benny Turland) is still under pressure to settle his debt with dodgy Kane Jones (Barry Conrad).

Hendrix's attempt to pay-off Kane using the expensive necklace his dad, Pierce bought for ex-lover, Dipi Rebecchi (Sharon Johal) wasn't enough to completely settle his debt.

So now Hendrix must play against Kane in another game of blackjack, hoping he'll strike it lucky.

But the stakes are high, as Hendrix ends up betting and losing something he doesn't own...

Neighbours continues weekdays at 1:45pm/5:30pm on Channel 5

Des O'Connor started out his career while completing his national service in the RAF

Des O’Connor, one of the true greats of the entertainment world, has died aged 88.

The much-loved star died on Saturday, the BBC reports, following a fall at his home in Buckinghamshire just over a week ago.

The tributes have been pouring in for the London-born presenter, chat show host, singer and comedian.

Ant and Dec, who return tonight with a new series of I’m A Celeb, wrote: “We are very sad to hear of the passing of Des O’Connor, a consummate professional and a lovely man. He was a regular on our TV’s growing up and a gentleman whenever we met. Eric & Ernie will be waiting to have a laugh with you tonight Des.”

Carol Vorderman, who worked with Des when he fronted Countdown, tweeted: “So sad this morning to hear that Darling Des has passed away. He was the host of Countdown for a couple of years and was a joy to work with. Lively, funny, he ALWAYS wanted to entertain people. I will remember him most tho for his brilliant chat shows in the days when families would gather round the telly to watch, Des O’Connor was the King.”

Des rose to fame in the 1950s with gameshow Spot the Tune and during the 1960s he hosted The Des O’Connor Show. He was also a regular at The Royal Variety Performance and popped up on everything from The Harry Seacombe Show to The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson.

Des O'Connor... and Morecambe and Wise

Morecambe and Wise famously loved to tease Des about his singing, but the star of course had a hugely successful singing career, including four Top 10 hits. He made many appearances on Top of the Pops, spanning the 1960s, 70s and 80s.

More recently he hosted Today with Des and Mel and Countdown. For his 80th birthday in 2012 he made an ITV special called The One and Only Des O’Connor.

During a chat with TV Times, Des recalled how he started out his career while completing his national service in the RAF.

“There was one time I was doing an impression of the commanding officer and all the boys stopped laughing. I heard this slow clapping and the officer was there. He said, ‘Very funny O’Connor. I think the entire camp should see that.’ I was literally ordered onto the stage!”

Talking in the same interview about the highlights of his career, Des said: “It was wonderful filming An Audience with Des O’Connor in 2001. Walking on to 500 famous faces and seeing them all stand up. It made up for all the insults over the years!”

The Yorkshire Ripper is a new true-crime drama about the infamous serial killer ordered by ITV following the huge success of Des.

More than 10 million viewers tuned into Des, which saw former Doctor Who star David Tennant play serial killer Dennis Nilsen, who killed at least 12 men in London in the 1970s and 1980s.

Now, the makers of Des and another true crime drama, White House Farm, are turning their attention to the Yorkshire Ripper.

The Yorkshire Ripper — what is it about?

The true-crime drama will depict one of the most shocking serial killer cases in the world — the hunt for Peter Sutcliffe, who was dubbed the "Yorkshire Ripper" by the media.

Between October 1975 and January 1981, the police undertook one of the biggest manhunts in British criminal history as they searched for Sutcliffe. 

The hunt involved more than a thousand police offers and changed the way the British police force worked forever. The drama will also focus on the lives of the victims who fatally crossed paths with the murderer.

It’s based on Michael Bilton’s book, Wicked Beyond Belief: The Hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper and has been written by acclaimed screenwriter George Kay.

Director Paul Whittington (White House Farm) said: "By placing the victims, their families and the survivors at the heart of this story, George has crafted an excavation of British social history that goes far beyond the infamy. 

"His writing sensitively reveals and humanizes the untold number of lives devastated by these crimes, and powerfully exposes the enduring legacy of the failings of the biggest manhunt in British criminal history. 

"This is a vital story about class prejudice, pervasive and entrenched societal sexism and women simply not being heard that still has relevance today."

Peter Sutcliffe is currently serving serving life in prison for the murder of 13 victims and the attempted murder of seven others.

The Yorkshire Ripper release date

ITV has yet to announce when the six-part drama will be shown. But it is expected to air in 2021.

Who’s in the cast?

The drama is still in very early stages of production and a cast is yet to be announced. We will update this story when the casting is revealed.

What else do we know?

ITV says this will be the first "definitive account of a case that shook Britain" and draws on a huge archive of material, comprising of hundreds of case files. 

The Yorkshire Ripper will be produced by New Pictures, the people who brought us Des and White House Farm.

The Yorkshire Ripper is one of the most shocking serial killer cases in the world...

ITV has commissioned a Yorkshire Ripper drama following the phenomenal success of Des and White House Farm.

The new six-part true crime drama will depict the hunt for one of the most notorious serial killers, Peter Sutcliffe.

Sutcliffe went on to become dubbed The Yorkshire Ripper by the press.

ITV's Head of Drama, Polly Hill, has commissioned the drama, which will be written by George Kay.

The Yorkshire Ripper will be produced by New Pictures, the people who brought us Des and White House Farm.

Peter Sutcliffe is currently serving serving life in prison for the murder of 13 victims and the attempted murder of 7 others.

More: Roadkill pulls in big audience as fans hooked by Hugh Laurie thriller

Between October 1975 and January 1981, police undertook the biggest manhunt in British criminal history.

The search for Sutcliffe lasted five years, involved over a thousand officers and changed the way the British police worked forever.

Following in the footsteps of ITV's Des

ITV saw huge success with their true crime drama, Des, with more than 10 million viewers tuning in to watch David Tennant portray the serial killer.

The drama, which has become the broadcaster's biggest drama of 2o2o so far, focuses on the 1983 arrest of Dennis Nilsen, who killed at least 12 men in London in the 70s and 80s.

Actor David Tennant also received high praise for his portrayal of the serial killer.

Another ITV true crime drama, White House Farm, also received rave reviews back in January.

The drama followed the real life crime that saw a family of five found murdered in their Essex farmhouse.

The six-part drama then went on to follow the subsequent arrest of Jeremy Bamber, who first called the police.

It is yet to be revealed who will star in The Yorkshire Ripper, with details due to be announced as filming starts.

Speaking of The Yorkshire Ripper coming to ITV, Polly Hill said: "This promises to be a definitive look at this infamous case, and will be sensitively dramatised for ITV by this formidable team, who have a proven track record in bringing these true stories to screen."

One of the most haunting imports of 2020 undoubtedly will be Des — the story of the British serial killer that just made its debut on ITV. Playing the notorious Dennis Nilsen who killed a more than a dozen people? David Tennant.

And Des is coming to America on Sundance Now starting Oct. 15.

This show is not a good time, Tennant said in our interview.

"Reading a script that was as dark it this was you thought nobody is ever going to dare make this," says Tennant. "Also it feels like you kind of carry a responsibility because it's a true story, because Nilsen did terrible things and because there are still people alive who are still devastated by the things he did."

Also starring in Des are Daniel Mays (who you'll remember from the excellent White Lines on Netflix) as detective Peter Jay, who led the investigation, as well as Jason Watson (The Crown) as Nilsen's biographer.

• Everything you need to know about Des on ITV
• The true story that sparked the series
• The best serial-killer dramas to watch before you watch Des
• Des in pictures: A gallery of darkness
• INTERVIEW: David Tennant on what it was like to play the monster
• INTERVIEW: Jason Watkins talks about his role in Des
• INTERVIEW: Daniel Mays on the cop who caught Dennis Nilsen

The opening episode of Des starring David Tennant is reported by ITV to have “peaked with 5.9m and was watched by almost a third of all viewers (32 percent) across its slot.”

The three-part series stars David Tennant as real-life serial killer Dennis "Des" Nilsen. It'll premiere in the United States on Oct. 15 on Sundance Now.

Viewers are macabrely mesmerized by likable actor Tennant’s chilling portrayal of Nilsen, with many taking to Twitter to praise the actor best known for his roles in Doctor Who, Broadchurch and There She Goes, which is up for a TV Times Favourite Comedy Award this year. His role in Des is also up for Favourite Actor.

It was widely agreed that David Tennant looks unnervingly like the killer he’s portraying.

The first episode opened with Nilsen confessing to killing up to 16 young men to DCI Peter Jay, played by Daniel Mays, in an unsettlingly matter-of-fact manner. Viewers described Tennant’s performance as "blood curdling."

While many viewers may never look at David Tennant in the same way again after witnessing his stunningly dark performance as serial killer Dennis Nilsen, there was near-universal agreement that his acting skills were "superb."

The three-part series continued on ITV at 9pm on Tuesday, with the second episode focusing further on Dennis ‘Des’ Nilsen’s shocking police interviews with DCI Peter Jay. Daniel Mays' performance has also gained much-deserved praise.

Tonight's finale focuses on the trial and getting justice for Nilsen's victims. Daniel Mays personally endorses the final two episodes.

If you agree David Tennant’s chilling performance in Des is award-worthy, or think family comedy There She Goes deserves a gong cast your votes in the TV Times Award 2020.

• Everything you need to know about Des on ITV
• The true story that sparked the series
• The best serial-killer dramas to watch before you watch Des
• Des in pictures: A gallery of darkness
• INTERVIEW: David Tennant on what it was like to play the monster
• INTERVIEW: Jason Watkins talks about his role in Des
• INTERVIEW: Daniel Mays on the cop who caught Dennis Nilsen

Here’s how to watch Des online anywhere in the world...

Des, starring David Tennant as real-life serial killer Dennis Nilsen, has been airing on ITV - but don’t worry you can still watch it if you missed it! Here’s how to watch Des online anywhere in the world.

The Doctor Who and Broadchurch actor plays Nilsen in the three-part drama, which broke viewing figure records for the first episode. The opening episode saw a massive 5.4 million people tuning in, making Des the biggest drama debut since Sheridan Smith’s Cleaning Up in 2019.

Des tells how the gruesome crimes of Scottish-born job centre worker Nilsen, known as “Des”, were discovered in February 1983 when police arrived at his North London home, 23 Cranley Gardens, after human remains were found in the drain. Nilsen then told the police he’d murdered “15 or 16” young men.

More: How to watch All Creatures Great and Small anywhere in the world 

Des follows the police investigation led by DCI Peter Jay (Line of Duty’s Daniel Mays), which eventually saw Nilsen sentenced to life in prison for six murders and two attempted murders. The drama also looks at the case through the eyes of biographer Brian Masters (The Crown’s Jason Watkins), who interviewed Nilsen for his book Killing for Company.

Talking about the research he did for Des, Tennant said: “There’s footage of Nilsen and a lot has been written about him. I also met people involved in the case and people who knew him. You don’t want to do an impression but I did spend time studying him and listening to his voice trying to think myself into that space.”

How to watch Des free online with ITV in the UK

Des has already been broadcast, but it is available on catch-up service ITV Hub. ITV Hub is a great way of catching up with your favourite ITV shows if you’ve missed them on screen.

How to watch Des online from abroad 

There is a handy way to watch your favourite TV shows from wherever you are in the world, and it is called VPN.

This lets you get around the usual digital barriers by changing your IP address, meaning you can watch your favourite TV shows even if you're away from home.

But which VPN will suit your needs best?

Our favourite is ExpressVPN, which lets you change your IP address on whichever device you want to watch your new favourite TV show on.

From laptops to a Smart TV, Amazon Fire Stick and games consoles to a mobile phone, you can change the address to make your device think it is in a different location.

ExpressVPN is one of the best out there. Not only because it is straightforward and easy to use, but it also has great security and, best of all, it comes with a 30-day money back guarantee.

This is the number one rated VPN in the world right now and as well as trying it out for free for a month, you can sign up for an annual plan and get 3 months absolutely free.

How to watch Des in America and Canada

Des will be available on streaming service Sundance Now. However, a date has not yet been announced for its release on the service.

How to watch Des in Australia

Des is available through Australian subscription video on demand service Stan. Stan is currently offering a 30 day free trial.

A record number of people have been watching the new ITV drama...

David Tennant has left the nation gripped with his portrayal of serial killer Dennis 'Des' Nilsen in his new ITV drama.

In fact so many people tuned in for the first episode of Des that it has already broken ratings records for the channel.

The first two episodes of the new three-part ITV drama aired on Monday and Tuesday this week, with the final instalment airing tonight at 9pm - see our TV Guide for full listings.

Topping the charts 

Monday night's episode saw a staggering 5.4 million people turning in, making Des the biggest drama debut since Sheridan Smith's Cleaning Up in 2019.

The show also topped ITV drama, Quiz, which debuted at 5.3 million and told the story of the Who Wants to be a Millionaire cheating scandal.

More: How to watch All Creatures Great and Small online anywhere in the world 

Des explores how the horrific crimes of Scottish-born job centre worker Dennis Nilsen were uncovered in February 1983.

The gruesome story unravelled when the police were called to his North London home after human remains were found in a drain.

But instead of trying to cover up his crimes, Nilsen, then 37, calmly confessed to having killed "15 or 16" young men since 1978.

Nilsen was eventually sentenced to life in prison for six murders and two attempted murders.

Making a drama 

The ITV drama explores the case through the eyes of biographer Brian Masters, who interviewed Nilsen for his book, Killing for Company, which partly inspired the series.

Speaking about the research he did for the role of Nilsen, David Tennant told us: "I met people involved in the case and people who knew him.

"You don't want to do an impression but I did spend time studying him and listening to his voice, trying to think myself into that space.

"We were careful not to make this sensationalist, it's memorialising the victims.

"I'd have had reservations if we were presenting a gothic horror piece, but this is cool and responsible. It's not The Silence of the Lambs."

Des concludes tonight on ITV at 9pm. 

'This is cool and responsible,' says David Tennant about ITV serial killer drama Des

David Tennant is always a friendly, chatty interviewee and the Broadchurch star is just as warm and welcoming as usual when we arrive at a North London studio in January where he is filming ITV drama Des, in which he plays real-life serial killer Dennis Nilsen.

But with his 1980s-style hair and glasses, we are disconcertingly struck by David’s uncanny resemblance to the chilling Nilsen.

The three-part drama explores how the horrific crimes of Scottish-born job centre worker Nilsen, known as “Des”, were discovered in February 1983, when police arrived at his North London home, 23 Cranley Gardens, after human remains were found in the drain. Nilsen, then 37, calmly confessed to having killed “15 or 16” young men since 1978.

DCI Peter Jay (Mrs Biggs’ Daniel Mays) led the subsequent dogged police investigation, which eventually saw Nilsen sentenced to life in prison for six murders and two attempted murders.

The drama also explores the case through the eyes of biographer Brian Masters (The Crown’s Jason Watkins), who interviewed Nilsen for his book Killing for Company, which partly inspired the series.

Here David Tennant, 49, tells us why playing Nilsen in Des has been one of the toughest of his career...

Do you remember the case?

David Tennant: "I was about 12 when Nilsen was arrested and he was like a bogeyman. But it wasn’t until I moved to North London that I heard the details and read Killing for Company. It was like a local legend. What's extraordinary is the gulf between his apparent normality and what he did. How close is any of us to falling down that wormhole? What happened to him that flicked that switch?"

MORE: Everything you need to know about new Keeley Hawes true crime drama Honour

How did you approach playing him?

DT: "A couple of people had said, ‘He looks a bit like you!’ But trying to unpick his mind is horrifying and fascinating. I continue to change my mind about what his motivation was, he remains an enigma. It’s challenging trying to decide what's real and what isn't. Nilsen lived in his own fantasy world. There’s no consistency to him, only his narcissism. When he was caught he didn't stop talking, he confessed to everything."

Many of Nilsen’s victims were vulnerable and homeless men he had befriended, was it important to you that the drama focuses on them?

DT: "Yes it’s not sensationalist, it’s memorialising the victims. I’d have had reservations if we were presenting a gothic horror piece but this is cool and responsible. It's not The Silence of the Lambs. You want to tell it with sensitivity. There are still many victims unidentified because Nilsen didn't give a lot of names. The police work was about tracking people down. Many of them had gone missing and people weren't sure if they were dead or just gone away. It’s difficult to know whether that was something cunningly plotted by Nilsen so that he’d get away with it for longer."

MORE: Des in pictures

What research did you do?

DT: "There’s footage of Nilsen and a lot has been written about him. I also met people involved in the case and people who knew him. You don’t want to do an impression but I did spend time studying him and listening to his voice trying to think myself into that space."

Nilsen died two years ago in prison, aged 72. Would you have been tempted to meet him if you could?

DT: "There’s a relief he's gone because I’d have felt uncomfortable about serving his narcissism. He’d have been delighted and appalled by the drama. I’d have been interested in meeting him though, not to allow him to have input, but to use it as a resource."

Is it hard to switch off when you finish filming?

DT: "I'm not aware of taking anything home but you’d have to ask those around me! But I’m aware that my off-camera self has been more alienated. I’ve been more dour, less larky and more contained. You have to be respectful and carry a responsibility and duty of care – there are still people alive who are devastated by what he did."

Des begins tonight on ITV at 9pm (see our TV Guide for more shows to watch).

The Crown star Jason Watkins has taken on many challenging roles on television, and we’re about to see more of his brilliance in ITV drama Des. Much of what is known about the extraordinary Dennis Nilsen case in Britain is due to Brian Masters, who wrote Killing For Company, a detailed biography of the serial killer from interviews with Nilsen himself as the case was unfolding. Jason Watkins now plays the biographer in ITV’s three-part drama Des, with former Doctor Who star David Tennant giving a thoroughly chilling performance as Dennis Nilsen.

In 1983, Britain was shocked by the gruesome case of 37-year-old Dennis Nilsen, a seemingly mild-mannered Job Centre worker affectionately nicknamed "Des" by his co-workers. He was accused of killing a number of young men over five years. Police had been called to Nilsen’s home at 23 Cranley Gardens, north London after human remains were found in a drain, but as they questioned Nilsen, they were left reeling when he confessed to murdering "15 or 16" people.

Here, Jason Watkins reveals the part his Des character Brian Masters had in bringing many aspects of the case to light, including the state of Dennis Nilsen’s evil mind.

Des on ITV: Jason Watkins on biographer Brian Masters

“Brian Masters' book, 'Killing for Company,' is a seminal crime work," says Jason Watkins. “He was both fascinated and appalled by Nilsen and why he committed these awful crimes. So during the investigation he met up with Nilsen in jail, who told him his life story. We see that DCI Peter Jay (played by Daniel Mays in Des) knows Brian is getting all this gold dust, so a great triangle develops. They both eventually realise that Nilsen is controlling and manipulating them. Speaking to Brian Masters was an opportunity of course for Nilsen to fulfil his sort of grandiose psychopathic self-aggrandisement by telling his life story. Nilsen wrote down 52 exercise books worth of material which he gave to Brian.” 

Des on ITV: Jason Watkins on meeting the real Brian Masters

“Yes we met, and we also filmed inside Brian Masters' house,” reveals Jason Watkins. “It was nice to get to know his environment and he gave us useful details. He’s a really colourful character, not at all bookish, and a good storyteller. It was nice to get to know his environment where he he actually wrote the book 'Killing For Company.' ”

Des on ITV: Jason Watkins on what he remembers of the Dennis Nilsen case from the 1980s?

“I remember the growing horror over the sheer number of people Nilsen killed," says Watkins. “I was at drama school just after it happened and actually lived in a flat a few hundred yards from the office where Nilsen worked, so it was unnerving.”

Des on ITV: Jason Watkins on how the gruesome Dennis Nilsen case was covered in the 1980s

“Homophobia played a part in how case was covered and I think that was what first piqued Brian’s interest. He was appalled at the way that certain elements of the press had inferred that somehow the dysfunctionality of the murders was somehow akin to the perceived dysfunctionality of being homosexual back then, and in that time of the early 1980s that seemed to be a very prevalent thing. This appalled him and it was one of the things he probably wanted to redress as he dived into the prospect of interviewing Nilsen. Also, he was just like everyone else in that he was amazed at the way this person could do such things, plus he had a growing horror as more details of the case unfolded on TV.”

Three other top TV dramas starring Jason Watkins

Last year Jason Watkins starred in Season 3 of blockbuster royal drama The Crown on Netflix. He played the Queen’s first Labour Prime Minister Harold Wilson in the 1960s. Her Majesty, played by Olivia Colman, was wary of Wilson at first, believing whispers that he could be a Soviet spy. But when these rumours were later debunked she apologised for her doubts and the two actually became great friends, and Harold Wilson is thought to have been one of her favourite Prime Minister’s ever on a personal level.

Back in 2016, Jason Watkins won plaudits and many awards for his amazing performance in ITV drama The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies, which can now be watched worldwide on streaming service Britbox. Based on the true story of the 2010 murder of landscape gardener Joanna Yeates, Watkins played Christopher Jefferies, a rather eccentric retired academic and landlord in Bristol who ended up wrongly accused of killing his tenant Joanna Yeates. He was later acquitted and the real killer Vincent Tabak was caught. Then Jefferies successfully sued all newspapers that had branded him the likely murderer.

Many fans of supernatural dramas will also know Jason Watkins for playing vile vampire leader Herrick in the BBC series Being Human, from 2009 to 2011, which can currently be seen on Britbox. The show about werewolves, ghosts and vampires also starred Russell Tovey, Aidan Turner and Lenora Crichlow. 

When and where can you watch Des with Jason Watkins playing Brian Masters?

Des will be on ITV in Britain on three consecutive nights from September 14 to 16 at 9pm and should be available worldwide later in the year on streaming service Britbox. It also stars David Tennant as serial killer Dennis Nilsen and White Lines star Daniel Mays as detective Peter Jay.

• Everything you need to know about Des on ITV
• The true story that sparked the series
• The best serial-killer dramas to watch before you watch Des
• Des in pictures: A gallery of darkness
• INTERVIEW: David Tennant on what it was like to play the monster
• INTERVIEW: Jason Watkins talks about his role in Des
• INTERVIEW: Daniel Mays on the cop who caught Dennis Nilsen

Daniel Mays, 42, will star as the London detective Peter Jay who investigated the notorious serial killer Dennis Nilsen, played by David Tennant. Daniel has already starred in the hit Netflix thriller White Lines earlier this year, playing a lovable (if tragically flawed) drug dealer on Spanish island of Ibiza. Now his character is on the right side of the law in the three-part ITV drama Des.

Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) Peter Jay was the man whose perseverance helped bring British serial killer Dennis Nilsen to justice after he worked on the gruesome case from 1983.

Here’s Daniel’s take on playing Peter Jay.

Des on ITV: Daniel Mays on his research for the role

Sadly, the real Peter Jay passed away in 2018, but Daniel did get to meet up with his family.

"I had lunch with his widow, Linda, and his son, Simon, so I felt I got to know Peter better," Daniel says. "I also read Peter's unpublished memoirs, which were a great source of information. He was diligent and hard-working and it was all about getting closure for the families."

Des on ITV: Daniel Mays on Peter Jay’s impact on the Nilsen case

Daniel reveals that Peter Jay’s approach was unusual for policing in the 1980s.

"Peter had to treat Nilsen with kid gloves," he says. "It was such a difficult case to work on with the eyes of the media on him and his team. He’d never encountered anything on this scale or encountered evil like that. Two years after the case, he left the police force. He was bruised."

Des on ITV: Daniel Mays reveals what it was like on the set of Des

DCI Peter Jay is shown arriving at 23 Cranley Gardens, in North London, in February 1983, following the discovery of human remains in a drain. There, its resident 37-year-old Dennis Nilsen, know to his friends as "Des," calmly confessed to having killed "15 or 16" people, starting in 1978.

"A replica of Nilsen’s flat was created for the drama for us to film in," explains Daniel. "It was terrifying and eerie. You feel the magnitude of it. I used to live in north London and I would often cut through Cranley Gardens on my way somewhere. I’d often wonder which house it was — it was very strange."

When and where will Des starring Daniel Mays be shown?

Des is showing in Britain on three consecutive nights from September 14 to 16 on ITV at 9 p.m. It also stars David Tennant as serial killer Dennis Nilsen and The Crown star Jason Watkins as Nilsen's biographer Brian Masters.

Des should be available worldwide later in the year on streaming service Britbox. 

• Everything you need to know about Des on ITV
• The true story that sparked the series
• The best serial-killer dramas to watch before you watch Des
• Des in pictures: A gallery of darkness
• INTERVIEW: David Tennant on what it was like to play the monster
• INTERVIEW: Jason Watkins talks about his role in Des
• INTERVIEW: Daniel Mays on the cop who caught Dennis Nilsen

David Tennant is playing notorious British serial killer Dennis Nilsen in Des — the dark new drama that runs from September 14 to 16 on ITV. Amazingly, David looks incredibly like the murderer himself so he gives a chilling performance that's already causing an expectant buzz.

Dennis Nilsen's story is a macabre one. After police were called to a block of flats at 23 Cranley Gardens, in North London in February 1983, following the discovery of human remains in a drain, they were stunned when one of the residents, 37-year-old Dennis Nilsen, calmly confessed to having killed "15 or 16" people since 1978. 

Now the three-part drama Des sees David Tennant starring as job centre worker Nilsen, known to his colleagues as "Des." The show explores how the horrific crimes of one of Britain’s most prolific serial killers were investigated and how he was eventually sentenced to life in prison for six murders and two attempted murders. 

We caught up with Tennant, who tells us much more about Des and how he prepared to play such a sinister role based on a real killer…

Des on ITV: David Tennant remembers the moment Dennis Nilsen was arrested ...

DCI Peter Jay (White Lines star Daniel Mays) led the investigation. But as he battled to get justice for the victims — many of whom were vulnerable or homeless young men who Nilsen had befriended, finding the evidence to convict the killer proved tricky.

"I was about 12 when Nilsen was arrested and he was like a bogeyman," says Tennant, the former Doctor Who star. "There’s a gulf between his apparent normality and the extraordinariness of what he did. As soon as Nilsen was caught, he didn't stop talking, he confessed to everything. But many victims remain unidentified because he didn't give a lot of names. The police work was about tracking people down."

Des on ITV: How David Tennant got into the mindset of serial killer Dennis Nilsen?

Des also follows the case through the eyes of biographer Brian Masters (played by The Crown’s Jason Watkins), who interviewed Nilsen in prison for his book Killing for Company, on which the drama is partly based.

While David Tennant read the book and met Brian, he also watched numerous documentaries to get into the mindset of Nilsen, who died in prison in 2018 at age 72.

"I tried to think myself into that space," Tennant says. "But I continue to change my mind about his motivation. What happened to him that flicked that switch?"

Des on ITV: Has playing Dennis Nilsen been David Tennant’s most challenging role to date?

Although Tennant has taken on the role of a killer before in C4’s Deadwater Fell and has also played The Doctor in Doctor Who, a demon in Good Omens and the antisocial DI Hardy in Broadchurch, there was something about starring as one of Britain’s most prolific serial killers that David found particularly challenging.

"Reading a script that was as dark it this was you thought nobody is ever going to dare make this," says Tennant. "Also it feels like you kind of carry a responsibility because it's a true story, because Nilsen did terrible things and because there are still people alive who are still devastated by the things he did."

David also admits he wasn’t his normal jokey, fun self on set.

"I think I’ve probably been more dour than I would normally be," he admits. "Probably less larkey I think, and just a little bit more contained."

• Everything you need to know about Des on ITV
• The true story that sparked the series
• The best serial-killer dramas to watch before you watch Des
• Des in pictures: A gallery of darkness
• INTERVIEW: David Tennant on what it was like to play the monster
• INTERVIEW: Jason Watkins talks about his role in Des
• INTERVIEW: Daniel Mays on the cop who caught Dennis Nilsen

It's just like old times when Des Clarke is reunited with Jane on Neighbours. Will the pair attempt to save their short-lived marriage?

Jane Harris (played by Annie Jones) is thrown into a spin when her daughter, Nicolette Stone (Charlotte Chimes) reveals Jane's short-lived husband, Des Clarke (Paul Keane) is coming to Erinsborough on Neighbours (1:45pm/5:30pm on Channel 5, see our TV Guide for full listings).

Jane is not amused by Nicolette's meddling.

But Nicolette is still feeling guilty for the part she played in the breakdown of Jane and Des' marriage back in Perth and this is her way of trying to make amends.

But the question is, do Jane and Des want to try again?

Or is their marriage officially over?

Meanwhile, legal eagle Toadie Rebecchi (Ryan Maloney) is stressed-out with all the family drama involving his brother, Shane's (Nicholas Coghlan) drug addiction.

With work at his legal practice piling up, Toadie can't believe his luck when super efficient Rose Walker (played by Lucy Durack, who has previously starred in the Australian stage versions of Wicked and Legally Blonde: The Musical) walks into his life.

Toadie is impressed when Rose puts a stroppy client, Ted Tatum (Paul McCarthy) in his place, and offers her a job as his new Personal Assistant/Office Manager!

Elsewhere, Chloe Brennan (April Rose Pengilly) is plotting something mysterious.

She pulls live-in nurse, Nicolette in on the fun and the ladies start sneaking around together.

Are they hiding a dirty little secret behind the back of Chloe's husband, Pierce Greyson (Tim Robards)?

Neighbours continues weekdays at 1:45pm/5:30pm on Channel 5

Des is heading to ITV this September

Des on ITV sees David Tennant play serial killer Dennis Nilsen in a chilling new true crime drama.

The Doctor Who and Broadchurch actor has been transformed to look remarkably similar to Nilsen, who murdered boys and young men in his London flat. Des is just one of a number of big new dramas coming up this autumn on ITV including Honour and Singapore Grip.

When does Des on ITV start?

ITV is yet to officially announce an exact date, although they have confirmed it will start in September.

Who was Dennis Nilsen?

Nilsen is one of Britain’s most notorious serial killers. He admitted to murdering at least 15 men and boys in the 1970s and 80s. His crimes were only discovered when a neighbour called a plumber to unblock a drain at his North London flat and human remains the murderer had tried to flush away were discovered.

Nilsen was convicted at the Old Bailey of six counts of murder and two of attempted murder. He was sentenced to life imprisonment, which was replaced by a whole life tariff in 1994. He died aged 72 in May 2018.

Des ITV - what’s the plot? And who’s in the cast?

Des is based on material from the book Killing for Company by Brian Masters. It’s told through the eyes of three men - Nilsen (David Tennant), Detective Chief Inspector Peter Jay (Line of Duty’s Daniel Mays) and biographer Brian Masters (The Crown’s Jason Watkins).

It examines both the personal and professional consequence of coming into contact with Nilsen. ITV says it will “explore how a man like Nilsen was able to prey on the young and vulnerable in 1980s Britain".

Kim Varvell, Executive Producer explains: "Dennis Nilsen’s crimes shocked the nation in the early 1980s. Our programme focuses on the emotional impact of those terrible crimes, both on those who came into contact with Nilsen himself, and also on the victims’ families.”

Des ITV - what does the trailer reveal?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvWaTtE7rpk

The trailer sees Nilsen’s police mug shots being taken, human remains being carried away from his flat, and him talking to the police. And it shows Detective Chief Inspector Peter Jay getting angry that Nilsen managed to get away with his crimes for so long.

How many parts is Des on ITV?

Three parts.

Dennis Nilsen — now the subject of new ITV drama Des — murdered at least 12 young men and boys in gruesome circumstances in north London between 1978 and 1983, making him one of Britain’s notorious and prolific killers. Now the Scottish serial killer Nilsen is being played by former Doctor Who and Broadchurch star David Tennant in the new three-part ITV drama. 

• More: Early pictures from Des
• Also: The best dramas to watch before Des

Here’s the true story of Dennis Nilsen, whose horrific story is told in ITV's 'Des'

The grisly drama kicks off with Dennis Nilsen’s arrest, which only came about in 1983 following a five-year killing spree when a Dyno-Rod employee was called to 23 Cranley Gardens in Muswell Hill after reports of blocked drains. There he made the grim discovery that the drains and pipes were packed with human flesh and bones.


DCI Peter Jay (played in Des by Daniel Mays of White Lines) was alerted to investigate and it was soon afterwards that civil servant Dennis Nilsen, known to friends and work colleagues as "Des," made a shocking confession, admitting to killing homeless young men and male prostitutes by luring them to his home and strangling them or drowning them in buckets of water. 
After dissecting their bodies he disposed of the remains on a bonfire or by flushing them down the toilet, and when his house was searched police also found three heads in a cupboard.

How many people did Dennis Nilsen murder?

At his trial at the Old Bailey in 1983, Dennis Nilsen was convicted of six counts of murder and sentenced to life, although he told police he had 15 victims, some bodies weren't found. He later reduced the number to 12, insisting he'd made up three murders to play with the minds of police. 

The killing spree has started in 1978 at  a previous address — 195 Melrose Avenue — where he burnt the bodies of his victims in the garden, using rubber tires to disguise the smell. He later moved to the top-floor flat of the large house at 23 Cranley Gardens. But as there was no back garden, Nilsen struggled to dispose of his victims' bodies, something that eventually led to him being caught as the flesh and body parts blocked the drains of the house and other residents complained of the smell. 

Dennis Nilsen later put his brutal killings down to psychological trauma he suffered during his childhood in Aberdeenshire. His drunken father walked out when Nilsen was four and he was sent to live with his grandfather, who died in a drowning accident two years later. He claims the trauma of viewing his grandfather’s dead body gave him a lifelong fascination with corpses.


Meanwhile, Dennis Nilsen’s relationship with his mother became even more strained when he realized he was gay. It’s rumored she disowned him when she found out, and the pair lost touch.

Is Dennis Nilsen still alive? 

In 2018, Dennis Nilsen was 35 years into his sentence at maximum security HMP Full Sutton, Yorkshire, when he died aged 72. He was found to have a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm, but the cause of death was pulmonary embolism. Nilsen  was cremated at a secret funeral and his ashes handed to his family. But his terrible legacy, as Britain’s second most prolific serial killer after Harold Shipman, lives on.

• Everything you need to know about Des on ITV
• The true story that sparked the series
• The best serial-killer dramas to watch before you watch Des
• Des in pictures: A gallery of darkness
• INTERVIEW: David Tennant on what it was like to play the monster
• INTERVIEW: Jason Watkins talks about his role in Des
• INTERVIEW: Daniel Mays on the cop who caught Dennis Nilsen

If true crime dramas like American Crime Story and Dirty John are your thing, don’t miss gritty factual thriller Des. 

Coming to ITV this fall, Des examines how Dennis Nilsen, one of Britain’s most infamous serial killers, was brought to justice.

Des release date: when will Des be shown on ITV? 

ITV has revealed that Des is part of its autumn/fall line-up. It will air nightly from Monday 14 to Wednesday 16 September at 9pm.

Des cast: Who is acting in the series? 

David Tennant, best known for his scene-stealing roles in Good Omens and Doctor Who, will unleash his dark side to play the twisted killer. And in the chilling first photo of Tennant in the role, the likeness is truly uncanny.

Des sees events partly through the eyes of dogged police detective DCI Peter Jay, who led the investigation and was determined to make Nilsen pay for his horrific crimes. Fans of Netflix thriller White Lines will recognize the always-reliable Daniel Mays as Jay. 

Meanwhile, the superb Jason Watkins, recently seen as former British Prime Minister Harold Wilson in Netflix’s The Crown, plays Nilsen’s biographer Brian Masters. The colorful writer conducted interviews with the murderer for a 1985 book, "Killing for Company," on which the drama is partly based. 

The troubling social issues of the 1980s and how the victims, many of whom were vulnerable and alone in London, were perceived in the press, also comes under the spotlight in Des.

What’s the true story behind the Dennis Nilsen drama Des?

Between 1978 and 1983, seemingly unassuming job centre worker Nilsen, known as "Des," murdered a still undetermined number of young men — many of whom have never been identified —  after taking them back to his home.

Des explores how, in February 1983, Nilsen was finally caught after remains were found in a drain at his North London apartment. He initially confessed to at least 15 murders. The series then follows the intense police investigation and Nilsen’s trial, at which he was convicted of six counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder and sentenced to life in prison. He died, aged 72, in 2018.

Des ITV trailer: is there one?

The trailer shows the police asking Nilsen if he has hidden one body or two and he calmly replies "15 or 16." Peter Jay is determined to make sure Nilsen "gets away with nothing" while Brian Masters prepares to interview the killer, who chillingly says, "It's nice to be listened to, it makes me feel human again."

How many parts is Des on ITV? 

Three parts. Each episode is 60 minutes long.

What else do we know? 

"Dennis Nilsen’s crimes shocked the nation in the early 1980s," says Des producer Kim Varvell. "Our program focuses on the emotional impact of those terrible crimes, both on those who came into contact with Nilsen himself, and also on the victims’ families."

• Everything you need to know about Des on ITV
• The true story that sparked the series
• The best serial-killer dramas to watch before you watch Des
• Des in pictures: A gallery of darkness
• INTERVIEW: David Tennant on what it was like to play the monster
• INTERVIEW: Jason Watkins talks about his role in Des
• INTERVIEW: Daniel Mays on the cop who caught Dennis Nilsen

David Tennant looks disturbingly like serial killer Dennis Nilsen in a string of pictures from his upcoming ITV drama Des.

The Doctor Who star has been made into the spitting image of Nilsen, who murdered boys and young men in his flat from 1978 to 1983.

Now, three-part drama Des, based on the book Killing for Company by Brian Masters, tells the story of how one of the UK’s most infamous serial killers was caught...

• MORE: What to watch before you watch Des
• ALSO: Get the inside story on the story behind Des

Des, starring David Tennant, is on ITV this September.

• Everything you need to know about Des on ITV
• The true story that sparked the series
• The best serial-killer dramas to watch before you watch Des
• Des in pictures: A gallery of darkness
• INTERVIEW: David Tennant on what it was like to play the monster
• INTERVIEW: Jason Watkins talks about his role in Des
• INTERVIEW: Daniel Mays on the cop who caught Dennis Nilsen

With real life crime drama Des coming to ITV soon, here are the best serial killer dramas to watch right now:

Over a five-year period between 1978 and 1983, serial killer Dennis "Des" Nilsen went undetected in the UK. Nilsen brutally murdered at least 12 young men in North London, before disposing of their bodies by burning them or flushing them down the toilet.

The chilling crimes and eventual capture of Dennis Nilsen — one of Britain’s most prolific serial killers — is set to be told in ITV’s much-anticipated thriller, Des, starring David Tennant.

The gripping three-parter is the latest of a series of true-crime dramas on ITV, also stars Daniel Mays as lead investigator DCI Peter Jay and Jason Watkins as Nilsen’s biographer Brian Masters.

But if you can’t wait for Des to begin, here are some of the best serial killer series to watch right now:

Mindhunter

Set in the late 1970s and based on notorious real life crimes, Mindhunter revolves around FBI agents Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff) and Bill Tench (Holt McCallany), who pioneer the study of how serial killers’ minds work in order to hunt them down. 

Suspects include Ed Kemper, Charles Manson and David Berkowitz, aka the Son of Sam.

Manhunt: Unabomber 

The gripping true story of the FBI’s cat-and-mouse hunt for the infamous Unabomber, the deadliest serial bomber in history, is told in this eight-parter starring Paul Bettany and Chris Noth.

The story focuses on FBI agent and criminal profiler Jim "Fitz" Fitzgerald (Sam Worthington), who pioneered the use of forensic linguistics to identify the Unabomber as Ted Kaczynski.

Aquarius

Inspired by the real events surrounding cult leader Charles Manson, Aquarius stars David Duchovny as Sam Hodiak, a fictional LAPD homicide detective, whose search for a missing teen leads him into Manson’s lair. Gethin Anthony from Game of Thrones fame plays Manson, while Grey Damon is Hodiak’s young colleague Brian Shafe, who ends up going undercover with Manson’s crew.

Hannibal

This three-series fictional crime drama focuses on the complicated relationship between FBI criminal profiler Will Graham (Hugh Dancy) and forensic psychiatrist, and secret cannibalistic serial killer, Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen).

As the two form a bond while solving a series of murders, Lecter tries manipulates Graham’s fragile mental health in order to turn him into a serial killer himself… Hannibal Lecter was revealed to be based on real life-killer Alfredo Ballí Treviño by creator, novelist Thomas Harris. 

The Alienist

Daniel Brühl, Luke Evans and Dakota Fanning star as an ad hoc team of psychiatrists and investigators, who are recruited in 1896 New York to catch a serial killer preying on homeless street children. The 10-parter mixes fact with fiction, with The Hurt Locker’s Brian Geraghty playing Theodore Roosevelt, who was then the newly-appointed commissioner of the NYPD.

• Everything you need to know about Des on ITV
• The true story that sparked the series
• The best serial-killer dramas to watch before you watch Des
• Des in pictures: A gallery of darkness
• INTERVIEW: David Tennant on what it was like to play the monster
• INTERVIEW: Jason Watkins talks about his role in Des
• INTERVIEW: Daniel Mays on the cop who caught Dennis Nilsen

It wouldn't be an anniversary celebration without the return of some classic characters. In today's episode of Neighbours, Des is back!

Longtime viewers of Neighbours (5:30pm/10:00pm on Channel 5, see our TV Guide for full listings) will remember original Ramsay Street resident, Des Clarke (played by Paul Keane).

Des got married to former stripper Daphne when the soap first began. But following Daphne's tragic death, he later became romantically involved and engaged to Jane Harris (Annie Jones).

Unfortunately, things didn't work out for the pair back in the 80s. But could all that change in 2020, when Des mysteriously returns to Erinsborough.

This could be the perfect opportunity for a reunion between Des and Jane. Hmm, maybe SOMEONE is playing Cupid between the former flames!

Meanwhile, Mark Brennan (Scott McGregor) is worried something will go wrong as he prepares to get married to Paige Smith (Olympia Valance).

His track record with engagements and weddings isn't great!

Will Paige and Mark FINALLY manage to get married?

Elsewhere, the clock is ticking for Sky Mangel (Stephanie McIntosh) who needs to break the news to long-time love Dylan Timmins (Damien Brodie) that she is in Erinsborough to get married to Lana Crawford (Bridget Neval), her first teenage girl crush!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCwNekduFRo

PLUS, Elly Conway's (played by Jodi Anasta) 35th birthday celebrations have kicked-off in the late-night episodes of Neighbours (10:00pm, Channel 5).

But Ellie is beginning to worry about her younger sister Bea Nilsson (Bonnie Anderson), who was last seen disappearing into the bush with boyfriend, Finn Kelly (Rob Mills).

Unaware of Finn's wicked plans, everyone continues to be fooled by his lies.

But they're unaware that both Bea and teenage friend Harlow Robinson (Jemma Donovan) have been trapped in an underground mine by Finn and fear for their lives...

There are DOUBLE episodes of Neighbours all this week airing at 5:30pm and 10:00pm on Channel 5