The Red King, a new six-part UKTV original drama, makes its debut on Alibi on Wednesday 24 April, combining a police investigation with folk horror and a mysterious cult. Created and written by Toby Whithouse (Being Human), the series boasts a stellar cast, including Anjli Mohindra (The Lazarus Project) as Grace Narayan, a police sergeant facing a challenging new posting.
In the first episode, Sergeant Grace Narayan finds herself in a “punishment posting” on the small, antiquated island of St. Jory, where she must navigate a hostile community with a cult-like past. Confronted by the unsolved case of missing teenager Cai, Narayan discovers that scarce evidence and unusual locals will make her task difficult. The island’s eerie past devotion to a pagan god called the Red King and the cult of the True Way adds a chilling layer to the investigation.
Mohindra’s character, Narayan, is described as “smart, capable and by the book,” a high-flying inner-city police sergeant who falls from grace and is sent to the remote island. There, she must deal with strange and extraordinary local characters, including Lady Heather Nancarrow, played by Adjoa Andoh (Bridgerton), and Dr Ian Prideaux, portrayed by Marc Warren (Van Der Valk).
The Red King promises a blend of suspense and horror, with Whithouse describing it as “a passion project” that combines “drama, suspense, and horror” with distinct Wicker Man overtones. The series is directed by Daniel O’Hara, who also serves as an executive producer alongside Whithouse.
The Red King airs on Alibi at 9.00 pm on Wednesday 24 April 2024. All episodes will be available to stream on Sky, Virgin, and NOW.
