Rarely do we give a series a perfect rating, but every so often we discover a show that warrants exactly that - and the latest goes by the name of Redemption. The brilliantly twisty detective drama introduces us to 50-something detective Colette Cunningham (Paula Malcomson) who finds herself facing every parent's worst nightmare: her own daughter’s death. It’s unpredictable (in a good way), superbly acted and it’s available to watch on ITV tonight.
Colette’s situation is somewhat unique in that her daughter, Kate, disappeared when she was just 17 and she hadn't been heard from since. Much to Colette's surprise, she had in fact, been living in Dublin under a different name and now, two decades on, something about her death doesn’t add up. The question is, can Colette get to the bottom of the complex mystery behind it?
With all six episodes available to watch now, here’s everything you need to know about Redemption before you tune in, including the plot, cast and how to watch it.
What is Redemption about?
The six-part series, which first aired on ITV in 2023, introduces us to Liverpool-based DI Colette Cunningham (Paula Malcolmson) who’s career driven, unflappable and true force of nature. But when she receives a call from Garda Sergeant Luke Byrne (Patrick Martins) in Dublin telling her that her estranged daughter, Kate, has taken her own life, everything changes.
Kate disappeared without a trace when she was 17 and had been living in Dublin for the last 20 years using the name Stacey Lockley. Now, Colette is thrown back into Stacey’s life having been named guardian of her teenagers, Cara (Abby Fitz) and Liam (Evan O'Connor) – and it only makes her more determined to uncover the truth about her daughter’s death.
Joining the Dublin Central police service, Colette adjusts to life in Dublin and her new role as grandparent, while searching for answers about who her daughter became. Something about Stacey’s final month doesn’t seem to add up and Colette is determined to get to the bottom of it. But is she prepared for what she finds?
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Paula told ITV about the mother-daughter dynamic in the series, saying: “Colette hasn't seen or heard from her daughter in 20 years and there's this sense that Colette has spent that time dedicated to the pursuit of being the best cop she can be. But there's this kind of boxed off part of her and that’s the story, it's this unveiling of her feelings.
“She's a survivor, but there's a great deal of regret and recrimination, and I think that plays into who she is now. So we learn more about the breakdown of their relationship as we go, and Colette is essentially investigating not just her daughter's death, but her life as well, a life that is completely unknown to her. She’s getting to know somebody who isn’t there, and that was really fascinating to me.
As for the adjustment to becoming a grandmother overnight, she explained how it softens her character: “It’s the first time I've played a granny and I was like, ‘Wait when did this happen? I'm not ready!’ So in some ways I brought my own feelings about that with me. But as a granny, Colette does her best. I think there's an easier, freer relationship with these kids than there was with her own daughter.
“She’s constantly being reminded of the missed opportunities and there's a tenderness, a softening and a thawing that takes place. One of the things I love is that this is so hard won for her, it has come at such a cost.”
Who’s in the cast of Redemption?
The cast of Redemption includes:
- Paula Malcomson (Ray Donovan, Deadwood) as DI Colette Cunningham
- Keith McErlean (Raw) as Patrick Fannon
- Abby Fitz (The Woman in the Wall) as Cara Lockley
- Thaddea Graham (Bad Sisters) as Siobhan Wilson
- Scott Graham (Shell) as Ross Corby
- Evan O'Connor (Bodkin) as Liam Lockley
- Moe Dunford (Dublin Murders) as Eoin Molony
- Siobhán McSweeney (Amandaland) as Jane Connolly
- Ian Lloyd Anderson (Blood) as Niall Kilduff
- Patrick Martins (Baltimore) as Luke Byrne
- Sean Hughes (The Last Detective) as Kevin Cheng
- Jade Jordan (Doctors) as Debbie Gleeson
- Rachel O'Byrne (Late Date) as Stacey Lockley
- Sean Duggan (Lee) as Sean Kinsella
Is there a trailer for Redemption?
Yes, you can watch the trailer for Redemption below.
Is Redemption any good?
Yes – for starters, it’s brilliant to see a 50-something lead detective on our screens who’s played perfectly by Paula Malcomson. But what makes the series really compelling is the mystery at the centre of it, which is both original and not the kind of thing you’ve already solved by the end of episode two. If you’re looking for a series that grabs your attention very early on and manages to hold it, we’d highly recommend watching Redemption.
How can I watch Redemption?
All six episodes of Redemption are available to watch now on ITVX.
What other detective dramas can I watch now?
Another fantastic ITV series is Chasing Shadows. The drama introduces us to DS Sean Stone (played by Reece Shearsmith) and his professional partner Ruth Hattersley (Alex Kingston) who track down serial killers targeting vulnerable people. It’s fresh, brilliantly compelling and has a genuine emotional core. You can watch Chasing Shadows now on ITVX. For something a little gentler, try Inspector Ricciardi. The very dashing Inspector Ricciardi (Lino Guanciale) has a rather unusual gift in that he investigates murders with the help of his ability to see the ghosts of the dead. And not just that, he can also hear their final thoughts. Inspector Ricciardi is available to watch now on Channel 4.
