Traces is a British television crime drama produced by Red Production Company (a StudioCanal company). Co-created and written by Val McDermid and Amelia Bullmore, and based upon an original idea by McDermid, it originally premiered on Alibi on 9 December 2019. The series was rerun on BBC One on 4 January 2021 and Series One began repeating on Drama on 15 January 2022.[1] A second six-episode season was released in February 2022.[2][3][4]
Traces | |
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Genre | Crime drama |
Created by | |
Written by |
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Directed by |
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Starring | |
Country of origin | United Kingdom |
Original language | English |
No. of series | 2 |
No. of episodes | 12 |
Production | |
Executive producers | Philippa Collie Cousins Michaela Fereday |
Producer | Juliet Charlesworth |
Running time | 45 minutes |
Distributor | Alibi |
Release | |
Original network | Alibi |
Picture format | 16:9 1080i |
Audio format | Surround sound 5.1 |
Original release | 9 December 2019 (2019-12-09) – present |
Traces focuses on three female forensic professionals, Emma Hedges, Sarah Gordon and Kathy Torrance, working together at the fictitious Scottish Institute of Forensic Science and Anatomy (SIFA) in Dundee, Scotland, as they uncover the truth of a murder case and bring a killer to justice.
In the first series, the cast was as follows:[5]
Traces is set in and around Dundee, but the majority of the series was filmed in Bolton, England.[15] The theme tune is a cover of Nina Simone's "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" by Valerie Broussard.[16]
Series | Episodes | Originally aired | ||
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First aired | Last aired | |||
1 | 6 | 9 December 2019 (2019-12-09) | 15 January 2022 (2022-01-15) | |
2 | 6 | 15 February 2022 (2022-02-15) | 22 March 2022 (2022-03-22) |
No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | U.K. viewers (millions) [17] | |
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1 | 1 | "Episode 1" | Mary Nighy | Amelia Bullmore | 9 December 2019 (2019-12-09) | 1.00 | |
Emma, Kathy and Sarah, three forensic professionals working together at the Scottish Institute of Forensic Science (SIFA), try to unearth the truth about an unsolved murder that's very close to home. A fatal fire in a nightclub proves an ill omen for Emma’s return to Dundee. Her mother’s unsolved murder comes into sharp focus, forcing Emma to turn to her new boss, Sarah, for support. | |||||||
2 | 2 | "Episode 2" | Mary Nighy | Amelia Bullmore | 10 December 2019 (2019-12-10) | 0.89 | |
Glad of McKinven’s help, Emma soon feels overwhelmed by the police interest and wonders what she has started. But when the stars align to put Daniel in her path, Emma feels a deep connection. | |||||||
3 | 3 | "Episode 3" | Mary Nighy | Amelia Bullmore | 16 December 2019 (2019-12-16) | 0.84 | |
McKinven's initial enquiries ruffle feathers, and a furious Julie chides Emma for dragging up the past. When Skye threatens Emma with a knife, it’s clear that someone is hiding something. | |||||||
4 | 4 | "Episode 4" | Mary Nighy | Amelia Bullmore | 17 December 2019 (2019-12-17) | 0.79 | |
Daniel faces a culpable homicide charge for the Secrets fire and wants to protect Phil’s reputation. But when Emma meets Phil for the first time, her instinct tells her to be wary of him. | |||||||
5 | 5 | "Episode 5" | Mary Nighy | Amelia Bullmore | 23 December 2019 (2019-12-23) | 0.81 | |
Emma’s accusation against Phil drives a wedge between her and Daniel. McKinven urges Emma to stop sleuthing, as he becomes certain that the person who killed her mother is known to her. | |||||||
6 | 6 | "Episode 6" | Mary Nighy | Amelia Bullmore | 24 December 2019 (2019-12-24) | 0.83 | |
While Kathy oversees the excavation of Marie’s grave, Daniel gives McKinven the lead he needs to make an arrest. But it’s the exacting forensic science that finally brings peace for Emma. The killer of Marie Monroe is revealed. |
No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | U.K. viewers (millions) |
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7 | 1 | "Episode 1" | Chris Foggin | Amelia Bullmore | 15 February 2022 (2022-02-15)[18] | N/A |
8 | 2 | "Episode 2" | Chris Foggin | Amelia Bullmore | 22 February 2022 (2022-02-22) | N/A |
9 | 3 | "Episode 3" | Chris Foggin | Jess Williams | 1 March 2022 (2022-03-01) | N/A |
10 | 4 | "Episode 4" | Chris Foggin | Jess Williams & Amelia Bullmore | 8 March 2022 (2022-03-08) | N/A |
11 | 5 | "Episode 5" | N/A | Amelia Bullmore | 15 March 2022 (2022-03-15) | N/A |
12 | 6 | "Episode 6" | N/A | Amelia Bullmore | 22 March 2022 (2022-03-22) | N/A |
Stuart Heritage reviewing on behalf of The Guardian rated the series three stars out of five, and whilst acknowledging the series is loaded with talent, said "this is what happens when TV runs out of new shows".[19] The Times awarded the series two out of five stars with Carol Midgley saying that "the biggest crime here so far is a lack of flavour".[20]