Baghdad Central Channel 4 Series starts Feb 3

The Channel 4 Series based on Baghdad Central by Elliott Colla Starts Monday February 3 at 10pm. 

Watch the trailer below.

The TV series Baghdad Central starts in the UK next Monday, 3rd Feb at 10 pm on Channel 4, airing weekly. You can also stream the entire box set immediately after on All 4.  It will be on HULU in the US later this spring.

Watch the TRAILER, then binge the series or read the book. All good decisions.

The TV series is based on Elliott Colla's novel set in October 2003 in Baghdad. The occupation forces have disbanded the army and there is no police on the streets of Iraq. Inspector Muhsin al-Khafaji is a mid-level Iraqi cop who deserted his post back in April. Captured by the Americans and imprisoned in Abu Ghraib, Khafaji is offered one way out, helping the authorities rebuild the Iraqi Police Services. But it's only after US forces take his daughter Mrouj that he figures out a way to make his surrender palatable, and even rewarding. Soon, he is investigating the disappearance of young translators working for the US Army.

The international cast is led by Altered Carbon star Waleed Zuaiter, who plays Khafaji, and Homeland’s July Namir who plays the role of Mrouj, his daughter. The cast also features a double Olivier Award winner in Bertie Carvel (Dr Foster, Jonathan Strange and Dr Norrell) who plays Frank Temple. Also featuring in a variety of roles are Clara Khoury (Homeland), Leem Lubany (Condor), Neil Maskell (Utopia) and Golden Globe-nominated Corey Stoll (House of Cards). More information.

Crime Fiction at the Oxford Literary Festival

As part of the St Hilda's College day at this year's Oxford Literary Festival actress and writer Charlie Covell whom many will remember from being in the first series of Marcella will be talking about her adaptation of Charlie S Forman's graphic comic series The End of the F***ing World for Channel 4. 


In The End of the F***ing World James is 17 and is pretty sure he is a psychopath.   Alyssa who is also 17, is the cool and moody new girl at the school they both attend. James and Alyssa make a connection and James is soon persuaded by her to embark on a road trip in search of her real father. But not everything works to plan.


For further information about the event and how buy tickets see here.

Newsy Stuff

The shortlist for the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year has been announced. The authors to make the shortlist are –
In the Dark by Mark Billingham
The Surrogate by Tania Carver
A Simple Act of Violence by R J Ellory
The Crossing Place by Elly Griffiths
Dead Tomorrow by Peter James
Gallows Lane by Brian McGilloway
Doors Open by Ian Rankin
Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith

The shortlist of eight books was whittled down from twenty. Voting is now open to all.

According to the Bookseller, Harvill Secker have launched a sight for international writing. The site www.International writing.co.uk will focus on Harvill Secker titles and include books published by other Random House imprints. However the publisher has said it aimed to be as wide-ranging as possible. More information can be found here.


Channel 4 have commissioned Top Boy an East London based crime thriller about a gang of youths based in Hackney.

Top Boy has been written by Ronan Bennett who is best known for the film Public Enemies and TV dramas The Hamburg Cell and Fields of Gold. More information can be found here.