WATERTOWN, NY; July 5, 2023 – Fresh, relevant and thought-provoking, D.I. Ray, executive produced by Jed Mercurio (Line of Duty) and starring Parminder Nagra (The Blacklist, Bend it Like Beckham) introduces viewers to Leicester-born Rachita Ray, a police officer who takes on a case that forces her to confront a lifelong personal conflict between her British identity and her South Asian heritage. The gripping four-part series, set in Birmingham, England, premieres on WPBS-TV Sundays at 10:00 pm, starting July 9, 2023.
During its UK broadcast, “D.I. Ray” received critical praise for its updated take on the formulaic crime thriller, “A police procedural with a fresh perspective…” cheered The Guardian, and National World commended “…a clever blend of thoughtful character study with an engaging police procedural, worth watching for its lead alone.”
Nagra is joined by a highly-talented cast including Gemma Whelan (Game of Thrones), as her boss DCI Kerry Henderson, Jamie Bamber (Battlestar Galactica) as DI Martyn Hunter who is also Ray’s fiancé, and Maanuv Thiara (Landscapers) as PS Tony Khatri, Rachita’s partner.
SERIES DESCRIPTION:
Rachita receives the promotion she’s been waiting for when she’s asked to join a homicide investigation. However, on her first day she’s told the murder to which she’s been assigned is a ‘Culturally Specific Homicide.’ Rachita’s heart sinks – she suspects she’s a ‘token appointment’, chosen for her ethnicity rather than her ability. Never one to shy away from a challenge, Rachita sticks to the case, determined to both find the killer and call out the obvious biases her colleagues are bringing to the investigation. And it’s far from easy. The case isn’t a run-of-the-mill murder; it involves delving deep into the dangerous world of organized crime. Rachita is more than up for the task, but what she didn’t count on is what this case stirs up inside her; the realization that she’s been burying a personal identity crisis her whole life.
Episode One (Sunday, July 9 at 10:00 pm) DI Rachita Ray is promoted to homicide but realizes instantly she is a token hire and that the so called ‘culturally specific homicide’ she is assigned to, is anything but.
Episode Two (Sunday, July 16 at 10:00 pm) Rachita and the team race to track down Anjuli Kapoor making more than one grim discovery in the process. This is no honor crime.
Episode Three (Sunday, July 23 at 10:00 pm) The body count continues to rise as Rachita and the team uncover more evidence leading them to believe they are dealing with highly dangerous organized criminals.
Episode Four (Sunday, July 30 at 10:00 pm) Rachita makes a shocking discovery which has a huge impact on both her investigation and her personal life.
All four episodes of D.I. Ray are available to watch on demand for viewers with WPBS Passport, an added member benefit, which provides extended access to a digital, on-demand library of PBS programs.
About WPBS
WPBS is a PBS station serving approximately 650,000 households throughout Northern New York and Eastern Ontario via cable, satellite, Internet and over-the-air distribution. WPBS is a non-profit organization whose mission is to educate, inform, and engage its two-nation region with exceptional and trusted content across multiple platforms. Its vision is to be the premier provider of extraordinary public media that instills wonder and curiosity across generations and borders. More information about WPBS, including a full channel listing, is available at wpbstv.org, or by following WPBS on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
