DES BECOMES ITV'S BIGGEST DRAMA SINCE CLEANING UP

On Monday 14th September, ITV's new drama Des was watched by an average audience of 5.4m - making it the biggest drama launch on the channel since Cleaning Up in 2019.

Starring David Tennant, Daniel Mays, Jason Watkins and Barry Ward. Des is a fact-based drama about notorious serial killer Dennis Nilsen. On 9 February 1983, Detective Chief Inspector Peter Jay is called to the leafy north London address of 23 Cranley Gardens, where he discovers the drains clogged with rotting human flesh and bones.

But the extent of this grisly discovery only becomes apparent when the culprit returns from work. Dennis Nilsen, a meek man, freely admits to the police that it's not just one or two bodies, but as many as 15 or 16. As the police try to secure a conviction and identify the victims from scant DNA evidence, biographer Brian Masters attempts to understand why.

ITV has three of the top five most watched drama launches this year.  As well as Des, the first episodes of Quiz (5.3m) and Van Der Valk (5.2m) are also ranked in the top five by overnight audience.

Des continues Tuesday 15th and Wednesday 16th September on ITV.