DI Ray on ITV: Series 1 recap, including who was Marcus Tranter, and how DCI Martyn Hunter was involved
By Helen Fear | Wed Oct 16 2024DI Ray series 1 came to a very dramatic conclusion, with the detective's future hanging in the balance - here's the ending explained in our handy recap.
The first series of the ITV drama aired in 2022, with a series 2 commissioned shortly afterwards.
Ahead of season 2 landing on ITV1 and ITVX (Sunday, October 20, 2024), here's a rundown of what happened to DI Ray in the series 1 finale...
***Warning: spoilers from season finale of DI Ray series 1 ahead***
DI Ray series 1 recap: What happened to Rachita?
Detective Inspector Rachita Ray (Parminder Nagra) enjoyed some highs, and endured some lows in the series finale of DI Ray on ITV.
She was able to catch the bad guys (well some of them anyway) - not least her very own secret boyfriend, bent copper DCI Martyn Hunter.
Frustratingly for Rachita, she was unable to expose the people at the top of the criminal gang though. And, at the end of the final episode, it looked like she wouldn't ever get the chance either...
Was DI Ray suspended?
At the end of DI Ray series 1 episode 4, DI Ray faced suspension because of her relationship with a colleague. However, she knew it was just a good excuse to get rid of her.
Her bosses didn't want her there anyway – she was just employed to tick a box. DI Rachita Ray was promoted to join the investigation because the murder was considered a "Culturally Specific Homicide".
At the end of series 1, DI Ray told her bosses she was "concerned that the big players [in Birmingham's organised crime] are still out there".
Who killed PS Tony Khatri?
Tragically, episode 4 began with the news none of us wanted to hear – the ridiculously likeable and sweet PS Tony Khatri (Maanuv Thiara) was dead.
He was shot and killed in front of DI Rachita, leaving her traumatised. Tony was gunned down by Marcus Tranter on Rachita's doorstep. Tony had popped over to drop off some food, with the pair sharing another kiss following their night of passion... As Martyn watched from a car on the road, he called Tranter and ordered the hit.
Poor Tony became the latest victim of Marcus Tranter and his evil criminal gang. Luckily, DI Rachita Ray quickly cottoned on to the fact her fiancé was also involved in the illegal activity.
DI Ray series 1 recap: What did DCI Martyn do in DI Ray series 1?
At the end of DI Ray series 1, Rachita made the shocking discovery that DCI Martyn Hunter was a bent copper – a discovery that had a huge impact on both her investigation and her personal life.
Of course, viewers knew that Rachita and Martyn (The Wives star Jamie Bamber) were secretly involved. In fact, they were engaged without the police force knowing about their relationship.
DI Ray saw incriminating footage of her fiancé having sex with a minor in an illegal brothel. She confronted him, but he turned nasty. The villain was then only too happy to hand her over to his henchman Marcus Tranter.
Of course, DI Ray had outwitted Martyn though – and police were on hand to arrest both Martyn and Marcus.
Was Martyn Hunter arrested?
Police arrested DCI Martyn Hunter on suspicion of perverting the course of justice, conspiracy to cause GBH, misconduct in public office, conspiracy to commit murder and sex with a minor.
It was DCI Martyn Hunter who had been feeding Marcus Tranter information. Martyn admitted he had been working for the bad guys, and insisted he'd been "tricked" into sleeping with an underage prostitute and then blackmailed into working for the gang.
During his interrogation, DCI Martyn Hunter asked for protection in exchange for information. At the end of the episode, it's unclear whether the corrupt copper will go to jail.
DI Ray series 1 recap: Who was Marcus Tranter? What did he do?
Marcus Tranter (Rick S. Carr) was a violent criminal running a drug smuggling operation.
He was involved in drug and people trafficking, and a "foot soldier" in a larger global operation.
DI Rachita Ray raced against time to catch the man responsible for murdering Imran Aziz, Anjuli Kapoor, PS Tony Khatri, lorry driver Karl Shaw and countless others.
At the end of DI Ray, Marcus Tranter was arrested for the crimes. Hopefully it's the last we'll see of him.