Catch Me a Killer on U&Drama: 'Harrowing true story' about South Africa's first serial killer profiler is a 'female Mindhunter'
When a young man goes missing, the police ask psychologist Dr Micki Pistorius to help with the case
Catch Me a Killer gets its first free-to-air premiere on U&Drama in January 2026, and it’s a must-watch for true crime fans.
The gritty drama is based on the true story of journalist-turned-forensic psychologist Micki Pistorius. She was South Africa’s first serial killer profiler, who worked for the South African Police Service during Apartheid. A difficult job at the best of times, let alone in such a politically volatile climate.
Her job “requires that she immerses herself” in the mind of a killer. In a scene from the series, Micki says: “I look at what he’s done, and I have to imagine committing those crimes.”
However, understandably it’s a huge undertaking and her “mind struggles to process everything that’s been thrown at it”. Catch Me a Killer follows Micki’s attempts to catch a killer, as well as the psychological effects it has on her.
What is Catch Me a Killer about?
Catch Me A Killer tells the “harrowing true story” of former journalist-turned-psychological profiler Micki Pistorius, who was South Africa’s first serial killer profiler. She worked for the South African Police Service during Apartheid, one of the most temperamental political climates in modern history.
Her job? In order to “catch a monster”, she had to “get inside his head”. In each episode of the brooding dramatic thriller, Micki deals with the “looming spectre of her personal life” and confronts increasing darkness in her quest to entrap and understand some of South Africa’s most infamous serial killers.
Episode one focuses on the disappearance of a young man. The police approach psychologist Dr Micki Pistorius to help with the case. As the dead bodies start to grow, Micki has her work cut out…
Where is it set?
Catch Me a Killer is set in Mitchell’s Plain, South Africa, in 1994.
Mitchell’s Plain is one of South Africa’s largest residential areas and contains multiple smaller suburbs. It is located on the Cape Flats on the False Bay coast, around 28 km from Cape Town’s city centre.
Who is in the cast?
Charlotte Hope stars as journalist-turned-psychological profiler Micki Pistorius. She recently played Sherry Carter in the cast of Murder Most Puzzling on Channel 5.
Wiltshire-born actress Charlotte Hope, 34, is best known for playing Catherine of Aragon in Starz’s The Spanish Princess, a role she portrayed for two series between 2019 and 2020. She’s also famous for playing Myranda in Game of Thrones, a role she played between 2013 and 2016. Myranda was a servant of House Bolton and the lover of vile Ramsay Bolton.
South African actor Steven John Ward plays Mark in the cast of the series. It’s his biggest role to date, having previously appeared in Vagrant Queen, and One Piece.
Fellow South African Donna Cormack-Thomson stars as Erika in the cast. She’s also been in Ice, and FDR. The large ensemble cast is largely South African, and also includes Charlie Eduardo as killer Moses Sithole, and Kagiso Kuypers as prolific murderer Norman Afzal Simons.
The huge ensemble cast also includes:
- Vaughn Lucas as AJ Oliver.
- Grant Ross as Jannie.
- Sean Cameron Michael as Robert Ressler.
When can you stream Catch Me a Killer on U&Drama?
Catch Me A Killer is available to stream on U&Drama from Saturday, January 17, 2026.
This is its free-to-air premiere on UK TV. It previously aired on South African streaming service Showmax, and in the UK on Alibi.
(Freeview/Freely 20 Sky 143 Virgin Media 116 Freesat 158 U&Drama+1 Freeview 60 Sky 243 Virgin Media 226.)
How many episodes is it?
Catch Me a Killer is an 11-part series. Each episode is about an hour long.
The first episode sees Micki help the police track down The Station Strangler. Subsequent episodes see her look into The ABC Killer, The Cape Town Prostitute Killer, The Phoenix Strangler, and The Saloon Killer.
Is it based on a true story?
Catch Me a Killer is a true story, based on the book of the same name.
A synopsis for the book tells us: “From 1994 to 2000, when South Africa was a young democracy, the country was stalked by a succession of brutal serial killers. Psychologist Micki Pistorius became the first profiler for the South African Police Service, playing a vital role in identifying and interrogating these killers.
“She broke ground with her theory on the origin of serial killers and is considered a trailblazer in her field. Catch Me a Killer details the cases she worked on – from the Station Strangler and the Phoenix Cane Killer to Boetie Boer and the Saloon Killer.
“The book also features legendary detectives such as Piet Byleveld and Suiker Britz, as well as the FBI’s Robert Ressler.”
In her memoir, Micki Pistorius wrote that she has “cryptesthesia”, a form of extra-sensory perception. She has also said that she has empathy for serial killers. She says they are “not monsters”, instead “they are human beings with tortured souls”.
During her six years in the police she dealt with serial killers, stalkers and rapists. She was instrumental in securing convictions for many serial killers in the late 90s.
Is Micki Pistorius related to Oscar?
Pretoria-born Micki Pistorius is related to Oscar Pistorius. In fact, she is the aunt of the disgraced Paralympic athlete.
Oscar Pistorius, a South African double amputee, competed at both the Paralympic Games and Olympic Games. Despite being seen as a hero by many, this changed overnight when his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp was found dead in his apartment.
He was subsequently convicted of murdering her, despite insisting he had mistaken her for an intruder hiding in the bathroom. He is now free.
Although Micki was a regular in court during the proceedings against her nephew, she did not act as character witness.
Where is Micki Pistorius now?
Micki Pistorius now lives on the island of Mauritius. She practises neuropsychology, and continues to consult as a forensic psychologist for several government agencies.
She has also lectured at the Open University of Mauritius and Middlesex University Mauritius, is known to deliver presentations on forensic psychology at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Micki Pistorius was a consultant on the series Catch Me a Killer, and provided emotional support to actress Charlotte Hope during filming.
Catch Me a Killer reviews
The French film festival Series Mania described Catch Me a Killer as “a female Mindhunter in the guise of a wonderfully-produced true-crime series”.
One viewers said: “This series is brilliantly done. The cinematography, the writing and the acting was impressive! 10/10 for me!”
Another said it was “up there with the best”, as well as being “educational as well as entertaining”.
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