The Pembrokeshire Murders | |
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Genre | Crime drama Thriller |
Based on | The Pembrokeshire Murders: Catching the Bullseye Killer by Steve Wilkins |
Written by | Nick Stevens |
Directed by | Marc Evans |
Starring |
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Theme music composer | Carly Paradis |
Country of origin | United Kingdom |
Original language | English |
No. of series | 1 |
No. of episodes | 3 |
Production | |
Producer | Ed Talfan |
Production companies | |
Original release | |
Network | ITV |
Release | 11 January 13 January 2021 | –
The Pembrokeshire Murders is a Welsh three-part television drama miniseries based on the Pembrokeshire murders by Welsh serial killer John Cooper.[2] In 2006, newly promoted Detective Superintendent Steve Wilkins[3] decided to reopen two unsolved 1980s murder cases linked with a string of burglaries. New advances in technology for forensic DNA analysis, witness reports and artists impressions of the suspect led to Dyfed-Powys Police reviewing a 1989 episode of Bullseye,[4] which led to the serial killer finally being caught.[5] It premiered on ITV on 11 January 2021.
The drama is the thirteenth in a series of ITV mini-series featuring notorious British murder cases of the past two centuries, following on from This Is Personal: The Hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper (2000), Shipman (2002), A Is for Acid (2002), The Brides in the Bath (2003), See No Evil: The Moors Murders (2006), Appropriate Adult (2011), Dark Angel, In Plain Sight (both 2016), Little Boy Blue (2017), Manhunt (2019), White House Farm, and Des (both 2020).[6]
Cast
- Luke Evans as Detective Superintendent Steve Wilkins
- Keith Allen as serial killer John Cooper
- Caroline Berry as Pat Cooper, John Cooper's wife
- David Fynn as Jonathan Hill
- Oliver Ryan as Andrew Cooper
- Alexandria Riley[7] as Detective Inspector Ella Richards
- Charles Dale as Detective Sergeant Gareth Rees
- Steven Meo as Detective Inspector Lynne Harries
- Richard Corgan as Detective Sergeant Glyn Johnson
- Kyle Lima as Detective Constable Nigel Rowe
- Steffan Cennydd as Jack Wilkins
- Anastasia Hille as Dr Angela Gallop
- Roger Evans as Detective Chief Inspector Jim Morris
- William Thomas as Detective Chief Inspector George Jones
- Suzanne Packer as Chief Constable Tyler
- Sarah Jane as Police officer
- Owen Teale as Gerard Elias QC
- Ian Saynor as Mr Justice Griffith Williams
- Rhodri Evan as Detective Chief Superintendent Coles
- Simon Nehan as Craig
Production
Development and casting
In January 2020, production began on The Pembrokeshire Murders.[8][5] The series stars Luke Evans of The Great Train Robbery as Detective Superintendent Steve Wilkins, and Keith Allen as John Cooper, serial killer.[9]
Filming
Filming wrapped just before Wales's first lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic.[10][11] Most exterior scenes were shot on location in Pembrokeshire.[12]
Release
It was first shown on Belgium's Dutch-speaking broadcaster Eén from 29 January to 12 February 2021.
In the United States and Canada, the series will premiere on streaming service BritBox.[13]
Episodes
No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | U.K. viewers (millions) [14] | |
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1 | "Episode One" | Marc Evans | Nick Stevens | 11 January 2021 | 10.94 | |
DSU Steve Wilkins re-opens one of Wales's most notorious unsolved crimes, known locally as the Coastal Path Murders. | ||||||
2 | "Episode Two" | Marc Evans | Nick Stevens | 12 January 2021 | 10.29 | |
The investigation into the Coastal Path Murders continues, but with no conclusive results from scientific testing, DSU Wilkins and his team must tackle the chief suspect, John Cooper, head-on for three days of interviews. | ||||||
3 | "Episode Three" | Marc Evans | Nick Stevens | 13 January 2021 | 10.64 | |
A long awaited scientific breakthrough gives DSU Steve Wilkins and his team their vital ammunition in the case against John Cooper. |
Critical reception
Rebecca Nicholson, reviewing in The Guardian, described the drama as "no glory for violent, rotten crimes" and gave it four stars,[15] while Carol Midgley for The Times described the show as "a case of too much cop and not enough killer" and gave it three stars.[16] Ed Cummings from The Independent criticised the programme for following dramatic clichés and poor script-writing, awarding two stars.[17]
References
- ^ "Meet the cast of ITV true crime drama The Pembrokeshire Murders, 5 January 2021". Radio Times. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
- ^ "Is ITV crime drama The Pembrokeshire Murders based on a true story?, 12 January 2021". Radio Times. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
- ^ "Pembrokeshire Murders: Ex-officer on 'squeezing six years into three episodes, 10 January 2021". Radio Times. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
- ^ "The Pembrokeshire Murders: How a Bullseye appearance implicated the real-life killer John Cooper". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 18 June 2022. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
- ^ a b "ITV commissions true crime drama The Pembrokeshire Murders (w/t) starring Luke Evans". ITV Press Center. 20 January 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
- ^ "ITV commissions three part drama, Des - with David Tennant as Dennis Nilsen". ITV Press Center. 22 November 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
- ^ "Who is The Pembrokeshire Murders' DI Ella Richards actor Alexandria Riley?, 5 January 2021". WalesOnline. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
- ^ "Where was The Pembrokeshire Murders filmed?, 6 January 2021". Radio Times. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
- ^ Productions, The World. "The Pembrokeshire Murders". World Productions. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
- ^ "Luke Evans: The Pembrokeshire Murders sees actor return to Wales". BBC. 7 January 2021. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
- ^ "The Pembrokeshire Murders: The exact locations where the ITV crime drama was filmed, 11 January 2021". WalesOnline. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
- ^ Patrick Cremona (13 January 2021). "Where was The Pembrokeshire Murders filmed?". Radio Times. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
- ^ White, Peter (3 March 2020). "U.S. Streamer BritBox To Co-Produce Luke Evans Crime Drama 'The Pembrokeshire Murders'". Deadline. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
- ^ "BARB 7-Day viewing data". BARB.
- ^ "The Pembrokeshire Murders review – no glory for violent, rotten crimes by Rebecca Nicholson". The Guardian. 11 January 2021. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
- ^ "The Pembrokeshire Murders review – a case of too much cop and not enough killer by Carol Midgley". The Times. 12 January 2021. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
- ^ "The Pembrokeshire Murders review – Some cases are best left alone by Ed Cummings". The Independent. 12 January 2021. Archived from the original on 18 June 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2021.