ITV orders true crime serial killer drama

UK commercial broadcaster ITV has ordered an original true crime drama series starring Luke Evans (The Great Train Robbery).

Luke Evans in The Great Train Robbery

The three-part miniseries, working-titled The Pembrokeshire Murders, is based on the real-life pursuit of Welsh serial killer John Cooper.

It tells the story of two unsolved double murders from the 1980s and the subsequent re-opening of the cases in 2006 by detective Steve Wilkins. His team used an appearance by Cooper on ITV gameshow Bullseye, as well as new DNA evidence, to link him to the two cases.

The series is an adaptation of the book Catching the Bullseye Killer by Wilkins and ITV news journalist Jonathan Hill and will be produced by ITV Studios’ World Productions.

Simon Heath is on board to exec produce the series, which is written by Nick Stevens (In Plain Sight) and will be directed by Marc Evans and produced by Ed Talfan for Wales-based Severn Screen.

Evans, Keith Allen (Marcella) and David Fynn (Vanity Fair) are all set to star.

“I have wanted to work with Luke Evans again since we made The Great Train Robbery, which Simon Heath and World Productions also produced,” said Polly Hill, ITV’s head of drama.

“I’m delighted that The Pembrokeshire Murders is that project, as Luke will be incredible as Steve Wilkins and this is going to be an unmissable drama for our ITV audience.”