The Pembrokeshire Murders
British television series
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Pembrokeshire Murders is a British three-part television drama based on the Pembrokeshire murders by Welsh serial killer John Cooper.[2] It premiered on ITV on 11 January 2021.
Thriller
by Steve Wilkins
| The Pembrokeshire Murders | |
|---|---|
| |
| 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 |
|
| Theme music composer | Carly Paradis |
| Composer | Carly Paradis |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 3 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Producer | Ed Talfan |
| Production companies | |
| Original release | |
| Network | ITV |
| Release | 11 January – 13 January 2021 |
Synopsis
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]
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[6] 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.[7][5] The series stars Luke Evans of The Great Train Robbery as Detective Superintendent Steve Wilkins, and Keith Allen as John Cooper, serial killer.[8] The drama is the thirteenth in a series of ITV 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 in 2020).[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
Episodes
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | U.K. viewers (millions) [14] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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]