ITV's anticipated crime drama Manhunt is set to bring a chilling real-life murder case to the small screen.
Written by Silent Witness screenwriter Ed Whitmore, the three-part series will chart the investigation into the death of Amelie Delagrange, who was murdered in Twickenham in 2004, which eventually brought serial killer Levi Bellfield to justice.
Here’s everything you need to know before the three-part drama kicks off on Sunday night.
What is Manhunt all about?
The mini-series is based on the memoirs of Met Police detective DCI Colin Sutton, who lead the investigation into the 2004 murder of French student Delagrange.
Though Sutton lacked previous experience of dealing with murder cases, his diligent approach eventually lead to the conviction of serial killer Bellfield in 2008.
The gripping drama will focus on how he and his officers were able to make the connection between the Delagrange case and other similar cases in south west London, including the 2003 murder of 19-year-old Marsha McDonnell and the abduction and murder of 13-year-old Millie Dowler in 2002, as well as the subsequent hunt to identify the killer.
Bellfield was eventually given three life sentences without parole.
The show sparked controversy last year when it was revealed that scenes had been filmed in Walton-on-Thames, where Dowler went missing, though star Martin Clunes denied any claims that the series was exploitative. “It’s not ‘violence porn’ in any way. There’s not blood,” he said. “It’s about dogged police work […] There’s a duty to tell the story well and responsibly.”
Who is in Manhunt?
Clunes will take the lead role of DCI Sutton. The part is certainly a departure for the actor, who is famed for starring in more light-hearted, comic fare, but he has described the case as “a story worth telling.”
“I sort of resisted the offers of detective dramas, because they don’t float my boat,” he told Digital Spy. “But this was so different – it was a story worth telling, I think […] they come along every now and again.”
He’ll be joined by Welsh actor Celyn Jones, who has previously appeared in Channel 4’s Catastrophe, as Bellfield, along with Katie Lyon as DS Jo Brunt and Claudie Blakley as Sutton’s wife, Louise.
When is Manhunt on TV?
The three part drama will begin on Sunday, January 6 at 9pm on ITV. Episode two will then air on the following night at the same time, with the final part being broadcast on Tuesday, January 8.
