David Farnor | On 26, Feb 2018

Following the BAFTA award-winning success of The People Vs OJ Simpson, American Crime Story returns to BBC Two this week, as its second season, The Assassination of Gianni Versace, finally gets a UK air date.

The show’s sophomore run will focus on, you guessed it, the assassination of Gianna Versace, international fashion icon.

Written by Tom Rob Smith (London Spy), the nine-part drama profiles the cross-country path of destruction that culminated in his murder, which took place on the steps of his Miami villa. The date? 15th July 1997, and after shooting Versace (Edgar Ramirez), Andrew Cunanan (Darren Criss) flees, leaving the media to descend and the world to react.

Episode 1 takes us back to 1990, when an enthusiastic Andrew – who changes identities and opinions depending on who he’s talking to – contrives an introduction to Versace at an exclusive San Francisco nightclub, and wrangles a date to an opera which has been costumed by the famed designer.

Directed by Ryan Murphy, who exec produces alongside Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson, Brad Falchuk and Tom Rob Smith, the opening hour also introduces us to the ensemble cast, which includes Penelope Cruz as Donatella Versace, and Ricky Martin as Versace’s partner Antonio D’Amico.

Criss, though, is the star of the show, and will be familiar with Ryan Murphy fans as Blaine in Glee – or, more recently, for his guest role as Music Meister in The CW’s Supergirl and The Flash.

The series premieres at 9pm on BBC Two on Wednesday 28th February, with episodes airing weekly, and available on BBC iPlayer to catch up with on-demand. Read on for the trailer. Not seen Season 1 of American Crime Story? Read our review of The People vs OJ Simpson, which is currently available on Netflix UK.

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