David Farnor | On 24, Jan 2020

Luke Evans is heading to ITV for new series The Pembrokeshire Murders.

The true crime drama, produced by World Productions, is a three-part mini-series depicting the pursuit of a cold-blooded serial killer.

Two unsolved double murders from the 1980s cast a shadow over the work of the Dyfed Powys police force. In 2006, newly promoted Detective Superintendent Steve Wilkins decided to reopen both cases. Employing pioneering forensic methods, Wilkins and his handpicked team found microscopic DNA and fibres that potentially linked the murders to a string of burglaries committed in the 80s and 90s. The perpetrator of those robberies was nearing the end of his prison sentence, but if Steve Wilkins was right, he was also a serial killer … Could Steve and his team find enough forensic evidence to charge their suspect before he was released to potentially kill again?

Commissioned by ITV’s Head of Drama, Polly Hill, the drama will be executive produced by Simon Heath, CEO of World Productions. It is written by Nick Stevens (In Plain Sight) and directed by Marc Evans (Manhunt, Safe House), with Ed Talfan (Hinterland, Hidden) producing for Wales-based Severn Screen.

The drama is adapted from the true crime book Catching the Bullseye Killer, written by Senior Investigating Officer Steve Wilkins and ITV news journalist Jonathan Hill. Evans (Dracula Untold, The Alienist, The Great Train Robbery) will portray Wilkins on-screen.

“It’s a huge responsibility for me as the drama depicts a true crime which to this day still affects the families of those whose lives were tragically taken,” said Evans.

Hill added: “Nick Stevens’ script is a fascinating and insightful account into how and why the Dyfed Powys Police team reopened this cold case and brought a serial killer to justice after he’d evaded capture for nearly two decades. I have wanted to work with Luke Evans again since we made The Great Train Robbery, which Simon Heath and World Productions also produced.”

Joining Evans are Keith Allen as John Cooper, Owen Teale as Gerard Elias, Alexandria Riley as Jackie Richards, Caroline Berry as Pat Cooper, Oliver Ryan as Andrew Cooper and David Fynn as Jonathan Hill.

Filming for the series will commence this month.

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