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Until I Kill You is the latest true-crime drama that brings to the screen the crimes of serial killer John Sweeney and his victims.
Anna Maxwell Martin heads up the cast as Delia Balmer, who survived a brutal attack from ex-boyfriend Sweeney.
Here’s all you need to know about the truth behind ITV’s latest crime drama.
What is Until I Kill You about?
Until I Kill You tells the story of Balmer, a hospital nurse who began a relationship with John Sweeney, unaware that he had previously committed murder.
As their relationship deteriorates, Sweeney’s behaviour becomes more erratic and violent towards Delia, culminating in an attack in which he admits to brutally murdering an ex-girlfriend in Amsterdam.
Let down by the police and the legal system, Delia’s life is put in danger when John is released on bail and makes a second attempt on her life.
Until I Kill You is based on Delia’s book about her harrowing experiences and the impact they’ve had on her life to this day.
Is Until I Kill You a true story?
Until I Kill You is based on a true story, with the story being based on extensive research, interviews and published accounts. The series is also based on the book published by Delia Balmer about her experiences.
Several elements have been created for the purpose of the series, with scenes and characters added for dramatisation.
Some names had been changed for the series, including Dave, the character who strikes up a relationship with Delia in the later episodes. ‘We changed some names out of reverence to the families,’ explains producer Ken Horn. ‘So the person who she has the relationship with in the last two episodes, played by Kevin Doyle, that wasn’t his real name.’
Ken also revealed that the character of Leah was actually an amalgamation of Balmer’s friends. ‘You’re trying to condense a story of such magnitude into four hours of television, it’s difficult, and it was set over quite a long time period,’ he said.
‘What makes this drama unique in a sense about a true-crime drama is that the victim survived and we see the story through her eyes, whereas normally you tend to have to work with the police,’ Ken explains.
Who were John Sweeney’s other victims?
John Sweeney is still in prison and serving a life sentence. He was arrested in 2001 and given four life sentences for the attempted murder of Balmer, and for having four guns in his possession.
Melissa Halstead is believed to be Sweeney’s first victim, with the torso of the American photographer found in a canal in Rotterdam, Holland. The pair had been travelling across Europe after her work visa in the UK had come to an end.
The mutilated body had its hands and head severed, in an attempt to prevent identification, with the missing body parts never found.
It wasn’t until 2008 that Melissa’s body was identified, after Dutch detectives matched DNA of her body to family members.
Sweeney then attacked Paula Fields while on the run following his axe attack on Delia Balmer in 1994.
The dismembered and headless body of Fields was found in London’s Regent’s Canal in 2001.
Sweeney was found guilty of both murders at trial in 2011 and sentenced to life imprisonment. It’s thought that he could be responsible for several more murders of women who had gone missing in the area between 1970 and 1990.
Where is Delia Balmer now?
Delia Balmer was involved in the making of the series, with the TV drama including some events that didn’t appear in her book. ‘I gave him detailed critiques of the drafts he had written,’ Balmer said. ‘He followed my wishes and made certain changes where possible, and as I had suggested.’
In the aftermath of her experience, Balmer received sessions from a clinical psychologist at a PTSD clinic. While still experiencing depression and anxiety, Balmer continues to do therapeutic massages, take ballet dance classes, and travel whenever she can.
After feeling like her story had not been portrayed correctly in the media, Balmer wrote a book about her experience with John Sweeney and the Criminal Justice System, though claims that still much was omitted by the book’s editor.
Who is in the cast?
Anna Maxwell Martin leads the cast, taking on the role of Delia Balmer. She is best known for her roles in Line of Duty, Motherland, and period drama Bleak House.
Shaun Evans plays serial killer John Sweeney. His previous screen credits include the titular role in detective series Endeavour, and starring opposite Surrane Jones in submarine thriller Vigil.
Kevin Doyle portrays David, who Delia becomes romantically involved with years after the attack, but their relationship is challenged by Delia’s ongoing trauma.
The actor is best known for his roles in Downton Abbey as Mr Molesley, and The Witcher as the elf Ba’lian.
Lucy Thackeray (Moon Knight) stars as WPC Jane Barker, while Amanda Wilkin (Am I Being Unreasonable?) appears as Leah, Delia’s close friend and colleague.
How to watch Until I Kill You and how many episodes?
Until I Kill You will air over four consecutive nights at 9pm on ITV from Sunday, November 3 to Wednesday, 6 November.
For viewers who can’t wait for the drama to unfold, all episodes will be available to stream on ITVX from Sunday night.
A companion documentary, Until I Kill You: The Real Story, airs on Thursday, 7 November, at 9pm on ITV and ITVX. It explores the true story of Delia Balmer and the other victims of serial killer John Sweeney, and is narrated by actress Anna Maxwell Martin, who portrays Delia in the series.
Until I Kill You is on ITV1 and ITVX at 9pm from November 3 until November 6 The companion documentary, Until I Kill You: The Real Story, is on November 7 at 9pm.
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