562:"the series went far beyond any justifiable claims of 'dramatic licence' and 'simplification' by creating dialogue and scenes which did not take place at all, these just sensationalising the story and not furthering it, wrongly depicting how Janet Leach was treated and her involvement, giving her a kudos she far from deserves". "This series painting her as a 'victim' and wrongly portraying the sequence of events and her contact with and payment by the Mirror Group whilst grossly exaggerating her involvement is an insult to the true victims, their families, which very much includes the extended family of the Wests, the witnesses who so courageously gave evidence, the investigating team, and its professionalism, also the many professionals and others who worked so hard to unravel the horrific crimes and bring the Wests and others to justice". However, he concurred that "the mannerisms and psyche of Frederick West captured and enacted by Dominic West and Monica Dolan of Rosemary West are hauntingly accurate".
550:
personality, were the strange warring traits of a man cheerfully sane and yet not quite there – helpful but manipulative, confiding but controlling, troubled but carefree, a composite that perfectly explained why the police wanted the presence of an 'appropriate adult'". Hogan was also impressed with Monica Dolan's highly convincing performance as
Rosemary, which he described as "literally spitting-mad". ITV claims that several daughters of the Wests and the families of the victims spoke positively about the series after having viewed it.
575:
West, as well as showing that her motivation was not simply financial. We met former
Detective Superintendent John Bennett on several occasions to discuss the making of a factual drama based around the case of Fred and Rosemary West. Not only because he had led the police investigation, but also because, like others involved in the case, he had subsequently written a book about it.
328:, who confesses to killing his daughter, Heather, in 1987 and burying her in his back garden. Fred privately tells Janet there were more victims, but appropriate adults cannot share conversations. After the police find the remains of several women buried at the West home, Fred says that one of them is a lodger, Shirley Robinson, killed in 1978 when she was pregnant with his child.
409:. Dominic West's physical resemblance to West was noted during filming. Fred West's daughter Mae West said he "captured the evil essence of him – his character, his mannerisms, even his gait". Janet Leach found it difficult to approach Dominic West in character on set because he was so convincing that it took her back seventeen years to her work with the murderer.
376:
and suggests she was romantically involved with him. She testifies that she was only interested in the truth, and Rose is found guilty and sentenced to life in prison. The journalist finds a location matching Fred's description of the barn, but Janet expresses doubt that the truth will ever be known and returns to family life.
375:
In court, Janet testifies that Fred described Rose as sadistic and murderous. She lies under oath that she has never spoken to the media about the case and collapses. Appearing in court again, she admits that she had sold her story. The defence accuses her of encouraging Fred to invent lurid stories,
331:
Janet is given the opportunity to leave the case due to its distressing nature but resolves to continue. West tells the police there is a third body in the garden. DC Hazel Savage suspects his first wife Rena and stepdaughter
Charmaine, both missing since 1971, are also buried there, and that Fred's
578:
He showed some interest in acting as a paid consultant on the project but we didn't pursue that option. We took the legitimate editorial decision to focus our drama on Janet Leach. It is certainly not ITV's wish to cause distress to the families of the Wests' victims, or their children. Two of Fred
570:
We took the legitimate editorial decision to focus our drama on the largely untold story of how an ordinary mother and housewife, Janet Leach, became involved in one of
Britain's most notorious murder investigations when she took on the role of Fred West's 'appropriate adult'. This is a drama not a
549:
described
Dominic West's performance as "worryingly close" but said "even with a set of chipped teeth, bad jumper choices and a rattling West Country burr, handsome Dominic could not quite conjure the Fred familiar from his demonic police mug shot. What he did conjure, in one impressively seamless
587:
it is about the effect of the crimes, rather than crimes themselves. Whereas those earlier dramas focused variously on the police, the victims and their families, and the families of the murderers this one places at its centre a woman who was almost an accidental witness to the uncovering of what
574:
We have not attempted to whitewash Janet – her portrayal in the drama is subtle and balanced, and shows an ordinary woman subjected to an extraordinary situation. We depict her decision to accept the newspaper deal to sell her story, and how that was exposed in court during the trial of
Rosemary
371:
Fred hangs himself in prison. As her duty of confidence no longer applies, she recounts everything Fred told her. Bennett dismisses Fred's book and tells her that Janet meant nothing to him. At home, Mike catches Janet preparing to swallow pills. She confesses that she misses feeling needed and
363:
Fred and Rose are jointly charged with murder and Savage tells Janet she is no longer required. Her family life resumes until Fred calls her from prison; she agrees to help him find a solicitor, to the dismay of Josh and Mike. A twelfth body is identified as Anna. With Janet's help, Fred begins
359:
The police find remains of several more victims. Fred leads the police to a rural location, where he says he feels Anna's presence; he tells Janet that Anna is "guiding" him through her. Savage tells Janet that Anna was Fred's teenage babysitter while he was married to Rena in 1967; they had an
339:
Fred tells Janet he feels they have a connection. Disgusted, she decides to leave the case, but he begs her to stay. She agrees on the condition that he confess everything, and he confesses to "approximately" nine murders. The police begin digging in the Wests' basement and in the
Herefordshire
367:
Mike and Janet meet a journalist who suspects that the Wests may have been involved in the ritual killings of children. She agrees to sell information to him. Fred describes to Janet hearing the screams of children in a barn, and that there were at least 20 more victims. When Janet cancels her
604:. Dominic West and Emily Watson won their respective leading players categories, while Monica Dolan won the best supporting actress award and Kwadjo Dajan was the winner of the breakthrough talent category. Other nominations included best mini series, director, production design and writer.
355:
and is admitted to hospital. Janet's son Josh accuses her of having neglected the family. Fred tells Janet that he and Rose agreed to have Fred take the blame for the murders so Rose could look after the family. He calls Janet "Anna" and insists they are going on a journey together.
579:
and
Rosemary West's daughters have praised the drama and from those of the victim's families still contactable we have only received positive comments. The film neither recreates the crimes, nor attempts a definitive psychological analysis of Fred and Rosemary West. Like
296:" during the questioning of Fred West. The senior investigator wanted to ensure that there could be no suggestion that West did not understand any part of the process, so arrangements were made so that he had an "appropriate adult" present to ensure this at all times.
299:
It was well received critically and received eight BAFTA television award nominations, with West and Watson winning the best actor and actress awards respectively, Dolan the best supporting actress award and co-producer Kwadjo Dajan the breakthrough talent award.
388:
and written by Neil McKay. The production was headed by ITV executive producer Jeff Pope, who considered it as the concluding feature in a trilogy of films about the most notorious
British murder cases of the past century, the previous films being
40:
688:
714:
701:
1119:
727:
675:
340:
countryside, where West indicates a different area to Janet, and reminisces about his "true love", Anna McFall. DSI John
Bennett is concerned that Fred's confession might have been made under
1300:
632:
1051:
1260:
853:
391:
336:
was complicit, but Fred denies this. Fred appears surprised to learn that Shirley's baby had been removed from her abdomen, and tells Janet that Rose must have removed it.
1285:
401:, which won multiple awards. Co-producer Kwadjo Dajan researched and developed the project over four years after establishing contact with Janet Leach and consulting with
780:
649:
1325:
1255:
831:
662:
1280:
1275:
1250:
1265:
1123:
1310:
1305:
1290:
740:
1026:
1320:
1315:
627:
601:
1330:
1270:
558:
Following its broadcast, the programme was also criticised by retired Gloucestershire Detective Superintendent John Bennett who said,
1059:
920:
571:
documentary and the film has a caption at the start telling viewers that some scenes are created for purposes of dramatisation.
431:
313:
289:
1295:
912:
885:
817:
397:
1082:
824:
955:
861:
507:
402:
979:
928:
971:
1204:
936:
533:
The first episode was met with positive reviews after it was broadcast on 4 September 2011. Sam Wollaston from
1007:
1199:
877:
269:. It dealt with the events between the Wests' arrests in February 1994 and Fred's suicide in Birmingham's
341:
1148:
131:
539:
described it as "beautifully done, not sensational or hysterical". A later article by Phil Hogan in
451:
270:
113:
1235:
317:
293:
17:
469:
463:
445:
348:
321:
254:
208:
108:
963:
514:
493:
250:
1083:"Rewind TV: Appropriate Adult; Horizon: Are You Good or Evil?; Reel History of Britain"
385:
80:
566:
In response to Bennett's statement, ITV's Janice Troup issued the following response:
1244:
1173:
869:
500:
487:
457:
440:
285:
as the protagonists of the story, Fred and Rose West, and Janet Leach, respectively.
266:
118:
1087:
541:
535:
481:
475:
436:
427:
418:
282:
278:
274:
103:
98:
93:
368:
Christmas visit, Fred calls her, saying he sees more of Anna in her than in Rose.
247:
50:
39:
406:
309:
258:
422:
333:
325:
262:
179:
61:
344:
or fabricated to impress Janet, and warns her not to get too close to him.
16:
This article is about the 2011 television series. For the legal term, see
1229:
1027:"Dominic West eerily similar to Fred West as filming of TV drama begins"
809:
1055:
352:
1120:"ITV Appropriate Adult: West detective John Bennett speaks out"
813:
257:, on 4 and 11 September 2011. It is based on the true story of
320:, someone present during police interviews with children or
347:
Janet is approached by the media. Her partner Mike, who is
947:
896:
854:
This Is Personal: The Hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper
845:
392:
This Is Personal: The Hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper
360:affair, she became pregnant and then went missing.
214:
204:
199:
188:
169:
164:
153:
145:
137:
127:
86:
76:
68:
56:
46:
30:
781:Royal Television Society Craft & Design Awards
1052:"TV portrayal of killer leaves daughter scared"
568:
1301:Television controversies in the United Kingdom
825:
8:
600:was nominated for eight BAFTA awards at the
1261:2010s British crime drama television series
405:. The drama was filmed over seven weeks in
832:
818:
810:
38:
27:
1286:British English-language television shows
1149:"BAFTA Awards Search – Appropriate Adult"
1122:. This is Gloucestershire. Archived from
741:Royal Television Society Programme Awards
273:on New Year's Day 1995. The series stars
606:
351:, urges her to sell her story. He has a
1326:Television shows set in Gloucestershire
1143:
1141:
999:
519:Robert Whitelock as D.C. Carl Kempinsky
288:The series was named after the role of
1256:2011 British television series endings
1025:Hooton, Christopher (25 August 2011).
602:2012 British Academy Television Awards
324:. She attends a police interview with
1281:Cultural depictions of serial killers
1276:Cultural depictions of British people
1251:2011 British television series debuts
1114:
1112:
1110:
1108:
1106:
7:
702:Best Director: Fiction/Entertainment
1266:2010s British television miniseries
25:2011 British TV series or programme
1311:Television series set in the 1990s
14:
1081:Hogan, Phil (11 September 2011).
628:British Academy Television Awards
1306:Television series by ITV Studios
1291:Films directed by Julian Jarrold
1200:"CRAFT & DESIGN AWARDS 2012"
554:Detective Superintendent Bennett
312:in February 1994, social worker
588:happened at 25 Cromwell Street.
886:See No Evil: The Moors Murders
798:Tape & Film Editing Drama
398:See No Evil: The Moors Murders
154:
1:
1321:Television series set in 1995
1316:Television series set in 1994
1331:True crime television series
862:Harold Shipman: Doctor Death
403:Gloucestershire Constabulary
1271:British serial killer films
1174:"RTS Programme Awards 2012"
1347:
15:
972:The Pembrokeshire Murders
793:
779:
753:
739:
644:
626:
384:The film was directed by
37:
1205:Royal Television Society
1178:Royal Television Society
937:Manhunt (2019 TV series)
785:Make Up Design - Drama
676:Best Supporting Actress
878:The Brides in the Bath
715:Best Production Design
590:
564:
448:as D.S.I. John Bennett
253:shown in two parts on
194:(w/out advertisements)
1296:ITV television dramas
840:ITV True Crime Dramas
560:
1062:on 29 September 2011
650:Best Leading Actress
454:as D.C. Hazel Savage
128:Theme music composer
1008:"Appropriate Adult"
689:Breakthrough Talent
513:Vincent Brimble as
452:Sylvestra Le Touzel
271:Winson Green Prison
114:Sylvestra Le Touzel
1180:. 5 September 2012
663:Best Leading Actor
515:Mr Justice Mantell
460:as D.C. Darren Law
364:writing a memoir.
1231:Appropriate Adult
1126:on 1 October 2011
990:
989:
905:Appropriate Adult
808:
807:
638:Appropriate Adult
598:Appropriate Adult
322:vulnerable adults
318:appropriate adult
294:appropriate adult
243:Appropriate Adult
239:
238:
228:11 September 2011
195:
146:Original language
138:Country of origin
32:Appropriate Adult
18:Appropriate adult
1338:
1217:
1216:
1214:
1212:
1196:
1190:
1189:
1187:
1185:
1170:
1164:
1163:
1161:
1159:
1145:
1136:
1135:
1133:
1131:
1116:
1101:
1100:
1098:
1096:
1078:
1072:
1071:
1069:
1067:
1058:. Archived from
1048:
1042:
1041:
1039:
1037:
1022:
1016:
1015:
1004:
956:White House Farm
834:
827:
820:
811:
788:Janet Horsfield
633:Best Mini-Series
607:
581:This Is Personal
508:Richard Ferguson
506:Jack Fortune as
499:Jasper Jacob as
470:Stanley Townsend
464:Anthony Flanagan
446:Robert Glenister
235:
233:
225:
223:
200:Original release
193:
156:
109:Robert Glenister
42:
28:
1346:
1345:
1341:
1340:
1339:
1337:
1336:
1335:
1241:
1240:
1226:
1221:
1220:
1210:
1208:
1198:
1197:
1193:
1183:
1181:
1172:
1171:
1167:
1157:
1155:
1147:
1146:
1139:
1129:
1127:
1118:
1117:
1104:
1094:
1092:
1080:
1079:
1075:
1065:
1063:
1050:
1049:
1045:
1035:
1033:
1024:
1023:
1019:
1006:
1005:
1001:
996:
991:
986:
980:The Long Shadow
943:
929:Little Boy Blue
892:
841:
838:
769:Writing: Drama
706:Julian Jarrold
595:
556:
531:
526:
494:Rupert Simonian
490:as Stephen West
478:as Howard Ogden
415:
382:
306:
251:television film
231:
229:
227:
221:
219:
184:
123:
26:
21:
12:
11:
5:
1344:
1342:
1334:
1333:
1328:
1323:
1318:
1313:
1308:
1303:
1298:
1293:
1288:
1283:
1278:
1273:
1268:
1263:
1258:
1253:
1243:
1242:
1239:
1238:
1225:
1224:External links
1222:
1219:
1218:
1191:
1165:
1137:
1102:
1073:
1043:
1017:
998:
997:
995:
992:
988:
987:
985:
984:
976:
968:
960:
951:
949:
945:
944:
942:
941:
933:
925:
921:In Plain Sight
917:
909:
900:
898:
894:
893:
891:
890:
882:
874:
866:
858:
849:
847:
843:
842:
839:
837:
836:
829:
822:
814:
806:
805:
802:
799:
795:
794:
792:
789:
786:
783:
777:
776:
773:
770:
766:
765:
762:
759:
758:Actor: Female
755:
754:
752:
749:
746:
743:
737:
736:
733:
730:
724:
723:
720:
717:
711:
710:
707:
704:
698:
697:
694:
691:
685:
684:
681:
678:
672:
671:
668:
665:
659:
658:
655:
652:
646:
645:
643:
640:
635:
630:
624:
623:
620:
617:
614:
611:
594:
591:
555:
552:
530:
527:
525:
522:
521:
520:
517:
511:
504:
497:
491:
485:
479:
473:
467:
461:
455:
449:
443:
434:
425:
414:
411:
386:Julian Jarrold
381:
378:
305:
302:
261:serial killer
237:
236:
216:
212:
211:
206:
202:
201:
197:
196:
190:
186:
185:
183:
182:
177:
176:Lisa Gilchrist
173:
171:
167:
166:
162:
161:
158:
151:
150:
147:
143:
142:
141:United Kingdom
139:
135:
134:
129:
125:
124:
122:
121:
116:
111:
106:
101:
96:
90:
88:
84:
83:
81:Julian Jarrold
78:
74:
73:
70:
66:
65:
58:
54:
53:
48:
44:
43:
35:
34:
24:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1343:
1332:
1329:
1327:
1324:
1322:
1319:
1317:
1314:
1312:
1309:
1307:
1304:
1302:
1299:
1297:
1294:
1292:
1289:
1287:
1284:
1282:
1279:
1277:
1274:
1272:
1269:
1267:
1264:
1262:
1259:
1257:
1254:
1252:
1249:
1248:
1246:
1237:
1233:
1232:
1228:
1227:
1223:
1207:
1206:
1201:
1195:
1192:
1179:
1175:
1169:
1166:
1154:
1150:
1144:
1142:
1138:
1125:
1121:
1115:
1113:
1111:
1109:
1107:
1103:
1090:
1089:
1084:
1077:
1074:
1061:
1057:
1053:
1047:
1044:
1032:
1028:
1021:
1018:
1013:
1009:
1003:
1000:
993:
982:
981:
977:
974:
973:
969:
966:
965:
961:
958:
957:
953:
952:
950:
946:
939:
938:
934:
931:
930:
926:
923:
922:
918:
915:
914:
910:
907:
906:
902:
901:
899:
895:
888:
887:
883:
880:
879:
875:
872:
871:
870:A Is for Acid
867:
864:
863:
859:
856:
855:
851:
850:
848:
844:
835:
830:
828:
823:
821:
816:
815:
812:
803:
801:Andrew Hulme
800:
797:
796:
790:
787:
784:
782:
778:
774:
771:
768:
767:
763:
761:Emily Watson
760:
757:
756:
750:
748:Dominic West
747:
744:
742:
738:
734:
731:
729:
726:
725:
721:
719:Pat Campbell
718:
716:
713:
712:
708:
705:
703:
700:
699:
695:
693:Kwadjo Dajan
692:
690:
687:
686:
682:
680:Monica Dolan
679:
677:
674:
673:
669:
667:Dominic West
666:
664:
661:
660:
656:
654:Emily Watson
653:
651:
648:
647:
641:
639:
636:
634:
631:
629:
625:
621:
618:
615:
612:
609:
608:
605:
603:
599:
592:
589:
586:
582:
576:
572:
567:
563:
559:
553:
551:
548:
544:
543:
538:
537:
528:
523:
518:
516:
512:
509:
505:
502:
501:Brian Leveson
498:
496:as Josh Leach
495:
492:
489:
488:James McArdle
486:
483:
480:
477:
474:
471:
468:
465:
462:
459:
458:Samuel Roukin
456:
453:
450:
447:
444:
442:
438:
435:
433:
429:
426:
424:
420:
417:
416:
412:
410:
408:
404:
400:
399:
394:
393:
387:
379:
377:
373:
369:
365:
361:
357:
354:
353:manic episode
350:
345:
343:
337:
335:
329:
327:
323:
319:
315:
311:
303:
301:
297:
295:
291:
286:
284:
280:
276:
272:
268:
267:Rosemary West
265:and his wife
264:
260:
256:
252:
249:
246:is a British
245:
244:
217:
213:
210:
207:
203:
198:
191:
187:
181:
178:
175:
174:
172:
168:
163:
159:
152:
148:
144:
140:
136:
133:
130:
126:
120:
119:Samuel Roukin
117:
115:
112:
110:
107:
105:
102:
100:
97:
95:
92:
91:
89:
85:
82:
79:
75:
71:
67:
63:
59:
55:
52:
49:
45:
41:
36:
33:
29:
23:
19:
1230:
1209:. Retrieved
1203:
1194:
1182:. Retrieved
1177:
1168:
1156:. Retrieved
1152:
1130:13 September
1128:. Retrieved
1124:the original
1095:12 September
1093:. Retrieved
1088:The Guardian
1086:
1076:
1064:. Retrieved
1060:the original
1046:
1034:. Retrieved
1030:
1020:
1011:
1002:
978:
970:
962:
954:
935:
927:
919:
911:
904:
903:
884:
876:
868:
860:
852:
745:Actor: Male
637:
597:
596:
584:
580:
577:
573:
569:
565:
561:
557:
547:The Guardian
546:
542:The Observer
540:
536:The Guardian
534:
532:
482:Seline Hizli
476:Gerard Horan
472:as Syd Young
437:Monica Dolan
428:Emily Watson
419:Dominic West
396:
390:
383:
374:
370:
366:
362:
358:
346:
338:
332:second wife
330:
307:
298:
287:
283:Emily Watson
279:Monica Dolan
275:Dominic West
242:
241:
240:
189:Running time
104:Monica Dolan
99:Emily Watson
94:Dominic West
31:
22:
1211:26 February
772:Neil McKay
732:Neil McKay
728:Best Writer
585:See No Evil
484:as Mae West
432:Janet Leach
372:important.
314:Janet Leach
290:Janet Leach
248:crime drama
218:4 September
157:of episodes
77:Directed by
51:Crime drama
1245:Categories
1036:25 October
994:References
913:Dark Angel
775:Nominated
735:Nominated
722:Nominated
709:Nominated
642:Nominated
616:Nominee(s)
407:Manchester
380:Production
310:Gloucester
259:Gloucester
232:2011-09-11
222:2011-09-04
165:Production
72:Neil McKay
69:Written by
1153:BAFTA.org
1012:Amazon UK
940:(2019-21)
524:Reception
441:Rose West
423:Fred West
326:Fred West
263:Fred West
180:Jeff Pope
170:Producers
132:Dan Jones
62:Fred West
1091:. London
613:Category
192:90 mins
87:Starring
57:Based on
1184:1 March
529:Critics
466:as Mike
349:bipolar
292:as an "
230: (
226: –
220: (
215:Release
205:Network
149:English
64:murders
1066:3 July
1056:Yahoo!
983:(2023)
975:(2021)
967:(2020)
959:(2020)
932:(2017)
924:(2016)
916:(2016)
908:(2011)
889:(2006)
881:(2003)
873:(2002)
865:(2002)
857:(2000)
619:Result
593:Awards
342:duress
316:is an
1158:6 May
1031:Metro
948:2020s
897:2010s
846:2000s
622:Ref.
610:Award
47:Genre
1236:IMDb
1213:2023
1186:2022
1160:2021
1132:2011
1097:2011
1068:2015
1038:2019
804:Won
791:Won
764:Won
751:Won
696:Won
683:Won
670:Won
657:Won
583:and
545:and
413:Cast
395:and
334:Rose
304:Plot
281:and
60:The
1234:at
964:Des
439:as
430:as
421:as
308:In
255:ITV
209:ITV
155:No.
1247::
1202:.
1176:.
1151:.
1140:^
1105:^
1085:.
1054:.
1029:.
1010:.
510:QC
503:QC
277:,
1215:.
1188:.
1162:.
1134:.
1099:.
1070:.
1040:.
1014:.
833:e
826:t
819:v
234:)
224:)
160:2
20:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
