Harrowing.
And oh so uncanny.
The first look at David Tennant as the terrifying serial killer Dennis Nilsen is here – and seriously, whoever bagged the casting on this one deserves a raise immediately.
The former Doctor Who actor will play the notorious Scottish killer and necrophile in an upcoming ITV mini-series detailing the murderer’s trial in which he admits to killing at least 12 men in London between the years of 1978 and 1983.
The series, called Des, will follow Nilsen’s life before his incarceration in ’83, where he remained until his death in 2018.
Here’s a picture of the actual Nilsen.
And here’s David Tennant playing him.
See? Told you. Uncanny.
Each of Nilsen’s murders were committed across two London addresses where he would lure his victims before killing them via strangulation or drowning.
Many of his victims were homeless men and boys or homosexuals, lured to the addresses with the promise of shelter or alcohol.
Nilsen’s crimes were discovered by a plumber, who discovered flesh-like substances and bones “of unknown origin” in a drainage system at one of the properties.
Nilsen later said:
“It looks to me like someone has been flushing down their Kentucky Fried Chicken.”
He was later detained, charged, and found guilty of six counts of murder.
“This drama starts with Nilsen’s arrest and is looking at him through the eyes of the police officer trying to identify those he killed and deliver justice for them and the biographer he chose to tell his story,” said ITV’s head of drama Polly Hill.
“David Tennant is going to be brilliant as Dennis Nilsen and with Daniel Mays as Jay and Jason Watkins as Brian, this has an incredible cast to bring this story to screen and we are delighted to be making this with New Pictures for ITV.”
Kim Varvell, executive producer for New Pictures added:
“Dennis Nilsen’s crimes shocked the nation in the early 1980s. Our programme focuses on the emotional impact of those terrible crimes, both on those who came into contact with Nilsen himself, and also on the victims’ families.
“We’re thrilled to be working with Luke and Lewis on this project, as well as the incredible cast.”
ITV’s Des is due for release next year.
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