Anna Maxwell Martin's new drama Until I Kill You draws record audiences
Based on the extraordinary true story of Delia Balmer
2024 has been a big year for drama on ITV/STV, with shows such as Trigger Point, Mr Bates vs The Post Office and Red Eye breaking records. The latest crime drama that has everybody talking is Until I Kill You, featuring Line of Duty and Motherland actress Anna Maxwell Martin.
The series is currently tracking as one of ITVX’s biggest ever dramas, second only to Mr Bates vs The Post Office, having drawn huge streaming audiences in its first week, with over 10 million streams and counting.
What is it about?
Written by Nick Stevens, Until I Kill You is based on the extraordinary true story of Delia Balmer, who survived a near-fatal relationship with serial killer John Sweeney.
Based on Delia Balmer’s memoir, she narrates the ordeal Delia suffered at the hands of John Sweeney, and her traumatic journey through the police and criminal justice system as they attempt to prosecute him for his crimes.
ITV/STV say of the drama: 'In 1991 Delia leads an itinerant and solitary life in London working as an agency nurse. When she meets fellow free-spirit John Sweeney in a local pub, it seems like the connection she has been searching for.
'As the relationship develops, Sweeney’s artistic, anti-establishment persona gives way to a darker side, culminating in a series of violent attacks on Delia, during which he tells her he killed his former girlfriend and disposed of her body in an Amsterdam canal.
'Sweeney is arrested but, due to a catastrophic failure to realise how dangerous he is, granted bail. He very quickly pursues Delia and subjects her to a horrific, nearfatal attack. She survives, but Sweeney evades capture and disappears.
'Shattered by the trauma and injuries inflicted by Sweeney, Delia bravely seeks to rebuild her life. But Sweeney returns seven years later and is arrested for the murder of another girlfriend in North London. Delia’s fragile recovery is shattered all over again as she has to face Sweeney in open court, her testimony vital to the prosecution case against him.
'This is the story of one woman’s astonishing will to survive through physical and emotional torment, despite the failings of the institutions which were meant to protect her'.
Is there a trailer?
The trailer was released back in October, check it out below:
When is it on TV?
The first episode of Until I Kill You aired on Sunday 3rd November. Episodes then aired every night until Wednesday 6th November at 9pm, followed by the companion documentary Until I Kill You: The Real Story on 7th November.
What channel is it on?
The drama airs on ITV1/ITVX and STV1/STV Player for viewers in Scotland.
All episodes are available to binge now on ITVX and STV Player.
Check out the first look photos from Until I Kill You below:
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How many episodes?
There's four episodes in total.
Who is in the cast?
Motherland actress Anna Maxwell Martin is joined by Endeavour actor Shaun Evans in the drama, who plays the lead role of John Sweeney. Other names include Kevin Doyle, Lucy Thackeray and Amanda Wilkin.
See the cast list below:
Anna Maxwell as Martin Delia Balmer
Shaun Evans as John Sweeney
Kevin Doyle as David
Amanda Wilkin as Leah
Lucy Thackeray as WPC Jane Barker
Laura Morgan as DC Christine Webb
Stephanie Street as Janice Rainsworth
Geoffrey Streatfeild as DI Steve Smith
Steve Edge as DS Collins
Matthew Aubrey as DC Flynn
Where was it filmed?
Despite being set in London, Until I Kill You was actually filmed in Swansea, Wales, due to its resemblance to 1990s London.
Speaking about filming in Swansea, lead actress Anna said: "I love the Welsh people and we had a lovely crew, but this is all set literally around the corner from my house, so when I got it I thought, 'Brilliant this is easy with the kids' – we’re a single-parent family so I thought it would be great… and then they said we were going all the way to Swansea!
"But I was staying in the Mumbles and I had the kids down over Easter, which was heaven – we went swimming along the Gower Peninsula every day and it was gorgeous."
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Until I Kill You is available to watch on ITVX and STV Player now.
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