Note: Contains information about the real-life White House Farm murders that goes beyond episode one of the ITV dramatisation.
Tonight (January 8) saw ITV broadcast the first episode of White House Farm, a six-part drama based on the real-life murders of the Bamber and Caffell families in 1985.
The police initially thought that adopted daughter Sheila was responsible for the deaths since she had mental health issues, but eventually it was adopted son Jeremy Bamber (who initially made the call to the police) who was convicted. Currently, he is serving a life sentence, but maintains his innocence.
ITV
Game of Thrones actor Mark Stanley plays Colin Caffell, who was not one of the family members murdered, and spoke to Digital Spy and other media about how he prepared for the role in a drama based on a real-life crime that many consider unfinished.
“I had the aid of Colin’s presence and endorsing the project, we were on the phone for a good few hours,” he said.
“When you’re on the phone with someone you’ve never met about something as sensitive as this, it’s a long time to try and eggshells about how you ask specific questions about certain things.
ITV
“I had his book (In Search of the Rainbow’s End) for reference, but Colin just said openly, ‘You can ask me anything, if I don’t feel comfortable I won’t answer but I won’t feel offended you’ve asked’.”
The things they specifically talked about included Colin’s relationships with every family member and what the house was like before and after the incident.
Mark also revealed that he was drawn to appearing in the drama because director Paul Whittington had done such a good job with another real-life drama, Little Boy Blue, that aired in 2017.
White House Farm airs Wednesday nights at 9pm on ITV.
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