Waco: A British Tragedy Series Premiere ( Thursday 13 April 2023)

airs a new episode of Waco: A British Tragedy Thursday 13 April 2023

The episode is called Series Premiere

What is Series Premiere about

This is a Multistory Media production for ITVX

“Koresh and I were in a mall. And we were watching a right-wing guy in California named Lyndon LaRouche. And we’re thinking this guy’s a nutcase, how can anybody follow him, and then Koresh turns to me and he goes, ‘Yeah but you and I are in a cult, I mean you follow me, I’m saying I’m the son of God, I’m divinely inspired.’” – Mark Breault, David Koresh’s second-in-command 1986-89

There were 23 Britons killed when US law enforcement forces attacked the Waco compound, led by cult leader David Koresh. This new ITVX documentary series explores their tales.

This show commemorating 30 years since the siege has interviews with British survivors, relatives of the deceased, the local sheriff, US law enforcement authorities, experts on religious organizations, and journalists who were present at the time.

The documentary series shows how Koresh journeyed to Britain to attract Seventh Day Adventists to his cult, the Branch Davidians, using new testimony and reconstructions. It delves into the fascination with his claim that he was the son of God and the subsequent trip to his Texas compound, Mount Carmel.

For the first time on British television, the programme includes rare video footage of UK people within the facility, as well as secret FBI audio recordings from the negotiations.

The documentary also explores how officials discovered something was terribly wrong, and what led to the 51-day standoff that ended in a fire that claimed the lives of 86 people, making it one of the most infamous and deadly sieges in American history.

Episode 1

The first programme explores how Koresh, born Vernon Howell, travelled to Israel in 1985, became convinced he was a prophet, then took over the Mount Carmel complex outside Waco as the leader of the Branch Davidians.

In 1988, he visited Newbold College in Berkshire, speaking at unauthorised meetings. Albert Yates, a former police superintendent who gave evidence at the inquest into the deaths of Brits at Waco, says: “David Koresh was a very, very convincing person. And when you’re searching for answers to something as complex as the second coming of Jesus Christ and Koresh appears to be providing the answers, you’re vulnerable. In their vulnerability they wanted to believe.”

Once he returned to America, his closest disciple Steve Schneider spoke to students. Dimplets Taylor, who attended meetings, says: “I think it was a brainwashing situation… By the time he had finished speaking to the group they were just thinking that there’s a better life somewhere, let’s pack our bags and go and see.”

Psychology student Diana, 28, decided to join Koresh in Texas. Sam Henry, her father, says after he visited her in Texas and was perturbed by speaking to Koresh, his wife and the rest of his five children moved there without him: “I came back to Manchester, England, and I told my wife what transpired between me and David Koresh. She never said a word, but my wife began to attend these meetings. It never dawned on me that she would join them.”

Sam’s family was joined by Cliff, whose sister Elaine explains how he told her about his move: “They were telling him that he was an incredibly talented artist and they were going to get him on a fantastic art course, which would help promote his art skills… I felt a little bit uncomfortable about it. But equally, I was excited for him because this sounded like an amazing opportunity. ”

Meanwhile, Derek Lovelock, 35, gave up his life in Manchester. He explains his motivations: “My life really changed when I met David Koresh. A better way of living. A better way of thinking. That’s what it was to me.”

But once people had joined Koresh’s cult, his motivation changed and money became a key factor. Dimplets says: “People had sold their property and given their money to David, and they were even told to get in touch with their family to get them to sell their property.”

By 1989, Koresh had introduced a new way of living at Mount Carmel – ‘The New Light’ – and annulled all marriages of those staying at the compound. Marc Breault says: “I was aware that he was sleeping with other women. And then Koresh took me aside and he said, you know, his favourite wife was the 12-year-old. And I didn’t know what to do because he had the blessing of the parents. That was really the start of, okay, I got to think about this now.”

For the British families of those at the compound, concerns were rising. Michael Johnson, the nephew of cult member Winston Blake, says: “I remember my mother on the phone to Uncle Winston and she was saying, you need to come home… And then the next thing I heard was him saying it’s not that easy… I think that’s when alarm bells started ringing.”

By this time the local newspaper had become interested in Mount Carmel. Reporter Darlene McCormick Sanchez says she got a call from Australia, where Mark Breault and his wife had moved and contacted the authorities: “They were concerned that young girls were being raped and that some small children were being abused and that David Koresh was in total control out there.”

Darlene called the FBI about their concerns, but no intervention came. Koresh had started talking about a battle to the death, says Derek: “A literal battle where people were going to be killed. It said in the scriptures, you know, they talked about this, sacrificing your life for God.”

Only when the ATF – the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms – was informed about grenades being delivered to Mount Carmel did the authorities consider intervening. As they staged up near the compound, a news crew accidentally tipped off a postman who was part of the cult, meaning Koresh had 40 minutes to prepare. Local sheriff Parnell McNamara says: “So Koresh has a call to arms. Everybody get the guns.”

In the initial firefight with authorities, Koresh was hit by gunfire, and the families inside realised the deadly nature of what they faced. Cult member Sheila Martin says: “I realised my little handicapped boy was in front of the window and he was screaming. The shots from outside started coming through and I kept wondering, is this how he’s gonna die?”

What Time Does “Series Premiere” air

Waco: A British Tragedy: Series Premiere airs Thursday 13 April 2023 at 06:00 on

Season 1 Episode 1

Waco: A British Tragedy will explore the untold story of the sizeable British contingent of David Koresh’s Branch Davidian cult, and their experiences during the 51 day ordeal at Waco and its storming by the FBI in 1993.

Featured image credit: