Suspicions of Mr Whicher, The (ITV 2011, Paddy Considine, Alexandra Roach)

Period crime drama series The Suspicions of Mr Whicher is based on a true life story about Inspector Jack Whicher of the newly formed Scotland Yard detective department investigating a horrific murder in 1860 in a small village in Wiltshire.

The series started off as a one off production where on a beautiful sunny morning in 1860, the inhabitants of the sleepy Wiltshire village of Rode wake up to a shocking discovery. Behind the shuttered windows of the Kent family’s elegant country house, a horrific murder has taken place. As the local police struggle to find the culprit, the case becomes a national scandal, and Inspector Jack Whicher – the ‘Prince of Sleuths’ from the newly formed Scotland Yard detective department – is sent to the countryside to solve the crime. When he arrives, Whicher soon finds that the Kent investigation will be the most challenging of his career.

As he tries to crack the case, he faces the prejudice of the press and the public and must also deal with the inept local police force. To bring the killer to justice, Whicher must delve into the tragic secrets of the Kents’ house to find the crucial evidence and reveal the guilty party.

Following the success of this three more stories, this time fictional ones, were produced.

production details
UK / ITV1 – Hat Trick Productions / 4×120 minute episodes| Broadcast 25 April 2011 – 14 September 2014

Writer: Neil Mckay / Novel: Kate Summerscale / Producer: Nigel Marchant / Executive Producer: Mark Redhead / Director: James Hawes

cast
PADDY CONSIDINE as Detective Inspector Jack Whicher
ALEXANDRA ROACH as Constance
LUCY SCARFE as Elizabeth Kent
PETER CAPALDI as Samuel Kent
OLIVIA COLMAN as Susan Spencer
CHARLIE HIETT as William Jent
EMMA FIELDING as Mary Kent
KATE O’FLYNN as Elizabeth Gough
WILLIAM BECK as Dolly
TOM GEORGESON as Superintendent Foley
BEN MILES as Dr Stapleton
TIM PIGOTT-SMITH as Commissioner Mayne
BEN CROMPTON as William Nutt
RICHARD LINTERN as Sir Henry Ludlow

THE EPISODES
1. THE MURDER AT ROAD HILL HOUSE
2. THE MURDER IN ANGEL LANE
3. BEYOND THE PALE
4. THE TIES THAT BIND