The infamous White House Farm murders (and why this new ITV drama is unmissable)

Published

4 years ago

on

January 24, 2020

WHAT IS WHITE HOUSE FARM ALL ABOUT?

ITV’s six part factual drama, White House Farm, revolves around one fateful night in August 1985 when five members of the same family were murdered at an Essex farmhouse; Sheila Caffell, her twin six-year-old sons, Daniel and Nicholas, and her parents, Nevill and June Bamber.

The series seeks to provide fresh insight into this family tragedy and the contested accounts of the events that took place at White House Farm.

It is based on extensive research, interviews and published accounts including, ‘The Murders at White House Farm’ by Carol Ann Lee with additional material from ‘In Search of The Rainbow’s End’ by Colin Caffell, husband of Sheila and father to Daniel and Nicholas Caffell.

WHERE CAN I SEE WHITE HOUSE FARM

The mini-series can be seen on ITV for six weeks and will also air on HBO in the US.

WHO STARS IN WHITE HOUSE FARM

the main cast sees Stephen Graham playing Welsh as DCI Thomas ‘Taff’ Jones whilst Freddie Fox is Jeremy Bamber. Mark Addy is DS Stan Jones and Game of Thrones fans will delight in seeing Greyjoy brother and sister Gemma Whelen (who plays Ann Eaton) and Alfie Allen as Jeremy’s friend Brett Collins. The cast also includes Cressida Bonas as Sheila Caffell, Mark Stanley as Colin Caffell, Alexa Davies as Julie Mugford and Grace Calder as Heather Amos.

THE EPISODES

1. EPISODE ONE
In the early hours of Wednesday 7th August 1985, police in Chelmsford receive a phone call from farmer Jeremy Bamber. Jeremy’s sister Sheila, mother June, father Nevill and twin nephews Nicholas and Daniel are all found dead at White House Farm.

Airdate: 2020-01-08

2. EPISODE TWO
Stan and his number two Mick Clark speak to Jeremy and relatives of the murdered family, but their picture of what really happened that night at White House Farm remains inconclusive.

Airdate: 2020-01-15

3. EPISODE THREE
After a vital discovery at White House Farm by the family, Stan and Mick feel closer to shoring up their own suspicions about Jeremy. The arrival of a friend Brett from New Zealand increases tension between Jeremy and girlfriend Julie.

Airdate: 2020-01-22

4. EPISODE FOUR
The funerals approach, and without the answers he needs and still more questions being thrown up from White House Farm, Stan’s efforts remain fruitless. All looks lost for Stan and Mick solving the case, until a vital witness comes forward.

Airdate: 2020-01-29

WHERE WAS WHITE HOUSE FARM FILMED

The setting for the series is Tolleshunt D’Arcy, the village in Essex where the murders took place but according to the Radio Times none of the filming for the series actually took place there.

White House Farm

The house used as a filming location was selected because of its similarities to the real White House Farm.

“The house we used to depict the house at White House Farm was key,” director Paul Whittington said. “Firstly for its setting in rural Essex, its isolation and beauty. Also crucially what ultimately tipped the balance for us in terms of that particular location was the interior layout of that house which was very similar to the original house itself.”

However filming for the murder trial did take place at Chelmsford Crown Court – the same location where the real trial of Jeremy Bamber actually took place.

WHAT WERE THE WHITE HOUSE FARM MURDERS

As per Wikipedia, at some stage during the night of 6–7 August 1985. Nevill and June Bamber were shot and killed inside their farmhouse, along with their adopted daughter, Sheila Caffell, and Sheila’s six-year-old twin sons, Daniel and Nicholas Caffell. The only surviving member of June and Nevill’s immediate family was their adopted son, Jeremy Bamber, then 24 years old, who said he had been at home a few miles away when the shooting took place. The police at first believed that Sheila, diagnosed with schizophrenia, had fired the shots then turned the gun on herself. But weeks after the murders Jeremy Bamber’s ex-girlfriend told police that he had implicated himself. Bamber was sentenced to life in prison in October 1986. Bamber has always protested his innocence and he, along with a team of supporters continue to press for his release.