In Plain Sight (British TV series)

In Plain Sight is a Scottish television drama series covering the crimes committed by serial killer Peter Manuel in Lanarkshire, Scotland in the 1950s. The three-part series was first broadcast on ITV on 7 December 2016. The series is distributed worldwide by BBC Worldwide.[3]

This article is about the British television series. For the American television series of the same name, see In Plain Sight.

In Plain Sight
Also known asMuncie (working title)[1]
GenreDrama[2]
Based onThe Peter Manuel case
Written byNick Stevens
Directed byJohn Strickland
StarringMartin Compston
Douglas Henshall
Brian McCardie
Denis Lawson
Shauna Macdonald
Joanna Roth
Gary Lewis
Composer(s)Nina Humphreys
Country of originScotland
Original language(s)English
No. of series1
No. of episodes3
Production
Executive producer(s)Richard McNeill
Roderick Seligman
Natalie Usher
Robbie Allan
Producer(s)Gillian McNeil
Production location(s)Scotland
Editor(s)Andrew John McLelland
Camera setupRuari O'Brien
Running time60 minutes (inc. adverts)
Production company(s)World Productions
Finlaggan Films
ITV
DistributorBBC Worldwide
Release
Original networkITV
Picture format16:9 1080i
Audio formatStereo
Original release7 December (2016-12-07) –
21 December 2016 (2016-12-21)
External links
Production website

Plot

The plot revolves around serial killer Peter Manuel, who killed at least eight people between 1956 and 1958 in Lanarkshire, and the detective who pursued him to his conviction, William Muncie.[4] Manuel, who was born in the United States,[5] was known as "The Beast of Birkenshaw"[6] (as he lived in Birkenshaw, Uddingston).[7] He taunted his pursuer with messages and even sent him birthday and Christmas cards.[8]

At the time, local police had never dealt with this level of criminality before; Manuel chose his victims at random, with no apparent reason[9] and ended up scaring a whole community so much that everyone started locking their doors.[10]

The series follows the destructive trail that Manuel left and shows him reveling in his cockiness with the police and his victims, even going so far as representing himself in his criminal trials.[11]

Cast

Research

Both Compston and Henshall spent time researching their parts and the characters they would be playing. Compston admitted to being scared stiff in one scene and said that he had driven around to Manuel's old house after filming and parked up, "just to sit outside".[10] Henshall talked about his part with William Muncie's daughter and was determined to bring the character to life, who, by Henshall's estimation, was single-minded in catching Manuel but also the only one who took to the notion of him being a serial killer.[12]

The production caused controversy amongst the relatives of some of the victims. The production team tried to contact everyone, but Stuart and David Reid, whose two aunts, Marianne Watt and Margaret Brown and cousin, Vivienne (daughter of Marianne Watt) were killed by Manuel in 1956, could not be found. The brothers have said that the production would re-open old wounds. They contacted the production team who listened to their comments, but the brothers claim it was to no avail; “We asked ITV to scrap it. The producers did listen to what we had to say but by this point it was too little, too late. It was obvious they had no intention of pulling the plug.”[13]

Production

Many locations across Glasgow (including the Victoria Infirmary)[14] and the Central Belt of Scotland were used in filming. Some parts were even filmed in Compston's home town of Greenock. Dunlop in East Ayrshire was also used for the home of the detective Muncie and the police station (outside entrance). Albion Automotive disused office in Scotstoun was used for scenes in the inside of the police station.[15]

Culture Secretary, Fiona Hyslop, confirmed that the Scottish Government would be contributing £250,000 towards the production. She announced this on the opening day at the Edinburgh International Film Festival in June 2016.[16]

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References
  1. Hunt, Debs (9 November 2016). "Martin Compston stars in new trailer for ITV drama, In Plain Sight". insidemediatrack.com. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  2. "Muncie (W/T)". itvmedia.co.uk. ITV Media. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  3. Productions, World. "In Plain Sight – World Productions". World Productions. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  4. "In Plain Sight". itv.com. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  5. Gibb, Bill (27 November 2016). "Martin Compston on living in LA, Line of Duty and starring in new ITV drama In Plain Sight". sundaypost.com. Sunday Post. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  6. "Scottish actor Martin Compston to play serial killer Peter Manuel in new drama". Glasgow Times. 3 June 2016. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  7. "Killing spree claimed eight lives". BBC News. 16 February 2009. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  8. Swarbrick, Susan (3 December 2016). "Martin Compston on playing Lanarkshire serial killer Peter Manuel in chilling new TV drama In Plain Sight". Glasgow Evening Times. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  9. Chater, David (3 December 2016). "Critic's choice; In Plain Sight". The Times (72084). Saturday Review. p. 40. ISSN 0140-0460.
  10. "The Version interview....Martin Compston on itv's In Plain Sight". theversion.co.uk. The Version. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  11. Jackson, James (3 December 2016). "Critic's choice; In Plain Sight". The Times (72084). Saturday Review. p. 23. ISSN 0140-0460.
  12. McIver, Brian (18 November 2016). "ITV drama In Plain Sight charts Scottish spree killer Peter Manuel's vicious reign of terror". Daily Record. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  13. Barrie, Jane (20 November 2016). "Surviving relatives of Peter Manuel murder victims furious ITV over 'In Plain Sight' drama about his crimes". Daily Record. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  14. Glen, Fraser. "The story of Scotland's worst serial killer Peter Manuel told through Glasgow". glasgowlive.co.uk. Glasgow Live. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  15. Coulter, Paul John (22 November 2016). "Neil Lennon set for charity Q&A session in Greenock". Greenock Telegraph. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  16. Ferguson, Brian (15 June 2016). "Scots TV drama on serial killer Peter Manuel gets government backing". The Scotsman. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
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