The Widower (miniseries)

The Widower is a British television miniseries originally broadcast in three one-hour installments on ITV in 2014. The series portrays the life and crimes of convicted murderer Malcolm Webster.[1] ITV described the show as: "The Widower tells how, over a 13-year period, a seemingly mild-mannered nurse, Malcolm Webster, set about poisoning and murdering his first wife, attempting to do the same to his second wife and moving on to a further scheme to deceive his third fiancée."[2] The series was written by Jim Barton and Jeff Pope.[3]

The Widower
GenreCrime drama
Created byJeff Pope
Written byJim Barton
Directed byPaul Whittington
StarringJohn Hannah
Sheridan Smith
Reece Shearsmith
James Laurenson
Archie Panjabi
Juliet Alderice
Kate Fleetwood
Alex Ferns
Joanna Roth
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original language(s)English
No. of series1
No. of episodes3 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)Amanda Jenks
Producer(s)Kwadjo Dajan
Jeff Pope
CinematographyMartin Fuhrer
Editor(s)Ben Lester
Running time60 minutes
Production company(s)Octagon Films
DistributorITV Studios
Release
Original networkITV
Picture format16:9
Audio formatStereo
Original release17 March –
31 March 2014

Production

In March 2014, ITV announced the broadcast of The Widower.[4] Webster's estranged wife Felicity Drumm, his former partner Simone Banerjee and Detective Inspector Charlie Henry (who had led the investigation that led to Webster's arrest) all contributed to the production.[5] It was shown in New Zealand on TV One in July 2014.[6] Webster's first wedding was reconstructed, based on a VHS recording provided by his first wife's family.[7] Reece Shearsmith, who portrayed Webster, described him as a "horrible, petulant little boy ... who even now believes he has been wronged, his entire life has always been poor Malcolm, poor Malcolm, with no thought for the terrible crimes and the victims that he has left in his wake."[8] Malcolm Webster was not approached (although his solicitor was informed that the film was being made).[9] Banerjee complimented Shearsmith's performance and described the production as "99% accurate".[10] Drumm initially declined to comment on the series.[11] She is said to have been reluctant to take part in the project, but felt obligated due to being financially destitute.[12] However she later discussed the series in an interview, in which she described the show as "strange to view" and criticised the show for not capturing Webster's personality which she described as "very extroverted, likable, funny, amusing person to be around, he was good company", whereas in the film he was portrayed as "not at all likable", which she felt marred the show's credibility. She stated also that he would adjust his personality to a particular woman.[13] Claire Webster's brother Peter Morris was reported as being impressed by Smith's portrayal of his sister, stating: "Sheridan captured Claire completely. I miss that camaraderie of a sibling and I thank Sheridan for giving that back to me for a while."[14]

Cast

Episodes
No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateUK viewers
(millions)
1"Episode 1"Paul WhittingtonJim Barton17 March 2014 (2014-03-17)5.84
Malcolm marries Claire. The film opens with him praising his 'darling Claire'. Shortly after they are married she requests to see all his debts. He responds by drugging her with Temazepam and murdering her in a staged car crash. Several years later he moves to New Zealand where he marries Felicity, whom he also starts drugging. He clearly plans to murder her by pushing her off a cliff but changes his mind when he finds out she is pregnant. Malcolm has no money and is in major debt, but doesn't tell Felicity. Felicity reluctantly agrees to a joint bank account with Malcolm. The episode ends with him setting fire to a chair inside Felicity’s parents' house.[15]
2"Episode 2"Paul WhittingtonJim Barton24 March 2014 (2014-03-24)6.09
Everyone survives the fire. Malcolm manages to convince Felicity that she had spilt nail varnish remover on a chair, which ultimately caused the fire. She reveals to her father that her doctor is concerned about her liver (Malcolm has been drugging her). She narrowly escapes Malcolm attempting to murder her in another staged car accident. She discovers he has stolen almost her entire savings and has taken out numerous life insurance policies in her name. He returns to the United Kingdom, where he meets Simone. To gain her attention he claims to have chronic lymphatic leukemia and even shaves his head and eyebrows. Felicity has Malcolm's passport flagged, to prevent him from returning to New Zealand.[16]
3"Episode 3"Paul WhittingtonJim Barton31 March 2014 (2014-03-31)6.42
Malcolm is now living with Simone. Charlie Henry, a Detective Inspector, is investigating him. He (Malcolm) is arrested for stealing funds from the angling club, of which he is treasurer. He is also charged with possession of a firearm without a licence and stealing a laptop. The prosecutor refuses to proceed with the first two charges and in court the third is dismissed on a technicality. An examination of Claire's liver establishes that she was drugged and a re-investigation of the hospital fire shows that Malcolm started it. This enables Charlie to re-open the investigation of Claire's death. The police present Simone with an Osman letter telling her that Malcolm has a wife and son in New Zealand and that they believe she is in grave danger. She ends their relationship after giving him money and getting him to admit he lied about having leukemia. A year later, Malcolm is arrested for Claire's murder. Simone, a yachtswoman, is shocked to discover that Malcolm had sabotaged her lifejacket.[17]
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References
  1. "Reece Shearsmith and Sheridan Smith in The Widower | presscentre". Itv.com. 9 January 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  2. "TV drama to focus on Malcolm Webster murders". The Scotsman. 10 January 2014. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  3. Armstrong, Stephen (17 March 2014). "The Widower: Malcolm Webster is evil, yet two women willingly married him". Radiotimes.com. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  4. "The Widower". itv.com. ITV Press Centre. 3 March 2014. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  5. "Malcolm Webster's crimes to be aired in drama". 3news.co.nz. MediaWorks TV. 11 January 2014. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  6. "TV picks of the week: Two weddings and a funeral". The New Zealand Herald. APN News & Media. 3 July 2014. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  7. English, Paul (6 March 2014). "Reece Shearsmith on playing wife killer Malcolm Webster in new STV drama The Widower". Daily Record. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  8. "Reece Shearsmith: Widower role not villainous". Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  9. http://presscentre.itvstatic.com/presscentre/sites/presscentre/files/The%20Widower.pdf
  10. "'I escaped the Widower' | Hot Topics | Lorraine". Itv.com. 31 March 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  11. "Black Widower gets a TV re-run - National - NZ Herald News". Nzherald.co.nz. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  12. Lavery, Charles. The Black Widower: The life and crimes of a sociopathic killer. 2646.CS1 maint: location (link)
  13. "Felicity Drumm - former wife of murderer Malcolm Webster". Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  14. "TV drama captures sister's death". York Press. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  15. "'The Widower' Episode 1 Review - Reece Shearsmith, Sheridan Smith In True Tale Of Wife-Murderer Malcolm Webster". Huffingtonpost.co.uk. 17 March 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
  16. "'The Widower' Episode 2 Review: Reece Shearsmith As Malcolm Webster Hits A New Low". Huffingtonpost.co.uk. 24 March 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
  17. "'The Widower' Episode 3 Review - Malcolm Webster Finally Runs Out Of Lies". Huffingtonpost.co.uk. 31 March 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
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