Rillington Place

Rillington Place is a three-part biographical crime drama about the real life case of serial killer John Christie, and the subsequent wrongful execution of Timothy Evans. It premiered on 29 November 2016 on BBC One.[1]

For the 1971 film that dealt with the case, see 10 Rillington Place.
Rillington Place
GenreBiographical
crime drama
Directed byCraig Viveiros
StarringTim Roth
Samantha Morton
Nico Mirallegro
Jodie Comer
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes3
Production
Production locationsLondon, England
Glasgow, Scotland
Paisley, Scotland
Dumbarton, Scotland
Running time58 minutes
Production companiesBBC
Bandit Television
DistributorBBC
Release
Original networkBBC One
Picture format16:9 1080i
Audio formatStereo
Original release29 November (2016-11-29) –
13 December 2016 (2016-12-13)

Premise

The miniseries revolves around the home life of John Christie[1] and his wife, Ethel, as he commits a string of murders during the 1940s and early 1950s. Each of the three episodes tells the story as seen from the respective point of view of the three main characters: Ethel, Timothy Evans and John Christie.

Cast

Broadcast and reception

On 29 November 2016, the first episode premiered on BBC One, to largely positive reviews from critics, who applauded the performances and the storytelling. However, it also attracted mixed reactions from some viewers who complained about the "mumbling" and the "inaudible dialogue" of the actors.[2]

Following the second episode on 6 December, Sarah Doran of RadioTimes.com noted that several viewers had been confused by Mirallegro's use of two different accents while portraying Evans, as the actor switched between Cockney and Welsh accents.[3] However, writers Ed Whitmore and Tracey Malon told the website this had been deliberate, since it was a trait adopted by Evans himself in an attempt to fit into his surroundings: "Tim moved to London from Wales around the age of eleven, his half-sister told us he was very keen to fit in and soon adopted a London 'barrow-boy' accent, but that he could slip back into his childhood accent when around members of his Welsh family. Nico [Mirallegro] wanted to reflect Tim's malleability and that desire to fit in by using different accents according to who he was talking to."[4]

Internationally, the series premiered on BBC First on 8 February 2017.[5]

Production

As Rillington Place no longer exists, it was demolished in the early 1970’s[6] the interiors of 10 Rillington Place were recreated at BBC Scotland’s Dumbarton Studio’s near Glasgow, whilst the exteriors of the street were shot on a set created in a parking lot at the same studio.[7]

Other locations across Scotland were used to represent London. The Bo’ness and Kinneil Railway for the Railway Station and Train,[8] New Street in Paisley,[9] West Princes Street and West Street in Glasgow, representing the link between Rillington Place and the rest of Ladbroke Grove in London. Also the Western Baths Club. The Ballantine Castings Factory in Bo’ness[10] was used for the bombed-out section of the factory at the end of Rillington Place.

References
  1. Dickson, E. Jane (29 November 2016). "Rillington Place actor Tim Roth on playing serial killer John Christie: "I Thought, 'My God, What Have I Got Into?'"". Radio Times. London, England: Immediate Media Company. Retrieved 29 November 2016.
  2. Duncan for, Amy (30 November 2016). "Rillington Place gets rave reviews despite Tim Roth's 'mumbling'". Metro. London, England: DMG Media.
  3. Doran, Sarah (6 December 2016). "Timothy Evans' Rillington Place accent confuses viewers — but there's an explanation for the Cockney and Welsh switch". Radio Times. London, England: Immediate Media Company. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  4. Harrison, Ellie (6 December 2016). "Why does Tim Evans' accent keep changing from cockney to Welsh in Rillington Place? And why did he confess?". Radio Times. London, England: Immediate Media Company. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  5. Purcell, Charles (2 February 2017). "New This Week (Feb 6): Legion, Nashville, Black Sails, Big Cat Week, Super Bowl and live sport". The Green Room. Foxtel. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
  6. "Tag Archives: Rillington Place". The Library Time Machine, RBKC. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  7. Susan Swarbrick (26 November 2016). "The Herald". Retrieved 25 August 2020. The Horrors of Rillington Place
  8. "The Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway" (PDF). Visit Falkirk. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  9. Kenneth Speirs (22 April 2016). "Daily Record". Retrieved 25 August 2020. It's lights, camera, action as serial killer drama unfolds in Paisley
  10. "celebrities-and-castings". Ballantine Castings Ltd. Retrieved 25 August 2020.

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