‘White House Farm’ recap: What happened in Episode 1?

White House Farm began in the UK tonight.

Written by The Slap creator Kris Mrksa, ITV’s new six-part true crime drama tells the true story of the fateful night in Summer 1985 when five members of the same family were murdered at a farmhouse in Essex, England.

The cast includes Freddie Fox (Parade’s End), Mark Addy (Downton Abbey movie), Stephen Graham (Line of Duty), Gemma Whelan (Gentleman Jack), Amanda Burton (Silent Witness) and Alfie Allen (Game of Thrones).

Here’s a plot recap for the first episode, which aired at 9pm on Wednesday 8th January 2020 on ITV:

In the early hours of Wednesday 7th August 1985, police in Chelmsford receive a phone call from local farmer Jeremy Bamber.

Officers are called to an incident at his parents’ farmhouse, White House Farm.

Jeremy’s sister Sheila, mother June, father Nevill and twin nephews Nicholas and Daniel are all found dead.

The case appears to be open-and-shut to investigating officer DI Thomas ‘Taff’ Jones, who concludes that Sheila, who had mental health problems, is responsible for killing her parents and children, and then herself.

But for DS Stan Jones, something doesn’t feel right. Stan’s concerns bring him into conflict with his superior officer Taff.

He is given the responsibility of family liaison and told to toe the line.