‘Steeltown Murders’ preview: Philip Glenister stars in ’70s true crime drama

The BBC has unveiled the first images from Steeltown Murders.

Set in both the 1970s and early 2000s, the new true crime drama series comes from the makers of The Pembrokeshire Murders and Manhunt writer Ed Whitmore.

Whitmore has previously written episodes of Silent Witness, Waking the Dead, The Inspector Lynley Mysteries, Safe House, and Rillington Place.

Steeltown Murders sees Philip Glenister returning to the decade that made him a household name in Life On Mars.

“I was drawn to this tragic true story because it’s ultimately as much about the scarring effects of an unsolved crime on a community as it is the crime itself,” creator Ed Whitmore said last year.

Explaining the show’s format, he revealed: “The narrative unfolds on two timelines – 1973 and 2002 – and the chance to chart the interweaving lives of our characters across this epic canvas is quite simply a gift to a dramatist.”

Steeltown Murders began filming in Wales last autumn.

“I’m very happy to be part of a production filmed in south Wales where I have my own family connections,” commented Philip Glenister last year.

The Ashes to Ashes star added: “Ed’s scripts are a poignant and compelling read, balancing the tragic events alongside the revolutionary advances in DNA profiling which were crucial in this case and many others since.”

The four-part factual drama focuses on the hunt to catch the killer of three young women in the Port Talbot area, and the remarkable story of how – in the first case of its kind – the mystery was solved almost thirty years later using pioneering DNA evidence.

Joining Belgravia star Philip Glenister’s DCI Paul Bethell is Steffan Rhodri (In My Skin, Gavin & Stacey) as Phil ‘Bach’ Rees, with Scott Arthur (Good Omens) and Siôn Alun Davies (The Sandman) playing the younger versions of their characters.

Steeltown Murders will contrast the policing methods of the 1970s with the forensic breakthroughs of the early Noughties.

The cast also includes Keith Allen (Marcella), Priyanga Burford (No Time to Die), Sharon Morgan (Gangs of London), Nia Roberts (Red Rose), Elinor Crawley (Vikings), Gareth John Bale (35 Awr), Kriss Dosanjh (The Larkins), Matthew Gravelle (Broadchurch), Amy Morgan (Mr Selfridge), and Dyfan Dwyfor (A Very English Scandal).

Steeltown Murders is set to premiere in the UK on BBC One and streaming on BBC iPlayer later this year.

Fans of Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes received an exciting update on the franchise’s long-rumoured revival recently.

John Simm revealed last month that he’d already read a script for the series, titled Lazarus, and “loved it.”

The Pembrokeshire Murders is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video.