Months after word of the project first leaked out, ITV has confirmed that they have ordered White House Farm, a six-part true crime drama starring Freddie Fox (Year Of The Rabbit) and Mark Addy (Game Of Thrones) that is based on the Jeremy Bamber case from the 1980s. Alongside confirming details of the drama, ITV has also released five first look images.
White House Farm revolves around one fateful night in August 1985 when five members of the same family were murdered at an Essex farmhouse; Sheila Caffell, her twin six-year-old sons, Daniel and Nicholas, and her parents, Nevill and June Bamber. Essex Police initially believed that Sheila, who had mental health problems, had murdered her own family before turning the gun on herself.
But Detective Sergeant Stan Jones had doubts about the murder-suicide theory, and about Sheila’s brother Jeremy Bamber, who first called the police to the farm. Eventually it was Jeremy Bamber who was charged and convicted of the murders of his own parents, sister and nephews. Bamber is currently serving life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. He is one of the few prisoners in the UK subject to a whole-life order. Bamber still maintains his innocence.
Freddie Fox will play Jeremy Bamber, while Mark Addy has been cast as DS Stan Jones. Rounding out the cast is Stephen Graham (Boardwalk Empire), Gemma Whelan (Game Of Thrones), Mark Stanley (Sanditon), Alexa Davies (Dead Pixels), Cressida Bonas (Doctor Thorne), Alfie Allen (Game Of Thrones), Amanda Burton (Silent Witness) and Nicholas Farrell (The Cry).
The drama series is based on extensive research, interviews and published accounts including, ‘The Murders at White House Farm’ by Carol Ann Lee with additional material from ‘In Search of The Rainbow’s End’ by Colin Caffell. New Pictures are producing the series, which was penned by Kris Mrksa and Guila Sandler. Lee Thomas is the series producer, while Paul Whittington is the director. The executive producers are Willow Grylls, Charlie Pattinson, Elaine Pyke and Kris Mrksa. All3Media International will handle global sales.
“White House Farm is a fascinating insight into what happened on that fateful night in August 1985 and the subsequent search for the truth during the police investigation”, said ITV’s Head of Drama Poly Hill, who commissioned the series. “Kris Mrksa’s scripts are captivating and perfectly enhanced by the brilliance of Paul Whittington’s direction. I’d like to thank them and the brilliant cast, along with Willow Grylls and New Pictures, for making a truly outstanding drama that we are delighted to have on ITV.”
Check out the first look images below:
