Dark angel on masterpiece serial#

“We’re delighted to have an actress of Joanne Froggatt’s calibre in the lead role. “ Dark Angel is an extraordinary and chilling true story,” said Victoria. ITV’s Director of Drama Steve November and Controller of Drama Victoria Fea have commissioned the drama. International Distribution will be handled by Endemol Shine International. The show is supported by Screen Yorkshire’s Yorkshire Content Fund. “Sing? Sing? What song should I sing? Mary Ann Cotton is tied up in string” But the more she kills, the greater the risk her crimes will finally be exposed … Through adultery, bigamy, fraud and murder, Mary Ann betters herself socially and financially. Travelling around the North East, she insinuates herself into unsuspecting families, marrying and creating new families of her own – before killing them, taking their money and moving on.

Dark angel on masterpiece serial#

Mary Ann is a very female serial killer, a poisoner whose methods leave no visible scars, allowing her tally of victims to mount unsuspected by a Victorian society unable to conceive of a woman capable of such terrible crimes.

But faced with abject poverty and an ailing husband, we see how ruthlessly determined she is to pursue her desires – and a better life… We meet Mary Ann as a loving wife and mother, newly returned to her native North East of England. ITV has commissioned a two-part drama, Dark Angel, from Line of Duty makers World Productions, based on the extraordinary true story of the Victorian poisoner Mary Ann Cotton, played by Downton Abbey star Joanne Froggatt.ĭavid Wilson, one of the UK’s best-known criminologists, gave his reaction: “I’m both delighted and excited that the book has inspired Dark Angel and, having read the script, I know it’s going to be a huge success.” Award-winning actress Joanne Froggatt is to star in a new ITV drama Dark Angel which is inspired by David Wilson’s book Mary Ann Cotton: Britain’s First Female Serial Killer.