A gripping British crime drama from 2014 is currently experiencing a remarkable resurgence, shooting up the Netflix charts and captivating a new generation of viewers. The Widower, a three-part series starring Sheridan Smith and Reece Shearsmith, has defied its age to secure the number four spot on the platform's UK TV chart.
The Chilling True Story Behind the Drama
So, is The Widower based on a true story? The answer is a resounding yes. The acclaimed miniseries is a dramatisation of the real-life crimes of Malcolm Webster, a former Surrey nurse now aged 66, who was convicted for a series of heinous acts driven by financial greed.
The story primarily unfolds in the 1990s. Reece Shearsmith delivers a chilling performance as Webster, who marries his first wife, Claire Morris, played by Sheridan Smith, in 1993. In a calculated move, Webster drugged Morris in May 1994, staged a car accident, placed her in the passenger seat, and set the vehicle on fire to claim life insurance payouts.
Webster's criminality did not end there. He moved to New Zealand and married Felicity Drumm in 1997, with whom he had a son. Just two years later, in 1999, he staged another car crash in an attempt to murder Drumm. His motive was a staggering £750,000 payout from nine separate life insurance policies.
Web of Deceit and Eventual Justice
The series also explores Webster's manipulation of Simone Banerjee, portrayed by Archie Panjabi. He began a relationship with her after falsely claiming to have terminal leukaemia. Banerjee was persuaded to change her will, leaving her entire fortune to Webster, but police intervened before their wedding, revealing his existing marriage and criminal past.
Justice was finally served in July 2011 when Malcolm Webster was found guilty of the murder of Claire Morris and the attempted murder of Felicity Drumm. He was handed a minimum 30-year prison sentence and remains behind bars today.
His attempts to overturn the conviction have been unsuccessful. An appeal in 2013 was thrown out, and the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission rejected his application in 2016.
How Accurate is The Widower's Portrayal?
Adapted for ITV by Jeff Pope and written by Jim Barton, the series has been praised for its adherence to the facts. The real Simone Banerjee commended Reece Shearsmith's acting and described the programme as "99 percent accurate" in an interview with ITV's Lorraine Kelly.
However, Felicity Drumm offered a slight critique, noting to RNZ that the real Webster was a "very extroverted, likable, funny, amusing person to be around", a charisma that she felt differed from Shearsmith's more subdued interpretation.
Despite its initial broadcast over a decade ago, The Widower continues to shock and fascinate audiences, proving that true stories of deception and crime hold a powerful and enduring appeal. The series is available to stream now on Netflix.
