Channel 4's 'In the Footsteps of Killers' has returned for a second series, and critics are unimpressed. The show, which sees criminologist David Wilson and actress Emilia Fox re-examine cold cases, has been described as making viewers feel 'spat on' due to its disrespectful approach to serious subject matter.
The programme covers unsolved murders and disappearances, including the 1979 and 1980 Templeton Woods murders in Dundee. Victims Carol Lannen and Elizabeth McCabe were found dead, but no one was ever convicted. Wilson and Fox recap events, bemoan past forensic limitations, and identify prime suspects already known to police, but without offering new evidence.
Critics argue the show exploits tragedy for entertainment, with Fox's scripted reactions and Wilson's sombre commentary feeling voyeuristic. The series claims to jog memories or encourage witnesses, but the chances of that are deemed infinitesimal. One review called it 'pointless' and said the workings are 'nakedly on show', leaving viewers feeling manipulated.
