A harrowing documentary airing on Channel 5 tonight delves into the story of Delia Balmer, a London nurse who survived a relationship with one of Britain's most notorious serial killers, John Sweeney.
Who Is Delia Balmer?
Delia Balmer, a former nurse at the Royal Free Hospital, met John Sweeney at a London bar in 1991. Unaware of his true identity, she allowed him to move into her home. When she tried to end the abusive relationship in 1994, Sweeney held her captive, restraining her to her bed and threatening her with a gun and knife. In a subsequent attack, he ambushed her with an axe outside her home, leaving her with life-altering injuries. A neighbour intervened with a baseball bat, saving her life.
The Documentary
Channel 5's I Survived a Serial Killer: The Delia Balmer Story originally aired in 2024. It focuses on Delia's account of her relationship with the 'Canal Killer', using interviews, police archives, and expert commentary. Viewers witness her personal recollections from the first meeting to the abusive escalation. Channel 5 teases: 'Delia Balmer relives what it was like to live with a killer.'
Where Is Delia Balmer Now?
Delia has written a memoir titled Living With A Serial Killer, detailing her toxic relationship. She worked as a therapeutic masseuse and enjoyed dancing and travelling, including a trip to South Africa in 2023. Now in her 70s, she lives a private life in London. She has not made public appearances since her involvement with the ITV drama series Until I Kill You and its documentary in 2024. In an interview with ITV, she admitted she still struggles with mental health following the attack.
I Survived a Serial Killer: The Delia Balmer Story airs tonight at 10pm on Channel 5 and is available to stream online.
