Viewers are binge-watching ITV’s new true crime drama Believe Me following its premiere on Sunday night.
The four-part series, which stars Slow Horses actress Aimee-Ffion Edwards and Line of Duty‘s Daniel Mays, follows the victims of ‘black cab rapist’ John Worboys as they take on the authorities who failed them in their fight for justice.
ITV has produced a number of high-quality true crime dramas over the years, from Mr Bates vs the Post Office to Manhunt and The Pembrokeshire Murders, often praised for their sensitive, respectful storytelling and impressive acting talent. Believe Me is ITV’s latest powerful true crime drama, and it’s definitely going on my watchlist.
Keep reading to find out more.
What is Believe Me about?
The four-part series tells the story of the real-life victims of one of the most prolific sex attackers in British history, John Worboys. Dubbed the ‘black cab rapist,’ Worboys preyed on women under the cover of being a “respectable” licensed taxi-cab driver.
He was convicted in 2009 for sexually assaulting twelve women between 2006 and 2008.
© Simon RidgwayThe drama focuses on the ordeal of Sarah (Aimée-Ffion Edwards) and Laila (Aasiya Shah), who reported sexual assaults by Worboys (Daniel Mays), and how the Metropolitan Police failed to thoroughly investigate their allegations.
The synopsis reads: “We see what countless women say they have to go through after reporting being raped, the indignity of multiple interviews and intimate evidence gathering, and how they can face sceptical lines of questioning from the police.
“Believe Me will relate how the Met’s failings effectively left Worboys free to commit assaults undetected for many years; following his trial came the realisation that he was linked to allegations of further sexual offences against over a hundred women.”
© Simon RidgwayWhat have viewers said about Believe Me?
Viewers have hailed the drama as “chilling” and “powerful,” with many binge-watching all episodes on ITVX.
One person wrote on social media: “Wow, what a watch. What women have to go through. Fantastic programme,” while another added: “Binged all episodes of Believe Me and what a powerful drama it was. Daniel Mays was incredible and so was everyone else.”
© Simon RidgwayA third viewer described the series as both “horrifying” and “gripping”.
What have TV critics said about the show?
The drama has been met with rave reviews from TV critics, with The Guardian describing it as “punchy” and “intelligent” in its four-star review, while The Times handed out five stars, hailing the show as “chilling but powerful”.
How to watch Believe Me
All four episodes of Believe Me are available to stream on ITVX now.
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