Unfortunate in the general scheme of things, but great for Des (ITV).. His performance is riveting. Dennis Nilsen's death. David Tennant as Dennis Nilsen in Des. Nilsen, from Fraserburgh in Aberdeenshire, died in jail in 2018. "You want to do the story justice.". David Tennant's startling physical transformation into Dennis Nilsen, one of Britain's most notorious serial killers, is shown in a new trailer. Nilsen was 37 when he was arrested at his north London home in 1983. The unfortunate thing for these poor men was that someone they trusted was a predator. The drama is based on the book Killing for Company by Brian Masters and will follow the arrest and trial of Nielsen – also known as the 'Muswell Hill Murderer' – in one of the most infamous cases in UK criminal history. ITV has offered a first look at David Tennant as Scottish serial killer Dennis Nilsen in its newly-announced miniseries Des.. On May 10, 2018, Dennis Nilsen was transported from prison to York Hospital after complaining of severe stomach pains. “The only thing that the men who were killed by Nilsen did wrong was go home with someone who was being nice to them and had offered them a drink or a meal,” says Neal. “Because it’s not just about impersonating a character. A similar thinking lay behind the decision to widen the drama’s focus and show us events through the eyes of the case’s lead detective, Peter Jay (Daniel Mays): “He’s a way for viewers to connect to the crimes because he is as horrified as they should be,” says Arnold. Of course, when you do a story like this, everyone involved is very aware that you have to tread carefully and that you must be sensitive to the variety of reactions that it will provoke.". "Then you try and sort of join the dots as best you can and present something that will look like a truth. Dennis Nilsen's life story sounds like a script for a sadistic horror movie but tragically for his victims he turned out to truly be their worst nightmare.. He transforms into Scottish serial killer Dennis Nilsen in the upcoming miniseries Des, which premieres this Thursday.Nilsen … He exploited their need for comfort.”, Tennant agrees that it is “a fascinating study of loneliness – everyone wandering around the city unable to connect” and adding that in many ways Nilsen’s story is a very London tale. It's proof, if it were needed, of the former Doctor Who star's range. If not, it's howdunit. David Tennant's latest role may be his most gruesome one yet. "It's something that everyone was always very keenly aware of," he says. At the time, he was working in a Job Centre, following stints in the police and the Army catering corps. Doctor Who. David Tennant as Dennis Nilsen (Image: ITV) Nilsen also admitted boiling heads in a cooking pot on his stove to dispose of the brains. ", For research, Tennant studied footage and books, as well as speaking to people who knew the killer. David Tennant is set to play Dennis Nilsen, an infamous killer known as the Muswell Hill murderer, in the new ITV drama Des. David Tennant as Dennis Nilsen in Des. “Not only because it shows us how Nilsen was manipulating different people as they came into his orbit, but also because it allows us to comment on how society views serial killers and to examine our obsession with them.”. Des, starring David Tennant as Nilsen – who passed away in 2018 after spending 35 years in prison – will run from 9pm tonight (Monday) to Wednesday on ITV BBC. .css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link{color:inherit;}.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited{color:#696969;}.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link:hover,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited:hover,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link:focus,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited:focus{color:#B80000;-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link::after,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited::after{content:'';position:absolute;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;z-index:2;}Dennis Nilsen: Serial killer died in 'excruciating pain', Dennis Nilsen: Serial killer died after hospital surgery, Dennis Nilsen: Serial killer dies in prison aged 72, 1983: Nilsen 'strangled and mutilated' victims, US Congress overrides Trump defence bill veto. In 'Des,' David Tennant plays Dennis Nilsen, a withdrawn civil servant who just happens to be one of Britain's most famous serial killers. David Tennant on why it’s important killer Dennis Nilsen’s story is told in ITV’s Des: ‘This is dark and bleak – and ready to be told’ We may earn commission from links on this page. Most true-crime dramas have to walk a fine line between telling the story the audiences want to hear and sensationalising real and still painful events. Video. The two men share a Scottish background (Nilsen grew up in Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire), and a similarity of build and colouring, so it was perhaps unsurprising that Tennant found himself circling the role. .css-14iz86j-BoldText{font-weight:bold;}Dennis Nilsen was one of Britain's most notorious serial killers. A third angle is provided by the portrayal of the true-crime writer Brian Masters (Jason Watkins), who became involved after becoming concerned about the way in which the press was covering the case. 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