New two-part drama Code of a Killer has been commissioned by ITV and will star David Threlfall (Shameless).
The drama tells the extraordinary true story of Alec Jeffreys’ discovery of DNA fingerprinting and its first use by Detective David Baker in catching a double murderer. Threlfall will star as Detective David Baker who headed up the 1984 investigation into the brutal murders of two Leicestershire schoolgirls, Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth.
Code of a Killer has been developed and written with the knowledge and input of retired professor Sir Alec Jeffreys and former Detective Chief Superintendent David Baker. Michael Crompton has written the drama and James Strong will direct with Simon Heath executive-producing on behalf of World Productions.
ITV’s Director of Drama Steve November and Controller of Drama Victoria Fea have commissioned the drama.
“Code of a Killer is a gripping real life story which uncovers how DNA fingerprinting was discovered and helped the police crack a particularly difficult murder investigation. It’s a story that devastated the families of the two young schoolgirls and will be handled sensitively and respectfully by World Productions.”
More casting news will be announced shortly with filming due to begin in late September.
