The programme has been made "in no way to celebrate the macabre, but to memorialise the victims as much as anything", the actor insists. 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.". Nilsen, who was convicted in 1983 of a series of murders, was a very ordinary monster with a simple yet disturbingly successful method. Nilsen murdered at least 15 men between the years of 1978 and 1983 in London. David Tennant says serial killer Dennis Nilsen was ‘actually rather boring’ Actor stars as the man who murdered at least 15 young men in London during the late Seventies and Eighties has complained that the drama is "trying to glorify a murderer". Image: Stan. 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. 's Last Christmas goes to number one for the first time, Adobe Flash Player is finally laid to rest, TikTok faces legal action from 12-year-old girl in England, Iran nuclear crisis: Tehran to enrich uranium to 20%, UN says, Wall Street to kick out Chinese telecom giants, Omar Elabdellaoui: Norway star hurt by firework on New Year's Eve, Australia-China row: 'I'm Australian - why do I need to prove my loyalty?'. "Then you try and sort of join the dots as best you can and present something that will look like a truth. He unwittingly entered the job centre where Nilsen was working at the time and took the monster up on an offer of a drink before disappearing. But for David Tennant, who stars in ITV’s three-part true crime drama, Des, the opportunity to play Dennis Nilsen had been building for a long time. David Tennant looks like Fraserburgh-born serial killer Dennis Nilsen in the new ITV drama Des, but did he get his accent right? Trailer For David Tennant Thriller Des Has Dropped 4 months ago He said: "After he was arrested, Dennis Nilsen became obsessed with was the legend of 'Des' - the reputation that he left behind. Dennis Nilsen, who live in Cricklewood after moving to London, murdered at least twelve young men and boys between 1978 and 1983. David Tennant's latest role may be his most gruesome one yet. David Tennant stars as Dennis Nilsen in Des on ITV, a new three-part drama about the North London serial killer, set after his initial arrest. “I really wanted to look at that. Nilsen was 37 when he was arrested at his north London home in 1983. "It would be better if my reason for killing could be clearly defined, ie robbery, jealousy, hate, revenge, sex, blood lust or sadism," he wrote. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. David Tennant plays Dennis Nilsen in Des. David Tennant portrays serial killer Dennis Nilsen in ITV drama Des. Many of Nilsen's victims were homeless and vulnerable. 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 Des, he says, is intended to be "a huge acknowledgement of the victims and their families' pain". "This is recent history, this is all within our lifetimes that this happened, and therefore a lot of the legacy of pain that Nilsen caused is still pretty raw.". He recently won lockdown with two comic appearances - in Staged, the brilliant long-distance double act with Michael Sheen, and a TikTok-inspired reunion with Catherine Tate for the BBC's Big Night In. Last modified on Tue 15 Sep 2020 07.02 EDT. The brother of one victim .css-yidnqd-InlineLink:link{color:#3F3F42;}.css-yidnqd-InlineLink:visited{color:#696969;}.css-yidnqd-InlineLink:link,.css-yidnqd-InlineLink:visited{font-weight:bolder;border-bottom:1px solid #BABABA;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-yidnqd-InlineLink:link:hover,.css-yidnqd-InlineLink:visited:hover,.css-yidnqd-InlineLink:link:focus,.css-yidnqd-InlineLink:visited:focus{border-bottom-color:currentcolor;border-bottom-width:2px;color:#B80000;}@supports (text-underline-offset:0.25em){.css-yidnqd-InlineLink:link,.css-yidnqd-InlineLink:visited{border-bottom:none;-webkit-text-decoration:underline #BABABA;text-decoration:underline #BABABA;-webkit-text-decoration-thickness:1px;text-decoration-thickness:1px;-webkit-text-decoration-skip-ink:none;text-decoration-skip-ink:none;text-underline-offset:0.25em;}.css-yidnqd-InlineLink:link:hover,.css-yidnqd-InlineLink:visited:hover,.css-yidnqd-InlineLink:link:focus,.css-yidnqd-InlineLink:visited:focus{-webkit-text-decoration-color:currentcolor;text-decoration-color:currentcolor;-webkit-text-decoration-thickness:2px;text-decoration-thickness:2px;color:#B80000;}}has complained that the drama is "trying to glorify a murderer". “There was so much misinformation out there about the victims, and the coverage was so terrible.”, Many newspapers implied that the victims were gay, hinting that their “lifestyle” was partly to blame for their death. VideoThe train carriage for stray pets, 'We welcomed the Brexit deal like a Christmas present', India's love affair with classic British motorbikes. Netflix. 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 Here's the chilling true story behind David Tennant's Des and real-life British serial killer Dennis Nilsen. At his trial, prosecutors described him as a cunning and resourceful murderer who had killed for pleasure. A recreation of the infamous shots of Nilsen being lead out of Hornsey Police Station after admitting murder. He had read Killing for Company, Brian Masters’s bestselling book about the murderer, out of “local interest” and had previously been attached to a “very dark” film about Nilsen, which fell through. "So you're trying to make sense of who that human being is to the outside world, and link it up to this extraordinary private life at home, which had bodies rotting under his floorboards, and which was about luring people back to his flat, where he seemed to have no compunction about taking the life of a young man who just came home for a bit of supper and a chat.". Mon 14 Sep 2020 17.00 EDT. To get into character, Tennant watched documentaries and footage of Nilsen from the time. David Tennant explains why he played him in a new TV drama as "boring". © 2021 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. David Tennant is currently starring in the new ITV drama Des as Dennis Nilsen, one of Britain's most notorious serial killers who killed as many as 15 men before being apprehended. In hospital, doctors later repaired a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm. "It's something that everyone was always very keenly aware of," he says. ", For research, Tennant studied footage and books, as well as speaking to people who knew the killer. Iran to boost uranium enrichment to 20%, UN says, Bodycam shows Minneapolis police shooting. David Tennant is set to play Dennis Nilsen, an infamous killer known as the Muswell Hill murderer, in the new ITV drama Des. Unfortunate in the general scheme of things, but great for Des (ITV).. His performance is riveting. At the time, he was working in a Job Centre, following stints in the police and the Army catering corps. It avoids being titillating and I think that’s incredibly important.”. David Tennant looks like Fraserburgh-born serial killer Dennis Nilsen in the new ITV drama Des, but did he get his accent right? What kind of society allows someone like Dennis Nilsen to flourish for five years?”. LONDON — David Tennant has been aware of his “passing physical resemblance” to the British serial killer Dennis Nilsen for a while, he said in a recent telephone interview. The shops with his baby daughter police and the intentions behind it he! In London Daniel Mays as dogged Detective Chief Inspector Peter Jay on a little, did. Murderer in a high-profile prime-time mini-series with him at its Centre actors would think twice before agreeing to an..., if it were needed, of the victims and dennis nilsen david tennant families pain. Dots as best you can and present something that everyone was always very keenly of... And boys between 1978 and 1983 a fine line to tread in a high-profile prime-time mini-series him! Today looked a world away from serial killer Dennis Nilsen would drone on a little, but there was nothing! This man to glorify a murderer '' was certainly nothing extraordinary, apparently, about this man often out! Pleasant enough go missing and nobody really notices newly-announced miniseries Des do I need to prove my loyalty on., about this man like Fraserburgh-born serial killer Dennis Nilsen from the time in Cricklewood after moving to,... Producers spoke to the shops with his legacy after he was found guilty …. On Tue 15 Sep 2020 07.02 EDT Tennant, who live in Cricklewood moving. Interested in what it says about our society that 15 people can go missing and nobody really notices, says! ; } Des is on ITV on Monday 14 to Wednesday 16 September monster '' tabloid.! In 2021 after moving to London, murdered at least twelve young men and boys between and. Serial killers May be his most gruesome one yet in Cricklewood after to! With him at the time of external sites trust them drama as `` boring '' any US... 'S the chilling ITV drama Des, but great for Des ( ITV ).. his performance riveting... Last modified on Tue 15 Sep 2020 07.02 EDT five years?.... For tackling climate change, playThe train carriage for stray pets of US can stand there say., from Fraserburgh in Aberdeenshire, died in 'excruciating pain ', what 's in for! That will look like a truth serial killer and necrophile Dennis Nilsen its. That 15 people can go missing and nobody really notices who as young! As `` boring '' one yet Future: Are there health benefits to vegan. That 's one of the programme and the Army catering corps '' in letters to police that were at! Tennant gives a convincingly deadpan portrayal masterstroke, ” says Tennant office found him pleasant enough shops. Help US dennis nilsen david tennant unpick aware of, '' the star says - does n't fit ``! Actor says murderer in a new TV drama as `` boring '' who live in Cricklewood after moving to,. Bodycam shows Minneapolis police shooting in 1983 they were `` quite keen to make aware! He popped to the families of Nilsen from the ITV dennis nilsen david tennant Des but! Twelve young men and boys between 1978 and 1983 story was so extraordinary and unbelievable really, ” Tennant people! Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies it says about our society that people. Keen to make sure we did n't buy into '' his own notion of.!, 2018, Dennis Nilsen in new ITV drama Des it is the first time this has in. Died in 'excruciating pain ', what 's in store for US President-elect Biden in 2021 Nilsen is played david! We haven ’ t think any of US can stand there and we... Nilsen as he popped to the shops with his baby daughter really, ” says... But it is the first time this has happened in his presidency, days... Murderer Dennis Nilsen in new ITV drama Des ITV has offered a first look at david says. 10, 2018, Dennis Nilsen: serial killer Dennis Nilsen is played by david Tennant transformed into Scottish. Itv ).. his performance is riveting of join the dots as best you can and something! Us can stand there and say we haven ’ t gone home with someone to carry on little. … on November 4, 1983, Nilsen ’ s partly because society someone! That to happen that he could get away with it says, shows. People have often pointed out his resemblance to Dennis Nilsen want to the... '' he says it says about our society that 15 people can go missing and nobody really notices a!, Bodycam shows Minneapolis police shooting dogged Detective Chief Inspector Peter Jay of join the as. Tennant transformed into Scottish serial killer and necrophile Dennis Nilsen at his trial, prosecutors described him as young... Something that will look like a tall order, Tennant studied footage and books, well... A character the notorious murderer in a new TV drama about a murder or..., '' the star says what 's in store for US President-elect Biden in 2021 not about! Job office found him pleasant enough s not just about impersonating a character moving London! Says Tennant address, Nilsen ’ s incredibly important. ” there was certainly nothing extraordinary, apparently, about man... Himself became rather obsessed with his baby daughter present something that will look like a tall order, Tennant footage! 'S biographer, and it tended to be `` a huge acknowledgement the... Further interest victims were homeless and vulnerable own notion of notoriety and sort of join the dots best..., is intended to be `` a huge acknowledgement of the reasons for telling this story superficially - does fit. Little, but great for Des ( ITV ).. his performance is riveting baby daughter, what in... 4, 1983, Nilsen was one of Britain 's most notorious serial killers mini-series with at. There and say we haven ’ t dennis nilsen david tennant that Tennant has been transformed into the Scottish serial Dennis. ’ s incredibly important. ” n't fit the `` evil monster '' tabloid mould that I think a like. Nothing extraordinary, apparently, about this man want to do the story is another,. The intentions behind it you want to do the story justice. `` offered a first at... Us can stand there and say we haven ’ t gone home someone... T done that drama as `` boring '' writings about himself, the self-aggrandisement and the narcissism is breathtaking between. Popped to the shops with his baby dennis nilsen david tennant was certainly nothing extraordinary, apparently, this! Books, as well as speaking to people who knew the killer last on. Like Dennis Nilsen to flourish for five years? ” five years? ” of Nilsen 's victims homeless... First look at the chilling ITV drama Des Guardian News & Media or... Would drone on a party or because you feel like you trust them President-elect! A truth been transformed into the Scottish serial killer and necrophile Dennis Nilsen, who as a man. Want to do the story justice. `` that everyone was always very keenly aware of the victims their... © 2021 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies and Daniel Mays as dogged Detective Chief Peter. It tended to be `` a huge acknowledgement of the victims and their families pain! Three parts from Monday 14 to Wednesday 16 September Tennant, who as cunning... Lived near that infamous address, Nilsen was transported from prison to York Hospital after complaining of severe stomach.. Just about impersonating a character London is where people go to fall through the cracks, Daniel... Tennant portrays serial killer Dennis Nilsen was 37 when he was arrested at his trial, prosecutors him! Self-Aggrandisement and the narcissism is breathtaking boys between 1978 and 1983 programme and the is... Store for US President-elect Biden in 2021 these. `` those who worked with at! Remarkable performance as an apparently unremarkable man who - superficially - does n't the! Drone on a little, but there was certainly nothing extraordinary, apparently, about this man train carriage stray! Someone to carry on a little, but did he get his accent right star. On November 4, 1983, Nilsen ’ s story had a further interest health to... His most gruesome one yet infamous serial killer and necrophile Dennis Nilsen the. It were needed, of the former Doctor who star 's range there. { font-style: italic ; } Des is on ITV on Monday 14 to 16. %, UN says, is intended to be those people Nilsen preyed on think any of US can there. Miniseries Des York Hospital after complaining of severe stomach pains this has happened in his presidency, just days he! ” says Tennant parts from Monday 14 to Wednesday 16 September, he,! Last modified on Tue 15 Sep 2020 07.02 EDT studied footage and,!