Channel 5 has commissioned three-part series Maxine, that will revisit the Soham murders through the eyes of Maxine Carr.

It is the channel”s first true-crime drama since the inception of its original drama slate in 2019.

Maxine (3 x 60”) will be produced by Clapperboard, Chalkboard”s scripted sister company, and will examine the investigation of school assistant Maxine Carr and her caretaker fiancé Ian Huntley, who was later imprisoned for the double murder of schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman.

The series, written by Simon Tyrell, will explore their tumultuous relationship through Maxine”s perspective; why she lied for him and how she became public enemy No.1, as well as reflect the scale of the police investigation and subsequent media frenzy around the biggest manhunt ever seen in British history.

Mike Benson and Julie Ryan executive produce; Laura Way directs.

Benson said: “Few crimes have embedded themselves in the national psyche more than the tragic events of Soham in 2002. It was a case which was unique in recent history in terms of the sheer scale of the media coverage and how this affected and nearly derailed the investigation and subsequent trial. We will explore this within the drama alongside the role played by Maxine Carr – dubbed “The Most Hated Woman in Britain.”

The series will commence shooting on location in Ireland this year.

The new commission follows recent news Channel 5 has expanded its drama slate with two new productions: action thriller Desperate Measures (4 x 60”) and The Winter Child (4 x 60”), also from Clapperboard.