World Productions’ true-crime drama to film in Wales
Filming begins in Wales next week (20 February) on Delia Balmer (w/t), a drama based on the true story of Delia Balmer, who survived a near-fatal relationship with murderer John Sweeney. Anna Maxwell Martin and Shaun Evans star.
The four-part series is from writer Nick Stevens and World Productions, and is produced by Ken Horn.
It is based on Delia Balmer’s book, Living with a Serial Killer, in which Balmer narrates the ordeal she suffered at the hands of John Sweeney, and her traumatic journey through the police and criminal justice system as they attempt to prosecute him for his crimes. Simon Heath executive produces.
The production has received support from the Welsh Government via Creative Wales.
Maxwell Martin said: “Telling an important story with the excellent team from World Productions, producer Ken Horn, director Julia Ford and a brilliant cast is always an exciting proposition! As it is brought to life by Nick Stevens, hopefully we will do Delia due diligence.”
Evans added: "I've previously worked with World Productions and ITV separately, so I'm looking forward to joining forces to tell this story. A story that is quite rightly told through the victim's lens, Delia. We have an excellent script from Nick Stevens and I couldn't be more delighted to work with Anna."
Writer Stevens expanded: “A few months after reading Living with a Serial Killer, I had my first meeting with Delia Balmer. She was unlike anybody I'd ever met before. Still suffering from PTSD ten-plus years after John Sweeney’s conviction, Delia is, though she would never admit it, a hero.
“A survivor whose determination to pursue the good in life – to dance, to travel, to live - is ultimately greater than her demons. I am hugely grateful to Delia, and the police who worked with her to finally secure Sweeney’s conviction, for enabling us to tell Delia’s incredible story.”
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