Filming has now finished for a new crime drama starring Endeavour star Shaun Evans.

Series nine of the Inspector Morse prequel was the last and the final episode was shown in March, watched by millions of viewers.

In February the actor starting filming for a new true life crime drama and will lead the cast of Delia Balmer, alongside Line of Duty and Motherland star Anna Maxwell Martin.

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The series, which has been in production under the working title Delia Balmer, will explore the real-life story of Delia who survived a near-fatal relationship with murderer John Sweeney.

The four-part series will air on ITV1 and ITX and sees Anna portray the title character and Shaun Evans play John Sweeney, who is currently serving a life sentence for murdering his former girlfriends.

Last month there was filming on location outside Swansea's historic Guildhall.

Mr Evans said: "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."

Oxford Mail: Anna Maxwell Martin

Anna Maxwell Martin added: "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.”

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Janice Troup, head of ITV programme publicity for drama and soaps, said: "Filming has concluded on the drama Delia Balmer.

"We'd anticipate the series airing in 2024 as the World Productions team will now be in post-production."

Based on Delia Balmer’s book, Living with a Serial Killer, Delia Balmer (w/t) is written by Nick Stevens (The Pembrokeshire Murders), and executive produced by multi-award winning World Productions CEO, Simon Heath (Save Me, Line of Duty, Anne) Delia Balmer narrates the ordeal Delia 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. 

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In 1991 Delia leads an itinerant and solitary life in London working as an agency nurse. When she meets fellow free-spirit John Sweeney in a local pub, it seems like the connection she has been searching for. 

But as the relationship develops, Sweeney’s artistic, anti-establishment persona gives way to a darker side,

The series has been commissioned for ITV by Polly Hill and Drama Commissioner, Huw Kennair Jones.

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Mr Kennair Jones said: "Delia Balmer's story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit when facing unimaginable evil. Nick Steven's scripts have brilliantly captured the fortitude of a truly remarkable woman and her journey to achieving justice and the obstacles she had to overcome. 

"We're thrilled to be working with Nick, Simon Heath and World Productions again, the team behind The Pembrokeshire Murders to bring this extraordinary story to the ITV1 and ITVX audience.”

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About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

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