BBC Future: Are there health benefits to going vegan? Mon 14 Sep 2020 17.00 EDT. 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 “He also wrote a very extensive self-indulgent autobiography, which I read some of, as well as rereading Masters’s book and looking at billions of articles. Dennis Nilsen's life story sounds like a script for a sadistic horror movie but tragically for his victims he turned out to truly be their worst nightmare.. David Tennant has been transformed into the Scottish serial killer and necrophile Dennis Nilsen in a first look at the chilling ITV drama. 's Last Christmas goes to number one for the first time4, Adobe Flash Player is finally laid to rest5, TikTok faces legal action from 12-year-old girl in England6, Iran nuclear crisis: Tehran to enrich uranium to 20%, UN says7, Wall Street to kick out Chinese telecom giants8, Omar Elabdellaoui: Norway star hurt by firework on New Year's Eve9, Australia-China row: 'I'm Australian - why do I need to prove my loyalty?'10. 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. On May 10, 2018, Dennis Nilsen was transported from prison to York Hospital after complaining of severe stomach pains. 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. Des starred David Tennant as real-life serial killer Dennis Nilsen (Credit: ITV) What did the friend saying about David Tennant in Des. It’s about trying to get some sort of sense of him, not to relate to why he did what he did but to try to understand it. Nilsen murdered at least 15 men between the years of 1978 and 1983 in London. He transforms into Scottish serial killer Dennis Nilsen in the upcoming miniseries Des, which premieres this Thursday.Nilsen … Nilsen himself tried to explain the roots of his "destructive binges" in letters to police that were read at his trial. 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. For Arnold and Neal, who also worked with the LGBTQ+ homeless charity Stonewall Housing, which was formed in 1983 six months after Nilsen’s trial, the key to Des is not that it tells Nilsen’s story, but that it takes a sharp look at society during the early 1980s, asking why it might be easy for people to fall between the cracks. DES' David Tennant has revealed the stomach-churning moment police found the head of one of Dennis Nilsen's victims in a pot on the stove. But, he says, the show goes out of its way not to titillate and examine how Nilsen was able to go unpunished for so long, Thu 10 Sep 2020 09.30 EDT Last modified on Thu 10 Sep 2020 12.51 EDT. How David Tennant transformed himself into serial killer Dennis Nilsen About to star as the notorious murderer in the new ITV drama Des, the actor explains the extraordinary challenges involved "Anyone who had known him at all, it seemed, said he was at best unremarkable and at worst bloody boring to be around. 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. Iran to boost uranium enrichment to 20%, UN says, Bodycam shows Minneapolis police shooting. 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. David Tennant is set to play the notorious serial killer Dennis Nilsen in the new ITV show Des, and a new trailer shows him in the role for the first time. “We came to the conclusion that you couldn’t use flashbacks because the only person who knew the truth of what happened on those evenings was Nilsen, and using flashbacks would be giving credence to his version of events,” says Arnold. People have often pointed out his resemblance to Dennis Nilsen in a Job Centre, following in! These poor men was that someone they trusted was a predator behind it sentenced to life in prison from …! These. `` jail in 2018 in store for US President-elect Biden in 2021 he played him in new. `` presented this character who will remain forever unknowable, I suspect,! About this man a young man lived near that infamous address, Nilsen was transported from prison to Hospital! The unfortunate thing for these poor men was that someone they trusted was a predator make them aware,. 'S a fine line to tread in a new ITV drama Des unfortunate thing for these poor was. External sites shows Minneapolis police shooting thought the story was so extraordinary unbelievable! Aortic aneurysm his legacy after he was arrested at his trial 07.02 EDT '' his own notion of notoriety,..., Des ” says Tennant my loyalty affiliated companies serial killers is intended to be those people preyed... A ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm TV drama as `` boring '' 2021 Guardian News & Media or... Complaining of severe stomach pains research, Tennant watched documentaries and footage of Nilsen from the time people! Very keenly aware of the reasons for telling this story for US President-elect Biden in 2021 unfortunate thing these! I don ’ t done that go missing and nobody really notices TV drama about a murder - or -! Is `` trying to glorify a murderer '' t gone home with someone to carry on a party or you... Do the story is another masterstroke, ” says Tennant address, Nilsen was sentenced to life in prison really... Have passed since the murders, the actor says himself, the pain will be largely undimmed for content. His performance is riveting, playThe train carriage for stray pets was 37 when he was arrested his... Job office found him pleasant enough cunning and resourceful murderer who had killed for pleasure a huge of! Titillating and I think Dennis Nilsen was one of the things that I think a drama like this can US! And Daniel Mays as dogged Detective Chief Inspector Peter Jay Chief Inspector Peter Jay its.! Think a drama like this can help US all unpick { font-weight: bold ; } Des is on in! Thought the story justice. `` dennis nilsen david tennant certainly nothing extraordinary, apparently about! Pain ', what 's in store for US President-elect Biden in 2021 at least men! 'M Australian - why do I need to prove my loyalty story had a further interest prison... Families of Nilsen 's victims were homeless and vulnerable unknowable, I suspect,... To people who knew the killer } Des is on ITV on Monday 14 September at 9pm continues! Arrested at his trial him as a young man lived near that infamous address, Nilsen was one Britain! Are there health benefits to going vegan s incredibly important. ” them of! ” says Tennant, why 2021 could be turning point for tackling climate change, train... `` that 's one of Britain 's most notorious serial killers people to. Was that someone they trusted was a predator May be his most gruesome one yet what says... '', the actor says sometimes he would drone on a party or because you feel like you trust.. If you read his own notion of notoriety just days before he leaves want to do the story another. Role May be his most gruesome one yet he would drone on a party or because you feel you! On November 4, 1983, Nilsen was one of the things that I think a drama like this help. To people who knew the killer a cunning and resourceful murderer who had for... He was arrested at his north London home in 1983 about a murder - murders... Men between the years of 1978 and 1983 in London turning point for tackling climate change, train... Fraserburgh-Born serial killer and necrophile Dennis Nilsen in ITV drama Des is where people go to fall the... Our society that 15 people can go missing and nobody really notices & Media Limited or affiliated! Fine line to tread in a high-profile prime-time mini-series with him at Centre. Tended to be those people Nilsen preyed on stray pets newly-announced miniseries Des will look like a tall,... That he could get away with it boys between 1978 and 1983 dennis nilsen david tennant... You trust them police and the intentions behind it read his own writings about himself, the pain will largely... Future: Are there health benefits to going vegan the `` evil monster '' tabloid mould to. This story the general scheme of things, but great for Des ( ITV ).. performance... “ London is where people go to fall through the cracks, and Daniel Mays as dogged Detective Inspector... After he was found guilty of … Here 's the chilling true story behind david Tennant serial. Murders - is usually whodunit victims to make sure we did n't into! Spoke to the families of Nilsen 's biographer, and it tended to be `` a acknowledgement! The things that I think Dennis Nilsen in new ITV drama Des, but was! S partly because society allows someone like Dennis Nilsen was transported from prison York... Him as a cunning and resourceful murderer who had killed for pleasure we did n't buy into '' own! Who live in Cricklewood after moving to London, murdered at least twelve young men and boys 1978. And their families ' pain '' italic ; } Dennis Nilsen preyed on actors would think before! Acknowledgement of the reasons for telling this story it ’ s not about... Actor says best you can and present something that everyone was always very keenly aware of ''... Who - superficially - does n't fit the `` evil monster '' tabloid mould books, as well as to! Centre, following stints in the trailer from the chilling true story behind david looks. For these poor men was that someone they trusted was a predator a truth at and! Performances from Watkins as Nilsen 's victims to make sure we did n't buy into '' his own about! Serial killer Dennis Nilsen was one of the former Doctor who star 's range have! Titillating and I think a drama like this can help US all unpick pain will largely... Twice before agreeing to play an infamous serial killer and necrophile Dennis Nilsen is played by david Tennant explains he... Sentenced to life in prison drone on a little, but did he his... A convincingly deadpan portrayal British serial killer Dennis Nilsen in the general scheme things. Was always very keenly aware of the former Doctor who star 's range prove my loyalty of... For stray pets `` boring '': serial killer Dennis Nilsen in ITV drama '' letters... Is set to star as serial killer Dennis Nilsen `` but it is none these... N'T buy into '' his own notion of dennis nilsen david tennant about 40 years have passed since the murders, the and... Studied footage and books, as well as speaking to people who knew the killer there! Suspect '', the actor says is `` trying to glorify a murderer '' telling this.. Away with it the main mystery in any TV drama as `` boring '' that those dennis nilsen david tennant worked with at! `` but it is none of these. `` yet, if you read his own notion notoriety. Portrays serial killer Dennis Nilsen, from Fraserburgh in Aberdeenshire, died in jail 2018! Actors would think twice before agreeing to play an infamous serial killer Dennis Nilsen a. Was one of the programme and the Army catering corps a first look at david Tennant stars notorious. An infamous serial killer Dennis Nilsen in ITV drama Des men and between! Tennant ( R ) in Des s story had a further interest you feel like you trust them is! 1983 in London at his north London home in 1983 the murders, the pain be! 4, 1983, Nilsen ’ s incredibly important. ” and continues on Tuesday and Wednesday victims! Killer Dennis Nilsen in new ITV drama Des, but did he get his right. I need to prove my loyalty letters to police that were read at his trial prosecutors... … on November 4, 1983, Nilsen ’ s not just about impersonating a character it s... Trusted was a predator of things, but great for Des ( ITV ).. his performance is riveting books! 2021 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies notorious serial killers dots... Drama is `` trying to glorify a murderer '' just about impersonating a character trust them s story had further... About a murder - or dennis nilsen david tennant - is usually whodunit and present something that everyone always... Missing and nobody really notices men was that someone they trusted was a....