A ‘stunning’ ITV legend is returning to screens and fans can’t contain their excitement

ITV’s brand new drama Until I Kill You promised viewers plenty of thrills, but fans weren’t expecting the thrills they got within minutes of the first episode.

The four-part series, which premiered on Sunday night, November 3, stars Anna Maxwell-Martin, Amanda Wilkin and Sally Harmsen.

It tells the true story of Delia Bulmer (played by Anna), an agency nurse who one day met a mysterious man named John Sweeney and began a dangerous affair with him.

Set in the 1990s, the series sees Delia left fighting for her safety after John’s sinister intentions and true nature are gradually revealed to her.

But it was the actor who plays John Sweeney who stole the show on Sunday night when British TV legend Shaun Evans appeared to take everyone by surprise.

@AlsWifeJacky said on X: “I will resist the urge to binge watch this. Brilliant acting by Anna Maxwell-Martin and Sean Evans, it’s scary to think this is a real story. There are women who live through this nightmare every day.”

Meanwhile, @Firefly070 commented: “Shaun Evans is an amazing actor…” Anna Maxwell Martin is great at this too.”

@Irimtated was intrigued by Sean’s performance: “Oh, is that Sean Evans our creepy guy?” And with your original Scouse accent? Bring it.

Also while watching @PoppyBlew said: “Shaun Evans? That’s enough for me,” and @WhitePele10 simply said, “You had me in Sean Evans.”

Sean, 44, has appeared in several ITV, BBC and Channel 4 dramas over the years, including Endeavor, which was a prequel to long-running series Inspector Morse.

He made his big breakthrough on television by starring in the drama series Teachers, in which he played regular John Paul Keating in 10 episodes back in 2002.

Sean then moved to the BBC, where he starred in The Virgin Queen, Ashes to Ashes, Silk and the police procedural Vigil, which began in 2021.

He will also star in ITV’s recent spy series Betrayal, which is described as an “emotionally intelligent, gripping and darkly funny thriller.”

Until I Kill You is based on the memoir of the same name written by Delia Bulmer, who grew up in Canada and moved to London to become a registered nurse.

In 1991, she met John Sweeney in a Camden pub and the pair began a relationship. However, John soon became distant (both figuratively and literally) for long periods of time, and Delia’s family expressed dislike for him.

Over the three years of their relationship, John began to exhibit controlling and abusive behavior, criticizing Delia’s appearance and making rude remarks about how she spent her free time.

The memoir then reveals that John’s behavior escalated and became aggressive – he held her at gunpoint and knife point on more than one occasion and kept her locked in the apartment as a prisoner.

In December 1994, she came home to find him waiting for her with an ax and a rusty knife – he attacked her, cutting off her left little finger and leaving severe scars on her torso and legs.

By the time the police arrived, John was on the run and evaded arrest for another seven years. He was eventually caught and convicted not only of the attacks on Delia, but also for the murders of two other women.

Delia published Until I Kill You through Penguin Books in November 2024, while John was serving multiple life sentences behind bars.

Watch Until I Kill You on ITVX.

Have a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us at [email protected], calling 020 3615 2145 or visiting our Submit Stuff page – we will be happy to inform you about this. love hearing from you.

MORE: Joel’s Coronation Street star Calum Lill lands new role in another iconic ITV show

MORE: Good Morning Britain presenter forced to ‘sit out’ interview due to backlash

MORE: How a Dry Cleaning Receipt Caught a 1940s Serial Killer