''Dark Angel'' is a British two-part television drama miniseries, based on the adaptation of the book ''Mary Ann Cotton: Britain's First Female Serial Killer'' by David Wilson. The series was broadcast on 31 October and 7 November 2016, and starred Joanne Froggatt as protagonist Mary Ann Cotton, widely regarded as Britain's first known female serial killer, who was found guilty of murder in March 1873 for the murder of three of her husbands, allegedly in order to collect on their

insurance policies In insurance, the insurance policy is a contract (generally a standard form contract) between the insurer and the policyholder, which determines the claims which the insurer is legally required to pay. In exchange for an initial payment, known as ...

. The series was produced by World Productions and distributed by

Endemol Shine Endemol Shine Group B.V. (stylized in all spaceless) was a Dutch production and distribution company of scripted and non-scripted content, responsible for programmes such as '' Big Brother'', ''Deal or No Deal'', '' The Money Drop'', '' Fear Fa ...

. The series co-starred Alun Armstrong as Mary Ann's step-father, George Stott, and Jonas Armstrong as her main love interest, Joe Nattrass.

Penny Layden Penny Layden (born 1969) is a British actress and narrator. She has performed at the National Theatre, with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Old Vic Theatre, with Shared Experience and the Royal Exchange Theatre. Her television credits includ ...

, Laura Morgan, Sam Hoare, and Emma Fielding also took starring roles in the two-part drama.

Production

In July 2015, production and filming began on ''Dark Angel'', starring Joanne Froggatt of '' Downton Abbey'' as Mary Ann Cotton. Alun Armstrong, Jonas Armstrong and Emma Fielding also had roles in the series. Inspired by the book ''Mary Ann Cotton: Britain's First Female Serial Killer'', the drama used writer David Wilson as a consultant during the script-writing stage. The drama is the seventh in a series of ITV mini-series featuring notorious British murder cases of the past two centuries, following on from '' This Is Personal: The Hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper'' (2000), '' Shipman'' (2002), ''

A Is for Acid ''A Is for Acid'' is a 2002 British television film based on the life of the serial killer John George Haigh, known as the Acid Bath Murderer, because he dissolved the bodies of six people in sulphuric acid. Haigh, hanged in 1949 for his crimes, ...

'' (2002), ''

The Brides in the Bath ''The Brides in the Bath'' is a 2003 television film by Yorkshire Television for ITV, based on the life and trial of British serial killer and bigamist George Joseph Smith, the "Brides in the Bath Murderer". Martin Kemp plays the role of Smith ...

'' (2003), '' See No Evil: The Moors Murders'' (2006), and ''

Appropriate Adult In English law, an appropriate adult is a parent, guardian or social worker; or if no person matching this is available, any responsible person over 18. The term was introduced as part of the policing reforms in the Police and Criminal Evidence ...

'' (2011). It was followed by an eighth ITV mini-series entitled '' White House Farm'' and a ninth entitled ''

Des Des is a masculine given name, mostly a short form (hypocorism) of Desmond. People named Des include: People * Des Buckingham, English football manager * Des Corcoran, (1928–2004), Australian politician * Des Dillon (disambiguation), sever ...

'' (both 2020).

Cast

* Joanne Froggatt as Mary Ann Cotton, serial killer * Alun Armstrong as George Stott, Mary Ann's stepfather *

as Margaret Stott, Mary Ann's mother * Laura Morgan as Maggie Cotton, Mary Ann's best friend * Jonas Armstrong as Joe Nattrass, Mary Ann's secret lover and later, fifth partner * Sam Hoare as James Robinson, Mary Ann's third husband * Emma Fielding as Helen Robinson, James's sister * John Hollingworth as Dr. John Maling, district GP

Recurring characters

Tom Varey Tom Varey is a British actor. He is known for his roles in '' Pond Life'', ''No Offence'' and '' Ridley Road''. Early life Varey grew up in Mossley, Greater Manchester. He studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art for three years from 2011 ...

as Billy Mowbray, Mary Ann's first husband * Thomas Howes as George Ward, Mary Ann's second husband * Isla McMonigle as Isabella Mowbray, Mary Ann and Billy's daughter * Hayley Walters as Elizabeth Robinson, James' daughter * Alexander McMonigle as James Robinson, Jr., James' son * George Kent as William Robinson, James' son * John Bowler as Mr. Johnson, life insurance agent * Ferdy Roberts as John Quick-Manning, Mary Ann's final love interest * Phil Cheadle as Dr. Kilburn, district GP * Joanna Horton as Sarah Edwards, Mary Ann's neighbour * Mark Holgate as William Edwards, Sarah's husband * Mark Underwood as Fred Cotton, Maggie's brother and Mary Ann's fourth husband * Jake Lawson as Charlie Cotton, Fred's son * Seamus O'Neil as William Calcraft, hangman

Minor characters

* Laura-Jane Matthewson as Jane Headley * Jacob Anderton as Issac Headley * Jamie B. Chambers as Robert Evans * Shaun Prendergast as Sergeant Hutchinson, local policeman * George Potts as Mr. Wensolom, an insurance agent * Paul Brennen as Mr. Riley, a local grocer and chemist * Edward Gower as Mr. Stranger, a vicar * Bill Fellows as Mr. Brownlee *

Niall Ashdown Niall Ashdown is an English comedian, actor, improvisor and writer. He has previously improvised in such television shows as Lifegame, Animo, Improbable Tales at the Nottingham Playhouse, Impropera and with the Comedy Store Players. He has wr ...

as Mr. Draper * Paul Bentall as the Seaham Minister * Mike Burnside as the Sunderland Doctor * Michael Culkin as the Sunderland Vicar * Nigel Cooke as the Sunderland Minister

References

External links

* {{Use dmy dates, date=November 2016 2010s British crime drama television series 2010s British television miniseries 2016 British television series debuts 2016 British television series endings British serial killer films English-language television shows ITV television dramas Television series by ITV Studios Television series by World Productions Television series set in the 1850s Television series set in the 1860s Television series set in the 1870s Television shows set in Tyne and Wear True crime television series Cultural depictions of female serial killers Cultural depictions of British women