''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 Joanne Froggatt (born 23 August 1980) is a British actress. From 2010 to 2015, she portrayed Anna Bates in the ITV period drama series ''Downton Abbey''. For this role, she received three Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a ...

as protagonist

Mary Ann Cotton Mary Ann Cotton (' Robson; 31 October 1832 – 24 March 1873) was an English convicted murderer who was executed for poisoning her stepson. Despite her sole conviction for murder, she is believed to have been a serial killer who killed many ...

, 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. The series was produced by

World Productions World Productions is a British television production company, founded on 20 March 1990 by acclaimed producer Tony Garnett, and owned by ITV plc following a takeover in 2017. History The company's first major series was the police drama '' Betwe ...

and distributed by Endemol Shine. The series co-starred

Alun Armstrong Alan Armstrong, known professionally as Alun Armstrong, is an English actor. He grew up in County Durham in North East England, and first became interested in acting through Shakespeare productions at his grammar school. Since his career began ...

as Mary Ann's step-father, George Stott, and

Jonas Armstrong William Jonas Armstrong is an Irish actor known for playing the title role in the BBC One drama series ''Robin Hood''. Career In 2003, Armstrong appeared in ''Quartermaine's Terms'' at the Royal Theatre in Northampton as Derek Meadle. In 2004 ...

as her main love interest, Joe Nattrass. Penny Layden, Laura Morgan, Sam Hoare, and

Emma Fielding Emma Georgina Annalies Fielding (born 07 October 1964 in Catterick, North Riding of Yorkshire) is an English actress. Biography The daughter of a British Army officer, Colonel Johnny Fielding, and Sheila Fielding, she was raised Catholic and ...

also took starring roles in the two-part drama.

Production

In July 2015, production and filming began on ''Dark Angel'', starring

of ''

Downton Abbey ''Downton Abbey'' is a British historical drama television series set in the early 20th century, created and co-written by Julian Fellowes. The series first aired in the United Kingdom on ITV on 26 September 2010 and in the United States o ...

'' as

and

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

, serial killer *

as George Stott, Mary Ann's stepfather * Penny Layden as Margaret Stott, Mary Ann's mother * Laura Morgan as Maggie Cotton, Mary Ann's best friend *

as Joe Nattrass, Mary Ann's secret lover and later, fifth partner * Sam Hoare as James Robinson, Mary Ann's third husband *

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 Joanna Horton is an English actress, notable for her stage and television work, including an episode of ''Robin Hood'' (series 1 episode 4), ''Father Brown'', '' Spooks'' and ''Foyle's War''. In 2009, Horton played Hannah in ''Days of Significanc ...

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 Shaun Prendergast (born 1958) is an English actor and writer. Career He was born in North Shields and holds a BA Hons from Bretton Hall College. He was an actor and playwright in residence for Northumberland Theatre Company before joining the ...

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 as Mr. Draper * Paul Bentall as the Seaham Minister * Mike Burnside as the Sunderland Doctor *

Michael Culkin Michael Culkin (born 2 July 1954) is an English theatre, film, and television actor probably best known for his role as Judge Buller in the BBC drama ''Garrow's Law''. He appeared as Rab Butler in the first two seasons of ''The Crown'', in '' ...

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