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*Steeltown Murders*
Steeltown Murders
Genre	Factual drama
Based on	Murders of Joseph Kappen
Written by	Ed Whitmore
Directed by	Marc Evans
Starring	Philip Glenister; Steffan Rhodri;
Theme music composer	Sarah Warne
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language	English
No. of series	1
No. of episodes	4
Production
Executive producers	Ed Talfan; Jon Hill; Ed Whitmore; Helen Perry; Rebecca Ferguson;
Producer	Hannah Thomas
Cinematography	Sam Thomas
Editor	Tim Hodges
Production companies	Severn Screen; All3Media International;
Original release
Network	BBC One
Release	15 May –; 5 June 2023

Steeltown Murders is a four-part factual drama television miniseries written by Ed Whitmore and directed by Marc Evans. It was produced for the BBC by Severn Screen based in Wales and aired on BBC One. It stars Philip Glenister and Steffan Rhodri as detectives investigating the real-life murders committed by Joseph Kappen in Port Talbot in South Wales. It premiered on 15 May 2023 on BBC One, with all episodes immediately available on BBC iPlayer.

Synopsis

Twenty-first century technological advances help detectives with a cold murder case from 1973. Geraldine Hughes and Pauline Floyd both left the Top Rank nightclub in Swansea without ever making it home. Their bodies were discovered later in Llandarcy. Dubbed the case of the “Saturday Night Strangler”, it became the first documented case of a serial killer in Wales. Joseph Kappen was the real-life perpetrator.^[1] As of 1 October 2024, Port Talbot no longer produces steel.^[2]

Cast

Philip Glenister as DCI Paul Bethell
- Scott Arthur as young DC Paul Bethell
Steffan Rhodri as DC Phil ‘Bach’ Rees
- Siôn Alun Davies as young DC Bach Rees
Keith Allen as Dai Williams
- Rhys Rusbatch as young Dai Williams
Sharon Morgan as Pat Williams
Karen Paullada as DSI Jackie Roberts
Richard Harrington as Dr Colin Dark
Nia Roberts as Karina Bethell
- Elinor Crawley as young Karina Bethell
Priyanga Burford as Sita Anwar
- Natasha Vasandani as young Sita Anwar
Kriss Dosanjh as Rohan Anwar
Calista Davies as Geraldine Hughes
Jade Croot as Pauline Floyd
Steve Nicolson as DI Tony Warren
Oliver Ryan as DCS Ray Allen
Richard Corgan as DS Chris Wynne
Rhodri Miles as John Dilwyn Morgan
- Ben McGregor as young John Dilwyn Morgan
Caroline Berry as Mrs Morgan
- Rosie Sheehy as young Mrs Morgan
William Thomas as Denver Hughes
- Gruffudd Glyn as young Denver Hughes
Mair Rowlands as Jean Hughes
- Amy Morgan as young Jean Hughes
Walter van Dyk as Mr Croiset
Matthew Gravelle as Seb
Mia Khan as Maya
Richard Elfyn as DS Vic Jenkins
- Dyfan Dwyfor as young DS Vic Jenkins
Gareth John Bale as DC Geraint Bale
Joshua Jenkins as DC Si Owen
Morgan Hopkins as DC Nigel Parke
Rhys ap William as DS Jack Griffiths
Dewi Rhys Williams as ACC Tim Bailey
Phil Howe as DC Elwyn Wheadon
Terema Wainwright as Hodges
Lisa Victoria as Jane Marchant
Wyn Bowen Harries as Walter Watkins
Nicholas McGaughey as Thomas Willoughby
Matthew Aubrey as Phil Blunt
Maxine Evans as Jan Stiles
Maria Pride as Christine Kappen
- Remy Beasley as young Christine Kappen
Aneurin Barnard as Joseph Kappen
Francine Morgan as Suzie
Phylip Harries as Tony
Arwyn Davies as Rhys Webber
Amelia Donkor as Sylvia Kambray

Episodes

No.	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	U.K. viewers (millions)
1	"Episode 1"	Marc Evans	Ed Whitmore	15 May 2023 (2023-05-15)^[3]	4.63
2	"Episode 2"	Marc Evans	Ed Whitmore	22 May 2023 (2023-05-22)	4.15
3	"Episode 3"	Marc Evans	Ed Whitmore	29 May 2023 (2023-05-29)	4.47
4	"Episode 4"	Marc Evans	Ed Whitmore	5 June 2023 (2023-06-05)	4.42

Production

The series is written by Ed Whitmore and made by Severn Screen.^[4] The four-part series is directed by Marc Evans with Hannah Thomas as producer in association with All3Media International. The executive producers on the series are Ed Talfan, Jon Hill and Ed Whitmore for Severn Screen with Helen Perry and Rebecca Ferguson for the BBC.^[5]

Filming

Filming began in South Wales in November 2022.^[6] The real life detective Paul Bethell was involved in the production and Philip Glenister said he felt “responsibility” to get the story right for the bereaved family members.^[7]

Broadcast

Steeltown Murders aired in the UK from Monday 15 May 2023 on BBC One, with all episodes becoming immediately available on BBC iPlayer.^[3]

Reception

The series was chosen as “pick of the week” in The Sunday Times on 14 May 2023. Commenting that “the evolution of police work drives the drama, but a careful script keeps sight of the victims and their families”.^[8] Lucy Mangan in The Guardian gave the series four stars, saying that the script "does full justice to the painstaking and never glamorous policework that finally found the Saturday Night Strangler, and the difference integrity makes to a job and to a life".^[9] Rachel Cooke in The New Statesman said she was left “bored and furious”.^[10]