Des, ITV tonight, tomorrow and concludes Thursday.

The acting from Tennant was astonishing - I watched the follow-up documentary and there were films of Nilsen speaking - Tennant had got him off to a T.

Was he mad or bad? Who knows? Presumably he was a psychopath - he fulfils the criteria. Nobody seems to know what causes this in spite of much research.

I am not sure what the law is now, but I remember being shocked as a student to learn that psychopaths could not be sectioned under the mental health act (because psychopathy is not a treatable mental illness) and the only way to get them off the streets was if they were convicted of a crime. I am not sure what the law is now.

Ironic that Peter Jay died just a short while before Nilsen, would have seemed fitting to have outlived him.

I thought it was very well made and acted and unusually for me I ended up in tears at all those lost young lives .David tennant was excellent as Nilsen ,the likeness was chilling .

Laurenorder It would need a more intelligent person that’s me to sort that one out ...he was clever and knew what he was doing but seemingly had no control over his reactions and yet seemed controlled in other ways
He was a complex character changing from caring to killing and back again Where does the line lie between bad and mad and can’t you be both ? I think he got the sentence he deserved but can someone with complete sanity cut and boil up body parts?
Complex man he didn’t have any hatred or reason to kill but to keep a body for months in your house is not the actions of a sane man surely In the documentary it made more of the fact that he had been very lonely as a child and couldn’t bear people to leave him so would kill to keep them His first homosexual partner did leave him and it seemed to stem from there
I don’t know where the line between sanity and insanity lies
It would have been good to do forensics on his brain after he died I watched a programme once where they looked at brains of killers and there was often a piece of the brain ( I can’t remember what part, that was over or under stimulated but definitely different anyway)
Interesting subject

I read the book when it first came out and thought this drama was excellent. David Tenant was brilliant, just oozed 'evil'.

I hadn't realised Brian Masters continued to visit Nilsen for a further 10 years and wonder if Mr. J.'s decision to leave the police 2 years after the conviction was due to the affect the case had on him.

Completely and utterly evil, not mad

Mad or bad? Hard to say, he was evil but can we call anyone that evil a sane man?
What do you think BlueBelle?

So what does everyone think MAD or BAD ?

I'm with you, Bluebelle

I've just said to my husband I'm getting a bit bored of it, He gave me a look of disdain so I assume he is still gripped.

Maybe 90 minutes would have sufficed

Having recently watched the documentary on Dennis neilson I m finding it a bit boring I think that’s just an overload thing and not the actual drama I think they shouldn’t have put both on in the same week
I much preferred the documentary but if I hadn’t have seen that so recently I would have enjoyed the drama I think

Psychology!

Agree with other posters, this is focussed on police procedures and the pschology, nothing gruesome depicted on screen at all.

I would highly recommend this.

There was also a very interesting article in Saturday's Telegraph magazine that includes an interview with Brian Masters, the author who interviewed Nilsen many times.

I also think it is brilliant and deals more with the police procedures than the murders, thankfully.

I will admit being distracted though by Jason Watkins having brown hair and blonde eyebrows! You'd think the make-up department would have been on to that too

Netflix has spoiled my viewing, as I don’t like waiting for the next episode!
I, too, really enjoyed this, and agree that David Tennant was superb.

In 1983 I lived near there and passed Willesden Green police station frequently.

I am really looking forward to this night's episode. He is so matter of fact it is frightening.

I have recorded the first episode and haven’t seen it yet. I thought I’d try one as wasn’t sure I’d like it and record on catch up if I did. Was worried it would be really dark and I watch on my own

It was very good and I shall follow it each evening though I wonder what these dramas must be like for the families of the victims. It's not so long ago that they've all passed away and it must be doubly upsetting that their experiences are turned into entertainment.

Gripping!

How so true to life David Tennant comes across in this grim drama and such a sad story line for the families concerned.

David Tennant rarely fails to deliver.

Chilling performance from Tennant because it was so matter of fact. I read that he spent quite a lot of time researching the story.
Must have been horrible for others living locally wondering what was in the drains.

DH worked at this Police Station in the 80’s, so we were really interested to watch Des.

It struck me that although 1983 is relatively recent, the police were faced with a massively difficult task without the benefit of CCTV cameras and with DNA testing in its infancy.

And having to study fingerprints and photos individually to get a match, instead of the computer doing it in seconds. Another world. I remember hearing that floors had to be reinforced because of the weight of paper statements in the Yorkshire Ripper enquiry.

Debated whether to watch it, but found it better than expected.
Cannot agree that everything David Tennant is in is marvellous, what about that drivel that was on last year, when he played a GP who killed his wife and family?
It was dire, can’t recall the title, but most GN’ers agreed.

David Tennant, Jason Watkins and Daniel Mays - what a treat. As PPs have said, subject matter is grim, but thankfully we're not shown gruesome sights.

It struck me that although 1983 is relatively recent, the police were faced with a massively difficult task without the benefit of CCTV cameras and with DNA testing in its infancy.