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Content warning: This article contains discussions of sexual assault.
ITV is set to air a gripping new four-part drama called Believe Me, telling the story of women who survived one of Britain’s most notorious sex offenders.
From I Fought the Law to The Long Shadow, the channel has long been praised for bringing true stories to the screen, tackling difficult subjects that are important to be told, and raising awareness of issues that affect real people. Believe Me continues that tradition, shining a light on resilience, courage and the fight for justice.
What is the true Story behind Believe Me?
Believe Me is inspired by the real-life case of John Worboys, the man the media called the ‘black cab rapist’. Rather than centring on the attacker, the drama focuses on the experiences of the women he targeted and their fight for justice.
The series highlights the ordeal of two women who reported sexual assaults by Worboys and the way their claims were initially dismissed by the Metropolitan Police, leaving them feeling unheard and disbelieved. This failure allowed Worboys to continue offending for many years, and after his trial, it became clear he was linked to allegations of further sexual offences against over a hundred women.
The new drama also follows the women’s legal battle alongside their solicitor Harriet Wistrich and Phillippa Kaufmann QC, suing the Metropolitan Police under the Human Rights Act for failing to properly investigate their allegations. It explores how this prolonged process added to their distress, and the determination it took to have their voices heard.
Even after Worboys’ conviction, the story shows how the survivors had to face the ongoing uncertainty of his first parole hearing, highlighting the extraordinary resilience of those who fought to ensure he remained behind bars.
By telling this story, Believe Me not only recounts events but also raises awareness of the ongoing impact of sexual violence and the importance of believing survivors.
One of the victims, Carrie Johnson (formerly Symonds), waived her anonymity to speak about her experience.
Working with ITV on the drama, she said: “I hope Believe Me serves as a wake-up call to the police, the CPS and the parole board. Far too often, women and girls are failed by the very institutions meant to protect them.
“The treatment of the victims in this case was truly shameful. Reform matters, but what we urgently need above all is a profound shift in culture.
“It takes enormous courage for women to come forward. They must know that when they do, they will be treated seriously and with respect, and that every effort will be made to ensure justice is done.”
Who's in the cast of Believe Me?
The drama stars Aimée-Ffion Edwards (Peaky Blinders, Slow Horses, The Revenge Club), Miriam Petche (Industry, The Worst Witch, Vexed) and Aasiya Shah (Raised by Wolves, Bloods, Unforgotten) as the three women whose lives were changed by the attacks.
Daniel Mays (Line of Duty, Des, The Long Shadow) takes on the role of John Worboys.
Speaking of the challenging role, Daniel said: "When I got these scripts, it absolutely terrified me, because I'm a father myself.
"My head immediately went to my 13-year-old daughter Dixie. She's venturing out, going on trains, and before long, no doubt she'll be in the back of a taxi. So as a father, I found it an incredibly disturbing and terrifying read.
He planned to "humanise" the character after a "tirade" from his family and colleagues asking him “Why would you want to play something like that?”.
The cast also includes Alexa Davies (White House Farm, Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again) as PC Ellis, Laurie Kynaston (Fool Me Once, Cradle to Grave) as Frankie Peacock, Muhannad Ben Amor (Andor) as Billy Houghton, Kae Alexander (Fleabag, Collateral) as Sadie and Maddie Evans (Inside Number Nine, House of Dragon) as Lizzie.
The series is written by award-winning screenwriter Jeff Pope MBE and directed by Julia Ford, with Catrin Lewis Defis producing.
Believe Me will air on ITV at 9pm on the 10th May. All four episodes will be available to stream on ITVX.
Arabella Horspool is a Commercial Content Writer for Yours at Bauer Media. A devoted bookworm and TV fan, she’s always immersed in the latest shows or catching the newest films and theatre productions. When she’s not writing, Arabella enjoys cooking and exploring the outdoors with her dog.