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]
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]
The series won the best television drama series and best costume awards at the BAFTA Cymru Awards in October 2024.[11]
