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ITV Drops First Trailer For David Tennant's Necrophiliac Serial Killer Series 'Des'

Ciara Sheppard

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ITV Drops First Trailer For David Tennant's Necrophiliac Serial Killer Series 'Des'

Featured Image Credit: ITV

ITV has released the first trailer for its upcoming drama, Des, based on serial killer Dennis Nilsen.

Starring David Tennant as the sadistic killer, Des is told through the prism of three men: detective Peter Jay (played by Daniel Mays) who arrested the killer, biographer Brian Masters (Jason Watkins) and Nilsen himself (Tennant).

It's set to be a chilling watch, and now, the first trailer for the three-part drama is giving viewers a taster of what's to come.

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In it, we see the Doctor Who actor in character as the murderer - often referred to as the 'kindly killer' for his calm nature and honesty when being interviewed.

Nilsen murdered up to 16 boys and men in his North London flat between 1978 and 1983. His victims were often homeless or living off grid, susceptible to the generosity of strangers.

Once back at Nilsen's, he would strangle them - sometimes combined with drowning - before observing a ritual in which he would bathe and dress the victim's bodies, which he would keep for long periods of time.

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David Tennant is taking on the role of the sadistic serial killer (Credit: London Met Police/ITV)
David Tennant is taking on the role of the sadistic serial killer (Credit: London Met Police/ITV)

Sick Nilsen would also perform sex acts on the bodies, before dissecting them and disposing of the parts by burning them on a bonfire or flushing them down the toilet.

When Nilsen had been caught, he told police where the body parts were being kept and said: "It's a long story; it goes back a long time. I'll tell you everything. I want to get it off my chest. Not here - at the police station".

Once in the police car, Nilsen was asked if the remains belonged to one or two bodies.

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In the new trailer, Tennant speaks his disturbing answer: "Fifteen or sixteen."

The 'Doctor Who' actor acts out the chilling moment Nilsen told police how many people he'd killed while being detained in a police car (Credit: ITV)
The 'Doctor Who' actor acts out the chilling moment Nilsen told police how many people he'd killed while being detained in a police car (Credit: ITV)

Later in the trailer, we see Tennant's character speaking to detectives at the police station. "This whole thing, it's quite a relief to get it off my chest," he says in chilling breeziness.

Today we also learnt that Des is coming in September, though ITV haven't confirmed the actual release date.

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If the trailer is anything to go off, this is set to be a chilling watch.

Topics: TV and Film, TV Entertainment

Ciara Sheppard
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