{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox television | image = | genre = | creator = | based_on = {{based on|''Living with a Serial Killer''|Delia Balmer}} | writer = Nick Stevens | screenplay = | story = | director = Julia Ford | starring = Anna Maxwell Martin<br>Shaun Evans | narrator = | theme_music_composer = | music = Carly Paradis | country = United Kingdom | language = English | num_series = 1 | num_episodes = 4 | executive_producer = {{Plainlist| * Simon Heath * Lucy Roch * Nick Stevens }} | producer = Ken Horn | editor = {{Plainlist| * Patrick Hall * Jonathan Lucas }} | cinematography = Sam Thomas | runtime = | company = World Productions | network = ITVX | first_aired = {{Start date|2024|4|7|df=y}} (New Zealand)<br>{{Start date|2024|11|3|df=y}} (United Kingdom) | last_aired = }}
'''''Until I Kill You''''' (working title '''''Delia Balmer''''') is a four-part British true crime miniseries written by Nick Stevens and directed by Julia Ford, based on Delia Balmer's autobiographical book ''Living with a Serial Killer'' (2017). It first aired on TVNZ+ in New Zealand on 7 April 2024, and was also screened on the Canadian channel Hollywood Suite on 18 April 2024 before airing on ITV1/ITVX in the United Kingdom on 3 November 2024.
== Synopsis == The story is based on a true case, and the credits state that original documentation was used to match the script to events as far as possible, while introducing minor characters or changing minor details for dramatic effect.
Delia Balmer was a nurse at the Royal Free Hospital in London. She lived for several years in a relationship with a carpenter called John Sweeney, who later became physically abusive, including hitting and sexually assaulting her in a degrading manner. Later, after she had reported him to police and changed the locks on her doors, and while he was out on bail after being arrested, he attempted to murder her outside her home, leaving her with extensive injuries and close to death after a neighbour had beaten Sweeney off.
The series tells of Balmer's relationship with Sweeney, how chances were missed to protect her and get him convicted, and how Balmer was poorly treated by the system. Eventually Sweeney is tried first for attempted murder, and, seven years later, for the murder of his wife in Amsterdam years before meeting Balmer.
==Cast== * Anna Maxwell Martin as Delia Balmer * Shaun Evans as John Sweeney * Kevin Doyle as David * Jack Franklin as Joshua Wilson * Simon Harrison as Glenn Saunders * Clare Foster as Eloise Chapman * Stephanie Street as Janice Rainsworth * Renu Brindle as Sister Tessa Waller
==Production== Delia Balmer's book, ''Living with a Serial Killer'', was published in 2017.<ref>{{cite book |last=Balmer |first=D. |title=Living With a Serial Killer |publisher=Ebury Publishing |year=2017 |isbn=978-1-4735-5154-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pmnYDQAAQBAJ |access-date=13 January 2025 |page=}}</ref> In February 2023, it was announced that Anna Maxwell Martin and Shaun Evans would star in ''Delia Balmer'' as Balmer and serial killer John Sweeney respectively. The four-part drama, based on Balmer's book, would be penned by Nick Stevens, directed by Julia Ford, and produced by Ken Horn for World Productions.<ref>{{Cite journal |url=https://deadline.com/2023/02/delia-balmer-anna-maxwell-martin-shaun-evans-itv-series-1235259526/|title='Delia Balmer': Anna Maxwell Martin & Shaun Evans Headline ITV True Crime Series From 'The Pembrokeshire Murders' Writer|journal=Deadline|date=15 February 2023 |accessdate=12 April 2024}}</ref>
Balmer's book was republished in November 2024 under the same title as the TV series, ''Until I Kill You''.<ref name=book2024>{{cite book |last=Balmer |first=D. |title=Until I Kill You: The shocking true story of the woman who survived living with serial axe murderer John Sweeney |publisher=Ebury Publishing |year=2024 |isbn=978-1-5299-3397-0 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5J0QEQAAQBAJ |access-date=13 January 2025 |page=}}</ref>
==Episodes== {{Episode table |background=#294F76 |overall= |title= |director= |writer= |airdate= |viewers= |country=U.K. |episodes= {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 1 |Title = Love |DirectedBy = Julia Ford |WrittenBy = Nick Stevens |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2024|4|7}} (New Zealand)<br>{{Start date|2024|4|18}} (Canada)<br>{{Start date|2024|11|3|df=y}} (United Kingdom) |Viewers = |ShortSummary = |LineColor = 294F76 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 2 |Title = Hate |DirectedBy = Julia Ford |WrittenBy = Nick Stevens |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2024|4|14}} (New Zealand)<br>{{Start date|2024|4|25}} (Canada)<br>{{Start date|2024|11|4|df=y}} (United Kingdom) |Viewers = |ShortSummary = |LineColor = 294F76 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 3 |Title = Healing |DirectedBy = Julia Ford |WrittenBy = Nick Stevens |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2024|4|21}} (New Zealand)<br>{{Start date|2024|5|2}} (Canada)<br>{{Start date|2024|11|5|df=y}} (United Kingdom) |Viewers = |ShortSummary = |LineColor = 294F76 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 4 |Title = Justice |DirectedBy = Julia Ford |WrittenBy = Nick Stevens |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2024|4|28}} (New Zealand)<br>{{Start date|2024|5|9}} (Canada)<br>{{Start date|2024|11|6|df=y}} (United Kingdom) |Viewers = |ShortSummary = |LineColor = 294F76 }} }}
==Release== The series was presented under the title ''Until I Kill You'' at the MIPCOM in October 2023 and confirmed to be on ITV's 2024 slate that December.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://deadline.com/2023/10/mipcom-cannes-bargain-the-continental-estonia-until-i-kill-you-drama-hot-ones-1235567805/|title=The Hot Ones — Drama: Korean Survival, British True Crime & Female Action Stars Set For Mipcom|journal=Deadline|date=11 October 2023|accessdate=12 April 2024}}</ref>
''Until I Kill You'' first aired on TVNZ+ in New Zealand on 7 April 2024,{{citation needed|date=January 2025}} and was broadcast in Canada on Hollywood Suite on 18 April 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://tellyvisions.org/article/watch-until-i-kill-you-trailer-shaun-evans-terrifying-john-sweeney|title=Shaun Evans is Terrifying in the 'Until I Kill You' Trailer|website=TellyVisions|first=Ani|last=Bundel|date=4 April 2024|accessdate=12 April 2024}}</ref>
It had its UK premiere on ITV1 and ITVX in the United Kingdom on 3 November 2024.<ref name=ind>{{cite web |last=O'Grady |first=Sean |title=Anna Maxwell Martin captures survivor's anger, rather than guilt, in Until I Kill You |website=The Independent |date=4 November 2024 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/reviews/until-i-kill-you-anna-maxwell-martin-review-b2639762.html |access-date=12 January 2025}}</ref><ref name=hawkins>{{cite web |last=Hawkins |first=Helen |title=superb performances in a frustrating true-crime story |website=The Arts Desk |date=6 November 2024 |url=https://theartsdesk.com/tv/until-i-kill-you-itv1-review-superb-performances-frustrating-true-crime-story |access-date=12 January 2025}}</ref> The series aired on ABC Television on 12 January 2025.<ref>{{cite web | last=Knox | first=David | title=Airdate: Until I Kill You | website=TV Tonight | date=31 December 2024 | url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2024/12/airdate-until-i-kill-you.html | access-date=3 April 2026}}</ref>
==Reception == The series was highly praised by many reviewers, in particular Anna Maxwell Martin's performance,<ref name=ind/><ref name=hawkins/> with Lucy Mangan of ''The Guardian'' giving the series a five-star review.<ref name="z288">{{cite web |last=Mangan |first=Lucy |title=Until I Kill You review – Anna Maxwell Martin delivers the best performance of her career |website=The Guardian |date=3 November 2024 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/nov/03/until-i-kill-you-review-anna-maxwell-martin-itv?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other |access-date=12 January 2025}}</ref>
Review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes has a score of 100% for the series, based on 11 reviews,<ref>{{cite web |title=Until I Kill You: Season 1 |website=Rotten Tomatoes |date=18 April 2024 |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/until_i_kill_you/s01 |access-date=12 January 2025}}</ref> while Metacritic's score was 82, based on 6 reviews.<ref>{{cite web |title=Until I Kill You Reviews |website=Metacritic |date=7 November 2024 |url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/until-i-kill-you/ |access-date=12 January 2025}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb title|26738706}}
Category:2024 British television series debuts Category:2024 British television series endings Category:ITV crime dramas Category:Television series by World Productions Category:Television shows based on biographies Category:True crime television series Category:English-language British television shows