Endeavour’s Shaun Evans was “repelled” by Until I Kill You serial killer

Endeavour’s Shaun Evans was “repelled” by Until I Kill You serial killer

As a seasoned cinephile with a penchant for unraveling complex narratives and delving deep into character portrayals, I find myself utterly intrigued by Shaun Evans’ latest endeavor, Until I Kill You. The actor’s candid admission of being “repelled” initially by the scripts is not only refreshingly honest but also a testament to his commitment to pushing artistic boundaries and taking on roles that challenge him professionally.


Actor Shaun Evans confessed that he initially found the scripts for the character John Sweeney in ITV’s Until I Kill You to be off-putting.

He went on: “But then I thought there’s actually something quite funny in that, interesting territory and you want to be professionally challenged. It’s a delicate balance, isn’t it?

I chose not to read the book or meet Delia [Balmer] initially, as I wanted to avoid making hasty judgments. Instead, I watched a documentary about him, paid close attention to his voice, and admired his drawings which I had already in my room before going to the set every day.

Additionally, much like any other profession, you’re tasked with visualizing the scenarios and bringing your characters to life. Fundamentally, I am an actor, so you must step in and perform as needed. This particular role was unique in numerous ways, yet it also offered a sense of fulfillment.

Endeavour’s Shaun Evans was “repelled” by Until I Kill You serial killer

In various television series like Endeavour, Vigil, and Betrayal, Evans has made a name for himself. However, in Until I Kill You, he delves into a more ominous character, playing John Sweeney.

The show subtly challenges the conventional approach of the true crime genre by prioritizing the effects of the incidents on Delia’s quest for justice, rather than centering the narrative around Sweeney.

In an interview with ITV, Evans mentioned in a press pack for the series that he believes the program may be uncommon for ITV to produce because “It could be. As I mentioned earlier, what makes it unique and drew me in is that we’re centering on the victim and her story, rather than glorifying anyone else but the victim.

“What happened after the event is what makes it intriguing and distressing to me. I find it unusual for a broadcaster to delve into such details. Most recent productions within the same genre concentrate more on the offender rather than the victim.

The summary of the series goes like this: “Traumatized and wounded by Sweeney, Delia courageously attempts to reconstruct her life. However, seven years later, Sweeney gets apprehended for the murder of one of his other girlfriends in North London.

In my situation, the delicate progress I’ve made in recovering takes another hit when I find myself standing opposite Sweeney in an open courtroom. My testimony holds significant weight for the case being built against him by the prosecution.

“This narrative unfolds the extraordinary resilience of a woman who endured both bodily and emotional hardships, despite the shortcomings of the systems intended to safeguard her.

Airing on both ITV1 and ITVX, “Until I Kill You” will be broadcast starting from Sunday, 3rd November through Wednesday, 6th November, each night at 9:00 PM on ITV1.

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2024-11-03 23:39