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Shearsmith’s performance is superlative and spookily convincing. He manages to make Webster a seemingly ordinary freshly married man, a bit controlling and odd around the edges but not dangerous. But slowly we see his dark streak, his manipulative and downright evil side. As his bills come back to get him, he gets more and more warped, drugging his beautiful, affable young wife’s (played by Sheridan Smith, divine as ever) tea until he eventually makes the decision to kill her. That’s not a spoiler; the rest of the series is constructed around this initial sickening deed. Webster even finds another wife (Kate Fleetwood) and it seems history might start to repeat itself.
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Having recently co-written (with Steve Coogan) Oscar-nominated drama Philomena, it appears Jeff Pope is onto a winning streak. His script is taut, naturalistic and exactly what you would expect from Pope. Eerie moments are dragged out and I certainly got uncomfortable, especially since I watched The Widower alone.
The Widower is horrific, truly horrific and its disturbing viewing. Shearsmith is no stranger to dark TV, his recent anthology series Inside No 9 just drew to a close and it was a delightful blend of humour and the macabre, but here he plays a truly malevolent character and it’s hard to stomach the fact Webster is still out there albeit in custody.
I’d have to recommend The Widower, it’s masterfully done but it’s creepy. Seriously creepy. Still, with a sledgehammer performance from Shearsmith, support from Smith and a script from Pope, it’s one to look out for this Monday.
The Widower starts Monday at 9.00pm on ITV.
Read our interview with Reece Shearmsith Contributed by Patrick Sproull
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