David Tennant Will Play Serial Killer Dennis Nilsen In New Series & We’re Already Conflicted

David Tennant

I think I speak for everyone when I say we all have a soft spot for David Tennant, the rather charming star of Dr Who, Broadchurch, Criminal: UK and more. The man is always a joy to watch, even when he’s the baddie in Jessica Jones or Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. But he’s just landed a role that may make him, er, difficult to like.

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Tennant will star in the upcoming true crime-based TV miniseries Des as Scottish serial killer Dennis Nilsen, who murdered at least 12 (and as many as 15) men and boys between 1978-1983.

The upcoming show was announced by UK channel ITV yesterday — and followed up just a coupla hours later with a first-look image of the actor in character as Nilsen. Note the classic serial killer glasses.

David Tennant
Source: ITV

Des is based on the true crime book Killing for Company by Brian Masters, and according to Deadline will mostly focus on Nilsen’s state of mind post-arrest.

The series will also feature The Crown’s Jason Watkins as writer Masters and as a huge Line of Duty fan I’m personally keen to see Daniel Mays (from Season 3) as Detective Chief Inspector Peter Jay.

The news that David Tennant will play a horrible serial killer follows on from the announcement that Harrison Ford has been tapped to play Michael Peterson in a TV show based on true crime doco The Staircase, so it’s clearly the trend for our faves to play morally murky people on telly.

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