Appropriate Adult
Encyclopedia
Appropriate Adult is a 2011 British television film, first shown on ITV
in two 90-minute parts on 4 and 11 September 2011. It starred Dominic West
, Emily Watson
and Monica Dolan
. It is based on the true story of Gloucester
serial killer Fred West
and focuses on the events between the Wests' arrests in 1994 and Fred's suicide in Birmingham's Winson Green Prison on New Year's Day 1995.
during the questioning of Fred West. The senior investigator wanted to ensure that there could be no suggestion that West did not understand any part of the process, so he had an appropriate adult present at all times.
and written by Neil McKay. The production was headed by ITV executive producer Jeff Pope, who saw it as the concluding feature in a trilogy of films about the most notorious murder cases of the past century (the previous films being the multiple award-winning This Is Personal: The Hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper and See No Evil: The Moors Murders).
Co-producer Kwadjo Dajan researched and developed the project over four years after establishing contact with Janet Leach and consulting with Gloucestershire Constabulary
. The drama was filmed over seven weeks in Manchester.
Dominic West's physical resemblance to West was noted during filming and Fred West's daughter Mae West thought he "captured the evil essence of him – his character, his mannerisms, even his gait". Janet Leach found it difficult to approach him in character on set because he was so convincing that it took Leach back seventeen years.
described it as "beautifully done, not sensational or hysterical". A later article by Phil Hogan in The Observer
and The Guardian described Dominic West's performance as "worryingly close" but said "even with a set of chipped teeth, bad jumper choices and a rattling West Country burr, handsome Dominic couldn't quite conjure the Fred familiar from his demonic police mug shot. What he did conjure, in one impressively seamless personality, were the strange warring traits of a man cheerfully sane and yet not quite there – helpful but manipulative, confiding but controlling, troubled but carefree, a composite that perfectly explained why the police wanted the presence of an 'appropriate adult'". Hogan was also impressed with Monica Dolan's highly convincing performance as Rosemary which he described as "literally spitting-mad". Andrew Billen from The Times
described it as "mesmerising and inspired", while Matt Bayliss of The Daily Express described it as "sensitively written, ferociously acted and dealing with a true and powerful subject". It has been tipped as a multiple award-winning drama. However, the Daily Mail
described it as one which "deeply divided opinion between those who have hailed it a dramatic tour de force, and a compelling insight into the nature of evil, and those who accuse it of trampling on the graves of Fred West's victims". The family of Fred West and the son of Janet Leach condemned the series. Fred West's daughter Anne-Marie Davis was disgusted that the film had been made and said it would be deeply traumatic bringing back the memories and would cause "unimaginable distress." However, the ITV claims that several daughters of the Wests and the families of the victims spoke more positively about the series after having viewed it.
Following its transmission, the programme was also criticised by retired Gloucestershire Detective Superintendent John Bennett who said, "the series went far beyond any justifiable claims of 'dramatic licence' and 'simplification' by creating dialogue and scenes which did not take place at all, these just sensationalising the story and not furthering it, wrongly depicting how Janet Leach was treated and her involvement, giving her a kudos she far from deserves". He further said that "this series painting her as a 'victim' and wrongly portraying the sequence of events and her contact with and payment by the Mirror Group whilst grossly exaggerating her involvement is an insult to the true victims, their families, which very much includes the extended family of the Wests, the witnesses who so courageously gave evidence, the investigating team, and its professionalism, also the many professionals and others who worked so hard to unravel the horrific crimes and bring the Wests and others to justice". However, he concurred that "the mannerisms and psyche of Frederick West captured and enacted by Dominic West and Monica Dolan of Rosemary West are hauntingly accurate".
In response to Bennett's statement ITV's Janice Troup issued the following response:
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
in two 90-minute parts on 4 and 11 September 2011. It starred Dominic West
Dominic West
Dominic Gerard Fe West is an English actor best known for his role as Detective Jimmy McNulty in the HBO drama series The Wire.-Film and TV:...
, Emily Watson
Emily Watson
Emily Watson is an English actress. She gave an acclaimed debut film performance in Lars von Trier's Breaking the Waves.- Early life :...
and Monica Dolan
Monica Dolan
Monica Dolan is a British actress who has appeared in a number of roles in British television shows and numerous stage productions. She was born in Middlesbrough. Credits include Agatha Christie's Poirot, Dalziel and Pascoe, Tipping the Velvet and Judge John Deed and starred in ITV drama U Be Dead...
. It is based on the true story of Gloucester
Gloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
serial killer Fred West
Fred West
Frederick Walter Stephen West , was a British serial killer. Between 1967 and 1987, he alone, and later, he and his wife Rosemary, tortured, raped and murdered at least 11 young women and girls, many at the couple's homes. The majority of the murders occurred between May 1973 and September 1979 at...
and focuses on the events between the Wests' arrests in 1994 and Fred's suicide in Birmingham's Winson Green Prison on New Year's Day 1995.
Etymology
The film gets its title from the role of Janet Leach in the investigation as an appropriate adultAppropriate adult
Appropriate adult is a defined term in the United Kingdom legal system for a parent or guardian or social worker who must be present if a young person or vulnerable adult is to be searched or questioned in police custody...
during the questioning of Fred West. The senior investigator wanted to ensure that there could be no suggestion that West did not understand any part of the process, so he had an appropriate adult present at all times.
Cast
- Dominic WestDominic WestDominic Gerard Fe West is an English actor best known for his role as Detective Jimmy McNulty in the HBO drama series The Wire.-Film and TV:...
as Fred WestFred WestFrederick Walter Stephen West , was a British serial killer. Between 1967 and 1987, he alone, and later, he and his wife Rosemary, tortured, raped and murdered at least 11 young women and girls, many at the couple's homes. The majority of the murders occurred between May 1973 and September 1979 at...
- Emily WatsonEmily WatsonEmily Watson is an English actress. She gave an acclaimed debut film performance in Lars von Trier's Breaking the Waves.- Early life :...
as Janet Leach - Monica DolanMonica DolanMonica Dolan is a British actress who has appeared in a number of roles in British television shows and numerous stage productions. She was born in Middlesbrough. Credits include Agatha Christie's Poirot, Dalziel and Pascoe, Tipping the Velvet and Judge John Deed and starred in ITV drama U Be Dead...
as Rose West - Robert GlenisterRobert GlenisterRobert Lewis Glenister is a British actor known for his roles as con man Ash "Three Socks" Morgan in the British TV series Hustle, and Nicholas Blake in the BBC spy drama Spooks.-Career:...
as Detective Superintendent John Bennett - Sylvestra Le TouzelSylvestra Le TouzelSylvestra Le Touzel is a British television, film and stage actor who was born on Jersey in the Channel Islands and raised in Kensington, London. She was schooled in East Acton.-TV:...
as Detective Constable Hazel Savage - Samuel RoukinSamuel RoukinSamuel Roukin is an English actor.Roukin was born in Southport, and currently lives in Kentish Town, North London. He displayed an interest in drama from an early age...
as Detective Constable Darren Law - Anthony FlanaganAnthony FlanaganAnthony Flanagan is an English actor most widely known for his portrayal of policeman Tony in Channel 4's comedy-drama series Shameless.-Biography:...
as Mike - Stanley TownsendStanley Townsend-Theatre:Townsend's work in theatre includes: Remember This, Guys and Dolls and Phedre at the National Theatre, London; The Alice Trilogy, Shining City , Under the Blue Sky and The Weir at the Royal Court, London; The Wake, Trinity for Two and Sacred Mysteries at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin; The...
as Syd Young - Gerard HoranGerard HoranGerard Horan is an English actor. Born in Stockport, Cheshire, Horan has appeared in many of Kenneth Branagh's Shakespeare films, most recently as Denis in the 2006 As You Like It. He has worked extensively in theatre, film and television....
as Howard Ogden - Seline HizliSeline HizliSeline Hizli is a British actress. She plays the role of Connie Carter in the drama series Land Girls. She got the series straight after graduating from RADA. As well as Land Girls, Hizli also appeared as Mae West in Appropriate Adult.-References:...
as Mae West - James McArdleJames McArdleJames McArdle is a British actor from Glasgow. Having worked as a child actor in films he trained at RADA graduating in 2010. In his graduation year he appeared in Macbeth at The Globe and starred in the summer smash hit Spur of the Moment by Anya Reiss at the Royal Court Theatre in London, since...
as Stephen West - Robert Whitelock as Detective Constable Carl Kempinsky
- Jasper Jacob as Brian LevesonBrian LevesonBrian Henry Leveson QC , previously styled as the Honourable Mr Justice Leveson, now styled as the Right Honourable Lord Justice Leveson, is an English Judge, a Lord Justice of Appeal for England and Wales and, since 2010, head of the Sentencing Council for England and Wales.It was announced on 13...
QC - Jack Fortune as Richard Ferguson QC
- Vincent Brimble as Mr Justice Mantell
- Rupert Simonian as Josh
Production
The film was directed by Julian JarroldJulian Jarrold
Julian Edward Peter Jarrold, born 1960 in Norwich, is a BAFTA Award-nominated English film and television director.He is a member of the family which founded Jarrolds of Norwich in 1823 and was educated in Norfolk at Gresham's School, Holt...
and written by Neil McKay. The production was headed by ITV executive producer Jeff Pope, who saw it as the concluding feature in a trilogy of films about the most notorious murder cases of the past century (the previous films being the multiple award-winning This Is Personal: The Hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper and See No Evil: The Moors Murders).
Co-producer Kwadjo Dajan researched and developed the project over four years after establishing contact with Janet Leach and consulting with Gloucestershire Constabulary
Gloucestershire Constabulary
Gloucestershire Constabulary is the territorial police force responsible for policing the non-metropolitan county of Gloucestershire in England...
. The drama was filmed over seven weeks in Manchester.
Dominic West's physical resemblance to West was noted during filming and Fred West's daughter Mae West thought he "captured the evil essence of him – his character, his mannerisms, even his gait". Janet Leach found it difficult to approach him in character on set because he was so convincing that it took Leach back seventeen years.
Reception
The first episode (of two) was met with positive reviews after it was transmitted on 4 September 2011. Sam Wollaston from The GuardianThe Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
described it as "beautifully done, not sensational or hysterical". A later article by Phil Hogan in The Observer
The Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
and The Guardian described Dominic West's performance as "worryingly close" but said "even with a set of chipped teeth, bad jumper choices and a rattling West Country burr, handsome Dominic couldn't quite conjure the Fred familiar from his demonic police mug shot. What he did conjure, in one impressively seamless personality, were the strange warring traits of a man cheerfully sane and yet not quite there – helpful but manipulative, confiding but controlling, troubled but carefree, a composite that perfectly explained why the police wanted the presence of an 'appropriate adult'". Hogan was also impressed with Monica Dolan's highly convincing performance as Rosemary which he described as "literally spitting-mad". Andrew Billen from The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
described it as "mesmerising and inspired", while Matt Bayliss of The Daily Express described it as "sensitively written, ferociously acted and dealing with a true and powerful subject". It has been tipped as a multiple award-winning drama. However, the Daily Mail
Daily Mail
The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
described it as one which "deeply divided opinion between those who have hailed it a dramatic tour de force, and a compelling insight into the nature of evil, and those who accuse it of trampling on the graves of Fred West's victims". The family of Fred West and the son of Janet Leach condemned the series. Fred West's daughter Anne-Marie Davis was disgusted that the film had been made and said it would be deeply traumatic bringing back the memories and would cause "unimaginable distress." However, the ITV claims that several daughters of the Wests and the families of the victims spoke more positively about the series after having viewed it.
Following its transmission, the programme was also criticised by retired Gloucestershire Detective Superintendent John Bennett who said, "the series went far beyond any justifiable claims of 'dramatic licence' and 'simplification' by creating dialogue and scenes which did not take place at all, these just sensationalising the story and not furthering it, wrongly depicting how Janet Leach was treated and her involvement, giving her a kudos she far from deserves". He further said that "this series painting her as a 'victim' and wrongly portraying the sequence of events and her contact with and payment by the Mirror Group whilst grossly exaggerating her involvement is an insult to the true victims, their families, which very much includes the extended family of the Wests, the witnesses who so courageously gave evidence, the investigating team, and its professionalism, also the many professionals and others who worked so hard to unravel the horrific crimes and bring the Wests and others to justice". However, he concurred that "the mannerisms and psyche of Frederick West captured and enacted by Dominic West and Monica Dolan of Rosemary West are hauntingly accurate".
In response to Bennett's statement ITV's Janice Troup issued the following response: