When it comes to crime dramas, Siobhan Finneran has a pretty exceptional track record (anyone seen Happy Valley or The Loch?), so when we stumbled upon her ITV series A Confession, we had high hopes - and we weren’t disappointed. The drama, which fans have called “insanely good” sees Siobhan step into the shoes of a mother facing the unthinkable – the murder of her child – and it’s a beyond perfect crime drama.
The series first aired in 2019 and is based on the true story, which began with the disappearance of a young woman called Sian O'Callaghan in Swindon. While Detective Superintendent Steve Fulcher (played by Martin Freeman) would go on to catch the man who killed both her and another young woman, he breached police procedure and protocol in the process - a decision that cost him his entire career.
With the series now available to stream in full on ITVX, here’s everything you need to know about A Confession before you tune in, including the plot, cast, trailer and how to watch it.
What is A Confession about?
The six-part drama is based on the real-life case of Detective Superintendent Steve Fulcher who, in 2011, broke numerous procedural rules to catch serial killer Christopher Halliwell. When 22-year-old Sian O’Callaghan vanished on a night out in Swindon, Detective Superintendent Steve Fulcher was tasked with leading the inquiry into her disappearance.
CCTV showed that Christopher Halliwell was the last person with her and officers arrested him, but rather than read him his rights, provide him with a lawyer and take him to a police station, Detective Superintendent Fulcher said he wanted to speak with Halliwell "man-to-man." While the decision resulted in the suspect admitting to killing two women (the second being Becky Godden-Edwards), it also led to Fulcher losing his career. He was investigated by the police watchdog and found guilty of Gross Misconduct, and though he was allowed to keep his job, he later resigned as his career had effectively been pulled to shreds.
Over the course of six episodes, the ITV series dramatises what happened – from Sian O’Callaghan's (played by Florence Howard) disappearance on a Friday night to the hunt for her and, eventually, Fulcher’s disciplinary hearing. Siobhan Finneran plays Sian’s mother Elaine, while Imelda Staunton portrays Becky’s mother Karen Edwards.
What to read next
Siobhan told ITV of the series: “A Confession tells a story which is both horrific and a tragedy. But it also highlights what happened to Detective Superintendent Steve Fulcher. As well as other aspects about the case. There is a lot going on within this story.”
Sharing more about her character, she added: “Elaine is a mother of four who as this drama begins is Elaine O’Callaghan and has recently moved in with a new partner. Then she is faced with the fact her daughter Sian, who lives with her boyfriend Kevin, has not come home after a night out. Which is unusual. But her initial reaction is that her daughter must have stayed over at somebody’s house.
“Initially there is no huge panic. It’s only when the police arrive after Sian has been officially reported missing by her boyfriend that she really starts to panic. As a parent I can’t think of anything worse. Your daughter has gone out on a night out with friends and then you never see her again. It’s horrific.”
Who’s in the cast of A Confession?
The cast of A Confession includes:
- Siobhan Finneran (Happy Valley) as Sian’s mother Elaine O’Callaghan
- Martin Freeman (Sherlock) as Detective Superintendent Steve Fulcher
- Florence Howard (Allure) as Sian O’Callaghan
- Charlie Cooper (This Country) as Sian's boyfriend Kevin Reape
- Imelda Staunton (The Crown) as Becky’s mother Karen Edwards
- Joe Absolom (Doc Martin) as Christopher Halliwell
- Stephanie Hyam as Becky Godden-Edwards
Is there a trailer for A Confession?
Yes, you can watch the trailer for A Confession below:
Is A Confession any good?
Yes – it’s a superb series that you’ll be thinking about long after the credits role. The performances from Martin Freeman, Siobhan Finneran and Imelda Staunton are faultless and the story is told in immense detail. Viewers have described the series as “outstanding”, “better than reviews suggest” and “insanely good” – and we can’t argue with them.
How can I watch A Confession?
All six episodes of A Confession are available to watch on ITVX now.
What other Siobhan Finneran dramas can I watch now?
Crime drama fans will enjoy The Loch, which stars Siobhan alongside Laura Fraser as detective duo, Lauren and Annie, who find themselves hunting down a serial killer. The series is set on the shores of Scotland’s Loch Ness where a tight-knit community finds itself pulled apart as suspicion falls on almost everyone. You can watch The Loch now on ITVX. We’d also recommend Protection, in which Siobhan plays the starring role of Detective Inspector Liz Nyles, who finds herself caught in the midst of a security breach in her witness protection unit. Compromised by an illicit affair with a colleague, she must dig deep to discover exactly who's putting her unit - and her family - in danger. You can catch up on Protection on ITVX now.
