If Stephen Graham is on your list of favourite actors (ours too), you might be wondering what you can watch him in next – and, fortunately, you don’t have to look too far. When his series, White House Farm, first aired in 2020, it was the best ITV drama in years, not only thanks to Stephen’s performance, but also due to the fact it brought a harrowing real-life story to life in a deeply moving, sensitive way. Now, the superb crime drama is available to binge in full and when we say you won’t regret doing so, we really do mean it.
Across six episodes, the series dramatises the story of the real-life murders of five family members in Essex in 1985. While police initially believed that Sheila Caffell (Cressida Bonas) murdered her entire family – before killing herself – it quickly transpired that this was far from a clear-cut case, and blood evidence would later implicate her brother Jeremy Bamber (Freddie Fox). With Stephen Graham and Mark Addy playing members of the investigating team, you can expect performances that are almost as powerful as the story.
With all six episodes of White House Farm available to stream on ITV tonight, here’s everything you need to know about the crime drama before you tune in, including the plot, cast and how to watch it.
What is White House Farm about?
The six-part drama is based on the real-life murders of five family members at an Essex farmhouse in 1985. The victims were Sheila Caffell, her twin six-year-old sons, Daniel and Nicholas, and her parents, Nevill and June Bamber. Based on extensive research, interviews and published accounts including The Murders at White House Farm by Carol Ann Lee, the series explores how, initially, Essex Police believed that Sheila (Cressida Bonas), who was suffering from mental health issues, had murdered her own family before turning the gun on herself.
Detective Sergeant Stan Jones (played by Mark Addy), however, had doubts about the theory, with his suspicions falling on Sheila’s brother, Jeremy Bamber (Freddie Fox), who was the first person to call the police to the farm. Despite maintaining his innocence to this day, Jeremy Bamber was eventually charged and convicted of the murders of his own parents, sister and nephews and is currently serving life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
Stephen Graham, who is as brilliant as you'd expect in the series, takes on the role of DCI Thomas ‘Taff’ Jones, who was the senior investigating officer on the case. While, at first, he believes the case to be straightforward, the evidence soon starts stacking up against Bamber before it becomes clear what really happened on that harrowing night.
Freddie Fox, who plays the real-life Jeremy Bamber told Radio Times how his character has a strangely alluring air about him, which we can confirm is really quite creepy to watch. “The Jeremy Bamber that I play is, I think, at least initially, charming and there’s certainly something that draws you towards him, something you can't quite place,” he said.
“A lot of description of him at the time, which I found very interesting, [describes] him bringing an atmosphere into every room that he was in. Didn't quite know what that atmosphere meant, but it was something that didn't make you feel quite at ease."
Who’s in the cast of White House Farm?
The cast of White House Farm includes:
- Stephen Graham (A Thousand Blows, Adolescence) as DCI Thomas ‘Taff’ Jones
- Freddie Fox (The Riot Club) as Jeremy Bamber
- Mark Addy (A Knight’s Tale) as DS Stan Jones
- Mark Stanley (Under Salt Marsh) as Colin Caffell
- Cressida Bonas (Tulip Fever) as Sheila Caffell
- Alexa Davies (Raised by Wolves) as Julie Mugford
- Grace Calder (City of Tiny Lights) as Heather Amos
- Richard Goulding (The Windsors) as David
- Gemma Whelan (Gentleman Jack) as Ann Eaton
- Nichola Farrell (Chariots of Fire) as Nevill Bamber
- Amanda Burton (Silent Witness) as June Bamber
Is White House Farm any good?
Yes – given the harrowing subject, it’s not the easiest watch but it’s moving, the performances from Freddie Fox, Mark Addy and Stephen Graham in particular are outstanding and it's an eye-opening story to say the least. If you like a true crime drama that isn’t sensationalised and handles a real-life case in a respectable, sensitive way, we’d very much recommend White House Farm.
How can I watch White House Farm?
All six episodes of White House Farm are available to watch now on ITVX.
What other Stephen Graham dramas can I watch now?
If you’re a fan of period dramas, we’d recommend The Secret Agent. The three-part series is set in London, 1886, where Verloc (played by Toby Jones) runs a seedy shop in the heart of London’s Soho, while also working as an agent of the Russian Embassy, spying on a group of London anarchists – but can he hide his actions from Inspector Heat (Stephen Graham) of Scotland Yard’s Special Crimes Division? You can watch The Secret Agent now on ITVX. For something a little creepier we’d recommend A Patch of Fog. Stephen plays security guard and mentally unstable loner Robert, who catches who catches Sandy (Conleth Hill) shoplifting. He tells Sandy he won’t call the police, providing he goes for a drink with him – and thus begins a disturbing infatuation. A Patch of Fog is available to watch now on Disney+.
