Published: October 28, 2024 — The extraordinary true story of Delia Balmer, who survived a near-fatal relationship with murderer John Sweeney, is the subject of a new four-part drama, Until I Kill You , commissioned by ITV’s Head of Drama Polly Hill from globally renowned ITV Studios label, World Productions.

BAFTA-winning actress Anna Maxwell Martin (Motherland, A Spy Among Friends) takes the role of Delia Balmer, and renowned actor and director Shaun Evans (Endeavour, Vigil) plays John Sweeney. Until I Kill You will premiere on ITV1 and ITVX.

Based on Delia Balmer’s memoir, Living with a Serial Killer, Until I Kill You is written by Nick Stevens (The Pembrokeshire Murders), and executive produced by multiaward winning World Productions CEO, Simon Heath (Save Me, Line of Duty, Anne) Delia Balmer narrates the ordeal Delia suffered at the hands of John Sweeney, and her traumatic journey through the police and criminal justice system as they attempt to prosecute him for his crimes.

The series has been commissioned for ITV by Polly Hill and Drama Commissioner, Huw Kennair Jones. Huw will oversee production of the drama from ITV’s perspective.

In 1991 Delia leads an itinerant and solitary life in London working as an agency nurse. When she meets fellow free-spirit John Sweeney in a local pub, it seems like the connection she has been searching for.

As the relationship develops, Sweeney’s artistic, anti-establishment persona gives way to a darker side, culminating in a series of violent attacks on Delia, during which he tells her he killed his former girlfriend and disposed of her body in an Amsterdam canal.

Sweeney is arrested but, due to a catastrophic failure to realise how dangerous he is, granted bail. He very quickly pursues Delia and subjects her to a horrific, near- fatal attack. She survives, but Sweeney evades capture and disappears.

Shattered by the trauma and injuries inflicted by Sweeney, Delia bravely seeks to rebuild her life. But Sweeney returns seven years later and is arrested for the murder of another girlfriend in North London. Delia’s fragile recovery is shattered all over again as she has to face Sweeney in open court, her testimony vital to the prosecution case against him.

This is the story of one woman’s astonishing will to survive through physical and emotional torment, despite the failings of the institutions which were meant to protect her.

The Producer is Ken Horn (The Devil’s Hour, Line of Duty, The Diplomat) and the Director is Julia Ford (Everything I Know About Love, The Bay).

Nick Stevens is renowned for his work in the true crime genre and has been responsible for writing the hugely successful The Pembrokeshire Murders, a three-part drama starring Luke Evans which won the Welsh BAFTA for Drama in 2022. Nick also collaborated with World Productions on In Plain Sight, a drama about Scottish serial killer Peter Manuel, starring Martin Compston and Douglas Henshall, which won the RTS Scotland Best Drama Award in 2017.

World Productions has blazed a trail of gripping, talk-about, contemporary TV that combines human stories with high stakes drama and genuine authenticity. Recent award-winning dramas include Line of Duty (BBC), Bodyguard (BBC), Vigil (BBC), The Gathering (C4), Anne (ITV), Save Me (Sky Atlantic) and The Pembrokeshire Murders (ITV). World are currently in production for 3 returning series (Malpractice 2 (ITV), Showtrial 2 (BBC) & Karen Pirie 2 (ITV)) and a new BBC/Netflix drama about the Lockerbie bombing will air in 2025.

Over the last four years, World Productions has twice been awarded Independent Production Company of the Year at the Broadcast Awards (where it was described as a “bonafide hit factory”) and Best Independent Production Company at the Edinburgh Television Festival Awards and recently won an International Emmy for Vigil.

Until I Kill You was produced in association with, and distributed internationally by, ITV Studios. The production received support from the Welsh Government via Creative Wales.

The series is based on Delia Balmer’s memoir, Living with a Serial Killer