Five Daughters

Lore & Background

The BBC Press Office announced on 29 August 2009 that it had commissioned a three-part drama portraying the events surrounding the 2006 Ipswich murders, written by Stephen Butchard, whose credits included the 2008 mini-series House of Saddam. Butchard said: 'Our hope is that this drama provides a glimpse of the real girls their families knew, and also leads to further debate on the impact of drugs and sex industries upon every town, every city in this country... and what action is, or isn't, being taken.' With advice from police liaison officers, BBC drama producers approached the families of the five victims of Steve Wright and secured the support of three families. Butchard travelled to Ipswich, speaking to police, members of a local drug rehabilitation charity, and the families.

Reader's Guide

Five Daughters was generally received positively, with critics praising its focus on the victims and their families rather than on police procedure. Andrea Mullaney of The Scotsman wrote: 'This was well acted and sensitively told, but very hard to watch.' The Guardian called it 'a masterclass in how to dramatise a recent news event' and noted that 'the drama came courtesy of the victims and their families, instead of the police and their investigation.' Tom Sutcliffe of The Independent highlighted that the series restored moments when the women were 'something other than just the next victim.' The serial won particular praise for telling the story from the victims' perspective, redressing the reduction of their lives to their work as prostitutes and drug use. Filming began in November 2009, and the series aired on BBC One from 25 to 27 April 2010.

Did You Know?

• The series was written by Stephen Butchard and Julie Rutterford.
• It was directed by Philippa Lowthorpe, whose previous credits include the 2011 miniseries 'The Crimson Petal and the White'.
• The BBC secured the support of three of the victims' families for the drama.
• Brian Clennell, father of victim Paula Clennell, expressed fears the drama would portray the victims in 'a bad light.'