Daniel Mays’ next lead role confirmed in “emotional” ITV crime drama – here’s what we know

by

Code 404‘s Daniel Mays has confirmed his next TV role in an ITV and STV true crime drama.

The four-part series titled “Believe Me” was penned by BAFTA-winning writer Jeff Pope and it narrates the stories of three individuals who fell victim to one of Britain’s most notorious sexual assailants, John Worboys.

Known as the “Black Cab Attacker,” this individual targeted women, disguising himself as a legitimate taxi driver during his active period from 2007 to 2008. He was found guilty in 2009 for assaulting 12 women and was convicted of these crimes.

What to Read Next

Back in 2019, I faced conviction for assaulting four more women, with the events occurring in 2000. The authorities suspect there might be over a hundred victims like these four.

In the show titled “A Thousand Blows,” the lead actor, Mays, takes on the role of Worboys. Meanwhile, Aimée-Ffion Edwards from “Peaky Blinders,” Aasiya Shah from “Bloods,” and Miriam Petche from “Industry” will portray three different victims in the series.

The play is set to broadcast on both ITV1 and STV, and you can stream it on ITVX and STV Player. However, an official air date is still pending announcement.

According to a formal summary, the drama centers around the struggles of two individuals who alleged sexual assaults by Worboys. It highlights their experiences as their reports were not properly investigated by the Metropolitan Police, leaving them with feelings of disbelief and mistrust.

The story goes on to explain that “Trust Me” details how Worboys managed to carry out multiple assaults unnoticed for several years, as no one suspected him. After his trial, it was discovered that he was connected to accusations of more sexual misconduct against over a hundred women.

Two females collaborated with solicitor Harriet Wistrich and barrister Philippa Kaufmann QC, and filed a lawsuit against the Metropolitan Police under the Human Rights Act, accusing them of not conducting thorough investigations into their claims of sexual assault. These women eventually won their case for monetary compensation.

The story emphasizes that these women bravely battled numerous obstacles to ensure their cases were acknowledged, with Worboys’ initial parole hearing lurking in the shadows as a backdrop, according to the synopsis.

Remarkably, eight years following his initial conviction, his victims found themselves compelled once more to testify to ensure he remained imprisoned for his offenses.

Prior to the release of “Believe Me,” executive producer Jeff Pope made a statement, expressing that the series delves into the emotional experiences of Worboys’ victims. It portrays their ordeals when reporting rape and assault, highlighting the distress and humiliation they endured during the process, and how this treatment stripped them of their humanity.

What’s particularly distressing is that they found it equally traumatic to be disbelieved by the police and have their attacks logged as non-criminal incidents, as they did experiencing the attacks themselves.

Believe Me will be released on ITV1 and STV and be available for streaming on ITVX and STV Player.

If you’ve been affected by the issues raised in this story, you can access more information from Rape Crisis England and Wales, which works towards the elimination of all forms of sexual violence and sexual misconduct, on its website or by calling the National Rape Crisis Helpline on 0808 802 9999. Rape Crisis Scotland’s helpline number is 08088 01 03 02.

U.S. residents are invited to reach out to RAINN, or the National Sexual Assault Hotline, which can be contacted at 800-656-4673.

The latest print issue of Digital Spy is out now! You can purchase “Oasis – Live in ’25” from newsstands or online for only £8.99.

Read More

2025-08-07 16:53