Delia Balmer now: What happened to Until I Kill You’s real-life survivor?

After witnessing Delia Balmer’s heart-wrenching story unfold through ITV’s riveting true-crime drama “Until I Kill You,” I can’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of admiration and awe for this extraordinary woman. Her resilience in the face of unspeakable horror is truly humbling, and her courage to share her tale with the world serves as a testament to human strength.


The tale of Delia Balmer is featured prominently in ITV’s latest true-crime series, titled “Until I Kill You“. In this production, Anna Maxwell Martin portrays the actual individual.

One evening in the early ’90s, a nurse encountered a man named John Sweeney at a local pub. Unbeknownst to her, this man she was meeting was a murderer. Their relationship grew stormier over time, but Delia eventually decided to end things with him. Unfortunately, John returned to Delia’s home armed with an axe and assaulted her. Fortunately, a neighbor stepped in to save Delia’s life.

Years passed before the court declared John Sweeney guilty for murdering two of his ex-girlfriends, as reported by BBC News.

Delia Balmer now: What happened to Until I Kill You's real-life survivor?

The movie “Until I Kill You” is inspired by the true story recounted in Delia Balmer’s memoir, titled “Living With a Serial Killer,” which was published in 2017.

As a dedicated gamer, I recently stumbled upon a gripping novel that’s still up for grabs on Amazon. The official summary paints a chilling picture: At first, it seemed like a heartwarming tale about a caring character, but as their story unfolded, he transformed into a violent and controlling figure.

In multiple instances, I found myself holding Delia captive and subjecting her to unimaginable torment. Following a severe assault that left me free on bail, my actions filled her with an overwhelming terror, knowing I would return to complete my twisted deed. In a chilling climax, my last violent attack pushed Delia to the edge of death, after which I vanished, eluding authorities.

Remarkably, it took the authorities a span of six long years to apprehend and successfully prosecute Sweeney for his series of murders.

Delia Balmer now: What happened to Until I Kill You's real-life survivor?

The true story of Until I Kill You

At the start of the episodes on ITV, a message reads:

“This is a true story. What follows is based on extensive research, interviews and published accounts. Some names have been changed, and some characters and scenes added for the purposes of dramatisation.”

As reported by producer Ken Horn in an article published by Time Out, certain character names were altered in the show as a sign of respect towards the involved families.

The article additionally disclosed that Horn detailed the development of Delia’s companion Leah (portrayed by Amanda Wilkin), which was inspired by a blend of individuals from her personal circle.

Horn mentioned that compressing a sprawling tale spanning numerous years into just four hours for TV is quite challenging, he added.

Delia Balmer now: What happened to Until I Kill You's real-life survivor?

Nick Stevens, responsible for transforming Delia Balmer’s memoir into a movie script, recently discussed what made her unique tale captivate him specifically.

He shared, “Once I understood that the story was told from a woman who had endured and survived, I became captivated.” He went on to say, “She portrays her distressed, unusual actions while testifying at the Old Bailey against Sweeney. It was unlike anything I’d ever read before.

Following our agreement to meet with Delia to talk about a potential project, Stevens expressed that she seemed “brimming with suspicion and anger,” yet she was immediately enthusiastic about it. However, she emphasized the need for assurance that the portrayal would accurately reflect her story.

Over several years, the transformation of the story into a TV series was underway, with Stevens detailing that he regularly submitted his scripts to Delia during this period. He pointed out that the feedback received from her was primarily about minor details, as “Delia’s a stickler for perfection.

Twice, Balmer dropped by the filming location for “Until I Kill You“. During one of these visits, she had a fleeting encounter with Anna Maxwell Martin. However, this meeting was not related to any character research for her role, as Martin prefers to keep personal interactions separate when portraying real characters.

Stevens affirmed that Delia and Shaun [Evans] didn’t cross paths due to clear-cut reasons, and the production crew took special care in ensuring this separation.

Delia Balmer now: What happened to Until I Kill You's real-life survivor?

Delia Balmer now: What does she think of Until I Kill You?

Before the ITV series airs, Balmer was questioned if she ever felt apprehensive about her tale being dramatized.

She clarified that when she first wrote her story, she meticulously included every detail of the events. During the climactic scene at the doorstep, she repeatedly revised and refined her work, aiming for an accurate depiction of what transpired… Her primary goal has consistently been to convey the truth effectively, regardless of the method used.

As a gamer, I can’t forget my encounter with Nick Stevens. He threw in some gaming sessions we had that didn’t make it into his final write-up. I provided him with thorough feedback on the game scripts he drafted.

Delia added, “He’s been adhering to my suggestions and making modifications where feasible, just as I had proposed. Nick seems genuinely helpful, and he himself claims so. Moreover, the ITV team has shown kindness towards me.

On November 7 at 9pm, ITV will broadcast a documentary titled “Until I Kill You: The Real Story” that complements their drama.

Until I Kill You airs on ITV1 and ITVX from November 3 – November 6 at 9pm.

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2024-11-05 18:19

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