There is a wide catalogue of true crime dramas to sink your teeth into these days. There has been a notable surge in the genre, driven by the proliferation of more channels and streaming services. In recent years, the likes of ITV, BBC iPlayer and Channel 4 have grabbed the attention of audiences with some gripping and fascinating stories. From serial killers to compelling fraudsters, numerous shows are brimming with criminals and their crimes. One 2022 mini-series, which was described by fans as “haunting”, stars Sheridan Smith and Stephen Merchant. This series, which originally aired on BBC iPlayer, tells the true story of the courageous families of four young gay men who lost their lives to serial killer Stephen Port.
At the time, the deaths were initially reported as overdoses. It wasn’t until the victims’ families sought to find out the truth and hunt down Port that they received justice.
The synopsis teases on IMDb: “A true-crime drama: four young gay men are murdered in similar circumstances between 2014 and 2015 in the Barking area of London.”
It was received well when it originally aired, with many viewers leaving positive reviews. One person said on IMDb: “Excellent drama with Stephen Merchant and Sheridan Smith giving top-notch performances. Merchant was especially chilling. Very scary. Sheridan Smith is one of the finest actresses of modern times, and it showed here.”
A second also said: “Jaw-dropping, anger-inducing, incredibly sad and heart-wrenching. Story told with compassion and dignity. The acting is quite frankly some of the best I’ve seen in a long time. Merchant is fantastically cast as a weird and creepy Port.” [sic]
A third chimed in: “Must see TV! Just the most incredible true story of the tragic murders of four young men in East London. Acting is absolutely brilliant & the storyline is riveting! Do not miss this!”
A fourth echoed: “Merchant is equally mesmerising even if he doesn’t say a lot. Check out them eyes. Hate to know what the real bloke is like. The sadness of the ending brought me to tears. Compelling watch.”
Four Lives can be streamed on BBC iPlayer and ITVX.
