The Murders at White House Farm

About The Murders at White House Farm

The Murders at White House Farm is a gripping crime docudrama that aired in 2020. The chilling series is based on actual harrowing events that took place in England in 1985. Over a single night, five members of the Bamber-Caffell family were brutally killed at White House Farm in Essex. Initially thought to be a clear-cut case of murder-suicide involving the family's troubled daughter, Sheila Caffell, the police were soon wrapped in layers of ambiguity and deception.

Making / Production

The series was commissioned by ITV and produced by New Pictures. The story is meticulously adapted from the true crime book "The Murders at White House Farm" by Carol Ann Lee, and "In Search of The Rainbow's End" by Colin Caffell, Sheila's ex-husband. The director, Paul Whittington, aimed to portray the events with striking authenticity while maintaining a respectful narrative towards the real-life victims of the tragedy.

Actors

• Freddie Fox - Played the role of Jeremy Bamber, the charming yet manipulative character at the heart of the mystery. Fox does an excellent job portraying Bamber's transition from seemingly grieving son to prime suspect.
• Cressida Bonas - Portrayed Sheila Caffell, often vilified by the media as mentally unstable. She gave a poignant performance emphasizing Sheila's vulnerability and struggle.
• Mark Addy - Played the role of DS Stan Jones, a police officer who becomes suspicious about the 'open-and-shut' nature of the case. Addy's portrayal of Jones added depth and determination to the narrative.
• Gemma Whelan - Played Ann Eaton, Bamber's suspicious cousin. Her performance excellently conveyed both her initial trust in Bamber and her growing doubts about him.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• This is not the first time the tragic story of the Bamber-Caffell family has been adapted into a drama. A one-off drama called "In the Family" aired in 1995, ten years after the original events.
• The real-life White House Farm is located in Tolleshunt D'Arcy, Essex. However, the majority of the series was not filmed there, but various places across the London area.

Music, Soundtrack

• The intensely haunting soundtrack was given life by Niall Byrne. His work helped convey the gloomy and tragic atmosphere of the series.
• Apart from the original score by Byrne, the series also included a few well-chosen pop songs from the 1980s, adding authenticity to the period setting.