'THE SECRET',' UTV' s big new drama series, starting from next Friday (April 29,) tells the horrific story of Northern Ireland' s most notorious recent murder case.
The protagonists are Colin Howell and his lover Hazel Buchanan, devout Baptists, whose affair leads inexorably to the murder off their spouses.
Journalist Deric Henderson wrote the book 'Let this be our Secret' about the trial that had it all - adultery, murder, betrayal, and dentistry.
This brilliant four-part dramatisation is directed by Nick Murphy, to make us voyeurs from the start. We see Howell, (James Nesbitt is in outstanding form) eye up Hazel (Genevieve O' Reilly, also brilliant) in church after singing a happy-clappy song. We catch the furtive glances, witness the 'accidental' meetings, his hand on her thigh as he teaches her swimming. Howell then admits to impure thoughts, and she says that she is not that innocent either.
This is not just a Greek tragedy, but a Northern Irish one. When I asked James Nesbitt at the press screeing if he thought Howell would have masterminded the murders elsewhere, he said: "Yes, but I' m not so sure'.
"I was attracted to this role because it shows evil can flourish in a God-fearing community, and it took place in my home town, Coleraine."
What is truly shocking is that this true story illustrates the 'banality of evil'. In this case, it's the suburban nature of evil with a torrid affair and a plot to kill two innocent people which ishappening behind chinzy curtains onto plush housing estates. Speaking to Ms O' Reilly about inhabiting the role of Hazel, I learned that though the sex scenes were difficult, she found the role fascinating.
"There' s a moment when Hazel lets Colin into her house knowing that he is going to kill her husband. She makes her choice,at this point," she told me.
This is a must see series with a strong supporting cast including Jason Watkins( from The Thick of It) as the couple's pastor.
Watch and shiver.
