The Widower-anyone watching?

[Ohwhatfuckeryisthis]

Just started, like a really disturbing MN thread.

The real story is even more dramatic.

He is total scum. I'm glad Claire's brother won the case with her gravestone.

Blimey BOF! That's shocking ! I was watching it last night and said to DH he had to me more charming in RL. He just comes across as creepy in the programne.

Thanks for that link BOF. I wasn't aware of the Shore Porters connection.

The story is interesting but it's moving too quickly and I agree Reece just isn't believable as this character. He comes across as batting out of his league and it's hard to see what any of the women saw in him, although woman number 3 seems to like lame ducks and cocklodgers.
I wanted to know more about what happened between women numbers 2 & 3 and why he wasn't prosecuted for the financial theft and why she didn't go for toxicology tests straight after the attempted murder to get him prosecuted for attempted murder. This must all be known. The real story of the accident for woman number 2 where he feined a heart attack when she went to look in the boot sounded more dramatic than the film version.

They covered that about why no prosecution Rebecca

Felicity said last night that she was offered the choice of having him banned from re-entering NZ instead of (the cost of I assume...) a prosecution of him there.

I'm sure she told the Scottish policeman that over the phone, and sounds plausible as I know of someone who took a deportation from Oz once rather than face prosecution for a fairly serious offence. Malcolm had already left NZ so I imagine for all concerned over thereat the time it seemed like a quick solution sort of thing.

She said that she would rather he wasn't able to re-enter NZ because she was scared he would try to snatch their son.

I'm loving the Widower, it's so tense!. I think Reece is perfect as Malcom, he was really sinister in last nights episode. I do find him plausible in this role, he's not mean to be a player, he's a twee English gent, totally polite and affable and all that.

He reminds me of the actor who played Mr Collins in the 1990's Pride and Prejudice. I don't understand how someone so unattractive managed to get anyone to marry him.

The second episode felt really tense.

I think what we're seeing is an under-dramatisation of things that happened. The fact that the 2nd two victims and Claire's family have been closely involved make me think that the portrayals of the characters are good. I'm waiting for the person I know that was involved in the case to pop up but don't think they will.

www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11225489

www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/actress-praised-for-tv-portrayal-of-wife-murdered-by-malcolm-webster.23759258

I find it funny that people are commenting on him being unattractive cos I'm pretty sure I've seen loads of complimentary comments looks wise on mumsnet about Reece Shearsmith when he's been in other things.

I too feel the actor is miscast. He looks too creepy to be attractive. I think in Clare and Malcolm's wedding photograph Malcolm looks reasonably handsome.
The 3rd lady in the seies he is involved with is beautiful. Implausible she would fall for him.
What a sad story

He really is dreadful, totally wrong for the part. Shame because he makes it laughable instead of chilling.

Good link BOF, thanks.

Yes, the lead actor is not very good unfortunately. Too wooden and hammy

Watched both episodes on iplayer last night, as had only watched first half of first one- it is really absorbing stuff, really frightening to think it is a true story, and all the ways he managed to evade the truth coming out.

I cannot understand how he kept getting such well respected jobs - especially after the police officer listed all the stuff about stealing drugs, fake papers etc, how on earth did he keep getting employment and managed to sustain such a veneer of plausibility? - where were his references?

Sounds like the NZ 'family' had a very lucky escape. Do we know what happened to his parents? He said his Daddy had died yesterday is that True or False.

I loved No3's house, what a fabulous part of the world - but seriously, would you invite a colleague who you barely knew to come and be nursed by you - I guess he must have been extremely convincing. I don't think the actor is quite right for the part really, he is rather wet and wimpy, but obviously in RL had appeal to many women....... :(

This programme is so frustrating to watch. It's moving too quickly and not investing enough time to get to the heart of his manipulating character. It's irritating because he seems to get these women to fall for him and we really can't identify why because it's just not addressed. This third woman though, her husband moves out because she invites someone to stay? Looks like her husband can see through him (or is just a bit jealous of her paying him so much attention, probably both) but it would be great to see some proper dialogue between the two of them.

It comes across as being a bit lazy. You never see him charming his victims/potential victims, you just have to presume how he did. And I'm struggling as he's a bit naff.

But BoF, the article you linked to was fascinating. I think if the writers had stuck more closely to the facts it would have made it more plausible for the viewer.

I think the casting was very very wrong for Malcolm.

Broken, I think that's the boyfriend moving out, not the husband. She seems to have been getting pissed off with him anyway, even before Webster got stuck in.

What I'm wondering about was why the real Malcolm Webster was so unoriginal about his murders. You'd think he realised that if wife no. 2 got burned to a crisp in a car with him in the vicinity, at some point someone was bound to make a connection with what happened to wife no.1 - especially when the life insurance policies came to light.

You do wonder about police corruption in Aberdeen with the Scottish police being heavily leant on by The met police in the form of Malcolm's father to not look at things too closely and give Malcolm an easy ride.

Would his father have had any clout, being retired?

As usual,itv can't do drama. Utter cack, which is a shame because it could be good

Did anyone watch the last one? Too many unansweredquestions for me which ruined it. I second itv just cock up tv dramas!

It was a bit meh at the end wasn't it?

I enjoyed it.

I vaguely remember the trial. I thought he came across as a feel sorry for me kind of guy rather than a charming one. He always played the widow who tried to save his beloved wife but couldnt. He played on the emotions of women.

The last episode should have been 2 with more made of the trial and conviction and then they could have included the fact that he was seeing other women as well as number 3. I enjoyed it though and some women do go for men who shower attention and money on them and don't spot they are controlling creeps until later.