The Secret - the coleraine dentist who murdered his wife and girlfriend's husband

[ComfyChairPose]

Beggars belief that this is true.

How did they think this build a bear murder plan wouldn't arouse suspicion

We watched this recently, it's chilling, Nesbitt is excellent in it.

I also wondered if his son actually committed suicide; perhaps knowing his religious beliefs his friend / flatmate / boyfriend(?) covered it up with the 'tripped and fell' story?

Or perhaps I'm overthinking it...

Nesbitt's wig wasn't convincing in the earlier episodes...

What's "build a bear"?

The book it's based on, "Let This be Our Secret", by Deric Henderson, is very good. They simplified some things for the adaptation, presumably for cost reasons. For example, I think Howell actually travelled to the Philippines when he was scammed - it's years since I read it. I think his son died in Russia, when on the programme they don't mention where it is.

No, I don't think you are overthinking it.

Poor kid.

The most shocking part of all...

Who would choose to have an affair with Nesbit when you have a younger, better looking, more of a personality, saner husband already.

If you google the real Colin Howell and Hazel they were a really good looking pair. Agree that Nesbitt’s wig was shocking! I suppose she was bored of her marriage and Howell was full of charm.( For a pp Build a Bear is a brilliant store for kids to put together their own teddy bear piece by piece- is it not UK wide then?) Genevive Pyper was awesome in this role with a flawless Northern accent.

I mean Genevive O Reilly

Just finished this last night. Absolutely chilling but so well adapted for TV. As I live in NI I was aware of this all at the time (in fact I know some of CH wider family as he was originally from my town) but there was so much of the story I didn't know. The faith part doesn't surprise me TBH. NI is well know for its fundamentalist beliefs!
I was so shocked at how long Kyle stuck around, did she really have another 5 children with him??
I think the only reason he confessed was because he lost all his money and knew he had no future. I don't think Hazel was as innocent as she made out. She said she was soft but she was strong enough to leave CH in the aftermath.

She said she was soft but she was strong enough to leave CH in the aftermath.

Yes indeed. She said she was a victim of his coercion and control and was too scared to daub him in or leave him, but was easily able to dump him when she met a new man later on.

And who is so scared of someone that they will help murder their own, decent husband? She drugged him so he could be easily killed FFS.
Evil witch.

That's what I couldn't understand. If he was so controlling and she was so soft where did she suddenly find the courage to leave him. I'm sure he didn't go down without a fight. She knew exactly what she was doing.

Nesbitt's wigs have improved immeasurably in the years since this was made. Better manufacturer, or improved wig technology? I suppose we'll never know.

I met CH a couple of times before all this came out - probably before his crimes. Was really sorry for him because of his wife, when I heard. Obviously had no idea he was a murderer! He was quite charming.

Wow, you met him. That has never happened to me, to meet somebody and be "charmed" by him and then later find out the truth! 😵

He's had a hair transplant.

I read somewhere most people will unwittingly have met several murderers during their lives. No idea if it's true or not.

To be fair, living in NI during the troubles that would probably be true!

I read that he went on a hunger strike in prison, when he was told he wouldn't be getting his NHS pension. FFS ! And he has set himself up as an "agony aunt" , giving relationship advice to other prisoners - yikes !

Weirdly, ive wondered about this.

Actually just realised, 😵 i know a man who got off the charge of murdering his first wife. Miraculously he has a 2nd wife. She's alive for now. He is super friendly all the time like that undoes the murder......

You've now got me thinking about the same. Nobody that I've known well so far as I know, but a connection to my family who I had met a few times very sadly killed his girlfriend in a domestic incident some years ago and is now serving many years in prison.

My DH knew the victim of quite a high profile murder case and her family.

I watched this when it came out first.
Chilling.
And it's actually true.
Genevieve O'Reilly was super in it.
Hazel knew fine well what she was doing.
A beloved mother and father murdered by that despicable pair.
Howell had also sexually assaulted some of his patients. OMG !
His ex father in law died 11 days before Lesley was killed.
Sometimes i despair for the human race.