A new ITV psychological thriller based on true events has been called ‘disturbing’ by viewers.

Until It Kills You stars Homeland actress Anna Maxwell Martin as Delia Balmer, a nurse who survives being captured for several days by a construction worker who is also a serial killer.

Actor Shaun Evans portrays John Sweeney. serial killer He became known as the ‘scalp hunter’ after killing numerous women over several years.

Sweeney became famous for beheading his victims after killing them. He would then cut up their bodies, mostly of his girlfriends, and throw them into the river.

ITV The drama focuses on Balmer’s relationship with Sweeney in London in the 1990s and his subsequent capture for his crimes.

The pair met in a bar in Camden and bonded over their shared love. tripbut Sweeney soon became abusive.

When Balmer broke up with Sweeney in 1994, he broke into her home and tied her to a bed, where he held her hostage for four days, threatening her with a knife and a gun.

He freed her after she was trapped in a room by him for four days, but he later attacked her with an axe.

He escaped with the help of a neighbor who attacked Sweeney.

Sweeney escaped but was eventually arrested in 2001 for the attempted murder of Balmer. He was convicted of murdering two ex-girlfriends in 2010; Melissa Halstead and Patricia Fields.

He is currently in prison after being sentenced to life imprisonment.

Anna Maxwell Martin stars in Till I Kill You (ITV)

The real Balmer is now retired and shared his story in his 2017 memoir: Living with a Serial Killer.

The full show is now on ITVX. The first episode aired on Sunday, November 3, and ITV will air one episode each night throughout the series’ four episodes.

Until It Kills You There was a great reaction from the audience on social media. One viewer wrote: “Oh my god! I was traumatized watching #untilikillyou on #itv.”

A second viewer wrote: “I’ve never heard of this before even though it’s a true story. An engaging watch and at times deeply disturbing #UntilIKillYou.”

A third shared: “#UntilIKillYou This is awful… I’m sick to my stomach.”

Another person said: “This makes me feel physically sick #untilyoushit.”

Till I Kill You is now on ITVX and will air on ITV 1 at 9pm this week.