A Wanted Man ambient background
CinebyCineby
A Wanted Man backdrop

A Wanted Man

A Wanted Man

★ 7.0/10•1989•59m•TV-MA•Mystery•Crime•Drama

A Wanted Man: Unpacking the interplay between culpability and formative trauma in the creation of a killer.

A Wanted Man is a groundbreaking three‐part British miniseries first shown on BBC2 in September 1989. Directed by Nicholas Renton and written by Malcolm McKay, it evolved from his earlier one‐off play “The Interrogation of John” into a daring trilogy. The series follows the capture, trial, and psychological unravelling of a serial killer, offering an in‐depth exploration of criminal behavior and the ethical dilemmas faced by the justice system. With deliberate pacing, stark realism, and an unflinching look at human darkness, it challenges conventional crime dramas and compels viewers to confront unsettling questions about responsibility, morality, and the nature of evil. Critically acclaimed and award‐winning, A Wanted Man remains essential viewing for anyone seeking a thought‐provoking, intense, and unforgettable drama experience that not only entertains but also forces a deep reflection on the fragility of human nature and the complexities of justice.

Malcolm McKay · Writer

Nicholas Renton · Director

StatusEnded
Runtime59m
LanguageEN
First Air DateSep 25, 1989

Episodes

Actors

Michael Fitzgerald

Michael Fitzgerald

John

David Fielder

David Fielder

Stanley Soames

Rupert Holliday-Evans

Rupert Holliday-Evans

DS Jenkins

Denis Quilley

Denis Quilley

DCI Burrows

Recommendations

Barnaby Jones
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Agatha Christie's Marple
Baretta
Annika
Dalziel and Pascoe
Signora Volpe
Mystery Road
Murder in Suburbia
The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Agatha Christie's Poirot
Professor T
Scream: The TV Series
Steal
The Brokenwood Mysteries
Perry Mason
The Doctor Blake Mysteries
Ordeal by Innocence
Coroner
Miss Marple: The Body in the Library

Similars

The Singing Detective
Golden Blood
The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous
Thirty-Minute Theatre
La Commune (Paris, 1871)
Liaison
The Gray House
Spector
The Witness
Hustlers Gamblers Crooks
Elixer
The Devil Next Door
Chubby Romance
The Violent Earth
Under the Bridge
Resistance
The Last Party: Death On Tresco
Love Connection
Families Like Ours
Class of '09