Sign language

Simulcast of BBC Two Northern Ireland in high definition

BBC Two

Knowledge, drama, comedy and the arts for a broad adult audience.

BBC Two is a lively channel of depth and substance, carrying a range of knowledge-building programming complemented by great drama, comedy and arts.

BBC Two Northern Ireland HD

Steeltown Murders

Drama: Crime

True crime in two distinct time periods, exploring a community’s grief and a buried truth.

Three murders - unsolved but never forgotten. Thirty years on, can DCI Bethall find the serial killer who terrorised 1970s Port Talbot? True life drama of a cold case that made history.

Series 1

The BBC South region started on 5th January 1961 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One South.

BBC One South

BBC One London

London

The BBC West region started on 1st September 1957 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One West.

BBC One West HD

BBC One Yorks & Lincs HD

BBC One Yorkshire

BBC One region covering Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire.

BBC One East Midlands

The BBC South West region started on 20th April 1961 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One South West.

BBC One South West HD

BBC One Channel Islands

Formerly part of a wider BBC One South East region that included London and part of the South region. Separated from BBC One London 2001-09-03 following reorganisation of the South East region.

BBC One South East HD

BBC One West Midlands

BBC One Cambridgeshire HD

BBC One Yorkshire HD

BBC One West Midlands HD

BBC One North West HD

BBC One South East

BBC One West

Formerly part of a wider BBC One South East region. Separated as BBC One London 2001-09-03 following reorganisation of the South East region.

BBC One London HD

BBC One Nightlight

The BBC East region started on 1st May 1959 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One East.

BBC One East

BBC One North West

BBC One Oxfordshire

BBC One Yorks & Lincs

BBC One Oxfordshire HD

BBC One South HD

BBC One East HD

BBC One East Midlands HD

Simulcast of network BBC One in high definition. From 03/11/2010

BBC One HD

The BBC North East & Cumbria region started in 1959 (tbc) as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One North East & Cumbria.

BBC One North East & Cumbria HD

BBC One North East & Cumbria

BBC One Channel Islands HD

BBC One South West

BBC One Cambridgeshire

Simulcast of BBC One Wales in high definition. From 29/01/2013

BBC One Wales HD

BBC One Scotland

Scotland

Simulcast of BBC One Scotland in high definition. From 14/01/2013

BBC One Scotland HD

BBC One Wales

Wales

Simulcast of BBC One Northern Ireland in high definition. From 24/10/2012

BBC One Northern Ireland HD

BBC Northern Ireland region started on 19th April 1955 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One Northern Ireland.

BBC One Northern Ireland

BBC Two England

England

Simulcast of network BBC Two in high definition.

BBC Two HD

BBC Two Northern Ireland

Until 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales (analogue) was known simply as BBC Two Wales. BBC Two Wales (digital) was BBC 2W. From 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales schedules on both analogue and digital became identical

BBC Two Wales

Simulcast of BBC Two Wales in high definition

BBC Two Wales HD

Philip Glenister

Steffan Rhodri

Scott Arthur

Sion Alun Davies

Nia Roberts

Gareth John Bale

Richard Harrington

Ed Whitmore

Hannah Thomas

Marc Evans

Steeltown Murders: Series 1: Episode 4

Episode 4

BBC One - Steeltown Murders, Series 1, Episode 4

The team are concerned that Paul's tunnel vision could leave them in a worse situation.

As Paul searches for higher approval to proceed with Kappen’s exhumation, the team are concerned that his tunnel vision could leave them in a worse situation than they once were.

With only 75 per cent certainty that Kappen is their killer, Paul asks Jackie to carry out an exhumation. Despite her hesitance, Jackie agrees but warns Paul that he must not mess up, and of the dangers this could bring to SWP's reputation. Not only do they need additional permission from higher up the ladder and from the girls’ families, but also approval from Kappen's family. Paul also needs to convince his team, who very much feel the pressure and are far from on board.   

Phil and Geraint revisit Christine to seek her approval, where she also discloses new information that Kappen had suddenly gone to Lincoln, the day after the initial murder of Sandra Newton.   

Phil meets with the relatives of Kappen, whose body is buried in a family plot, whilst Paul tries to persuade home secretary David Blunkett to approve the exhumation. At the exhumation’s press conference, the press manage to get hold of the line of enquiry regarding Willoughby, and question why Paul isn’t eliminating all individuals before potentially ruining the lives of someone else.  

As Paul directs all his attention to the exhumation, Phil and Geraint take matters into their own hands. Worried that he’s placing all his eggs in one basket, the team attempt to place the last of their efforts into tracking Willoughby without Phil’s knowledge. As Kappen’s family, Sita, the press and the local community stand by, Kappen’s coffin is lifted from his place of rest and taken to a nearby mortuary for forensic examination. 

The outcome is a success, and Kappen’s DNA is found to be an exact match. As the case is drawn to a close, Paul visits the families in a final attempt to relinquish some of their grief and bring them some closure. However, for Paul and the families, after years of searching and agonising longing, any sense of closure which they may have hoped for is out of reach.

Steeltown Murders: Series 1

BBC One

True crime in two distinct time periods, exploring a community’s grief and a buried truth

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Steeltown Murders

Series 1

Episode 4

Contributors

Genres

Brand

Series

BBC Two Northern Ireland HD

About BBC Two