Everything you need to know about The Guilty Innocent with Christopher Eccleston
The Guilty Innocent is a brand new series on Sky History in association with A&E, following some of history’s biggest miscarriages of justice.
Led by Christopher Eccleston, each episode will delve into the facts of the case, from the crime itself through to the fight for redemption.
With brand new interviews of those involved, archival footage and reconstructions bringing to life what happened, The Guilty Innocent focuses on how the judicial system failed them, and how it has shaped our world today.
Who is Christopher Eccleston?
Christopher Eccleston, born February 1964, is a British actor who is taking on his first ever presenting role for The Guilty Innocent.
He studied his craft at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.
His previous work includes being the ninth regeneration of Doctor Who, 28 Days Later, and Shallow Grave.
A star of stage and screen, you can catch some of Eccleston’s work on Sky and NOW - including True Detective, his performance in Royal Shakespeare Company’s Macbeth and Sky Atlantic drama, The Leftovers.
Over the course of his career, he’s been nominated two BAFTAs, been nominated for two Critics Choice awards for The Leftovers, won an International Emmy award for 2011’s Accused, and won a Royal Television Society award for Flesh and Blood.
Speaking of The Guilty Innocent, Eccleston said:
“The pursuit of justice is a subject matter which has peppered my career with dramas that remain special to me and have, in their own way, swayed public opinion.
“The Guilty Innocent is another project which pursues justice, or the lack of it, through a new medium which has allowed me to explore another means of storytelling.”
Which cases does The Guilty Innocent with Christopher Eccleston cover?
The Guilty Innocent With Christopher Eccleston will focus on two major cases in its first series.
Episode 1: George Davis and The London Electricity Board Raid
In 1974, George Davis was arrested for the armed payroll robbery of the London Electricity Board in Ilford, Essex. In the years that followed, a massive campaign for his freedom was triggered, with public figures including Duran Duran, Roger Daltrey of The Who and Sham69 proclaiming his innocence. The conviction was eventually quashed in 2011, but not without complication.
In a TV exclusive, Davis breaks his fifty-year silence with his first ever TV interview to share his story. Eccleston also speaks to those who campaigned for his release.
Episode 2: James Hanratty
James Hanratty was one of the last men in Great Britain to be hanged, sentenced to death in April 1962 for the murder of Michael Gregsten and attempted murder of Valerie Storie in August 1961. Known as the A6 Murderer, Hanratty’s case sparked campaigns for the end of capital punishment.
How to watch The Guilty Innocent with Christopher Eccleston in the UK
The Guilty Innocent with Christopher Eccleston is available now on Sky History and NOW.