Jason Watkins: ITV drama will change perceptions of serial killer Nilsen

Jason Watkins thinks his upcoming ITV drama will change people\'s perceptions of notorious serial killer Dennis Nilsen.

The 53-year-old actor met with controversial writer Brian Masters - who wrote the murderer\'s somewhat sympathetic biography \'Killing for Company\' - to prepare to play the writer in \'Des\' and ultimately shared the same view of Nilsen after meeting him in prison to write his book.

He told The Sun\'s Bizarre TV column: "Brian is very clever. He\'s complex and a great character to play. When Nilsen was awaiting trial, Brian asked the Home Office if he could visit him as he wanted to write a book."

When asked if viewers might see the killer differently after watching \'Des\', Jason added: "I don\'t want to pre-empt it, but that\'s the debate."

Nilsen - who died in prison in 2018 at the age of 72 - was found to have killed at least a dozen men in London between 1978 and 1983, and was known as the Muswell Hill Murderer as he committed many of his murders in the Muswell Hill area of North London where he lived.

He disposed of his victims by dissecting the bodies and either burning them or flushing them down the toilet.

Nilsen was caught when DCI Peter Jay was called to his home after the discovery of decaying human remains causing the blockage of a near-by drain.

Scotsman Nilsen was convicted of six counts of murder and two of attempted murder and sentenced to life imprisonment on 4 November 1983.

Former \'Doctor Who\' actor David Tennant plays Nilsen in \'Des\' and the project also stars Daniel Mays as Detective Chief Inspector Peter Jay.

ITV\'s head of drama Polly Hill is delighted with the star-studded cast assembled for the programme, which is due to air later this year.

She said: "This starts with Nilsen\'s arrest and is looking at him through the eyes of the police officer trying to identify those he killed and deliver -justice. David Tennant is going to be brilliant as Nilsen and, with Daniel and Jason, this has an incredible cast."