Filming starts on Howell TV drama

Filming took place in Belfast’s former Crumlin Road Gaol, as producers recorded courthouse scenes for the drama.

Filming is expected to last into the New Year.

Nesbitt (50) plays killer dentist Howell and ‘The Honourable Woman’ star Genevieve O’Reilly plays Hazel.

The series is based on ‘Let This Be Our Secret’, a book by former journalist Deric Henderson which tells the story of how the Ballymoney dentist and lay preacher gassed his wife Lesley and Stewart’s husband Trevor Buchanan - and made their deaths look like a suicide pact.

Written by Bafta winning writer Stuart Urban (An Ungentlemanly Act), the drama is directed by Nick Murphy (Occupation, Prey) and produced by Jonathan Curling (Holy Cross, The Government Inspector)

The Executive Producer is Hat Trick Productions Head of Drama, Mark Redhead (Murder of Stephen Lawrence, Bloody Sunday, Case Sensitive, The Suspicions of Mr Whicher, Critical).

The Secret has been commissioned for ITV by Director of Drama Steve November and Controller of Drama Victoria Fea.

“The Secret is a powerful true life crime story,” said Steve.

“The production team at Hat Trick led by Mark Redhead has a long held reputation for producing quality drama focusing on human frailties and tragedy.”

Book author, Deric Henderson said: “It’s an extraordinary story, certainly the most remarkable I’ve ever covered in a long career.”