FRED AND ROSE WEST: REOPENED - S01E01

Fred And Rose West: Reopened
Series 1 / Episode 1
Wednesday 15 September 2021
ITV/STV
21:00

Presenter: Sir Trevor McDonald
​Contributor: DCI (retd) Colin Sutton
​Contributor: Dr. Donna Youngs
Contributor: Howard Sounes
Director: Marcus Plowright
Series Producer: Emily Harris
Series Producer: Marcus Plowright
Executive Producer: Dan Chambers

​In this new two-part documentary series, presented by Sir Trevor McDonald and from the filmmakers behind the International Emmy-nominated and Grierson shortlisted In Cold Blood, a team of investigators explores claims The Wests were responsible for many more murders than the 12 women and girls they are known to have killed.

Fred West committed suicide before he was brought to trial, but his wife Rose was convicted of 10 murders in 1995.  There has however always been a strong belief that there are many more victims.

This new series, shown on consecutive nights, features former Detective Chief Inspector Colin Sutton, Investigative Psychologist Donna Youngs, author Howard Sounes, and Broadcast Journalist Sir Trevor McDonald following up new leads to try to shed new light on the true number of The Wests' victims and their identities.

​In the first episode, the team unearths previously unseen documents including the full statement of Fred West's 'appropriate adult', Janet Leach, that contains details about the location of 'The Farm', where it has long been suggested up to 20 more victims may be found.

The team studies newly revealed records of discussions between Fred West and his lawyer in which Fred talked about other crimes involving himself, Rose West and his brother, John West.

Following new information from documents and witness testimonies, the team investigates numerous locations where The Wests claimed to have concealed victims.

The use of Ground Penetrating Radar, sniffer dogs, and an inspection camera also reveal a suspicious cavity beneath a cafe in Gloucester.