Episode description

Welcome to hell. The true story of Scotland’s notorious serial killers, Burke and Hare.

Mary Paterson is 18 when she meets William Burke in a drinking dive in Edinburgh’s Old Town in 1828. By the end of the day she will be dead and her body sold for £10 to one of the city’s leading anatomy teachers, Dr Robert Knox.

In the witness box at the High Court in Edinburgh William Hare is cross-examined on his knowledge of another murder. In fact, he has detailed knowledge of 16 murders because he’s one of the killers – but he can never be charged because the authorities have given him immunity.

Powerful five-part drama-documentary series from BBC Radio 4 with bonus scenes on BBC Sounds.

Written and dramatised by Colin MacDonald.

Narrator ….. Jack Lowden Mary Paterson ….. Helen Mackay William Hare ….. James Boal Burke ….. Gavin Mitchell Galbraith ….. Andy Clark Robert Knox ….. Simon Donaldson Henry Cockburn ….. Jimmy Chisholm David Paterson ….. Stuart McQuarrie Janet Brown ….. Nicola Roy Other parts played by the cast.

Producer/director: Bruce Young