James Nesbitt as dentist-turned-killer Colin Howell in 'skin-crawling' TV drama is available to stream for free
The chilling true story was bought to life in an ITV drama in 2016
The Secret is a chilling crime drama, based on the true story of Ballymoney dentist Colin Howell, played by a “creepy” James Nesbitt.
The 2016 four-part series reexamines the real life story of a “respectable dentist” and “pillar of the community” who became a killer in partnership with his lover, a Sunday school teacher.
And there’s never been a better time to watch the BAFTA-nominated series. This week, there are two new documentaries about Colin Howell’s crimes. Firstly, on Sunday (January 25), there’s BBC Two’s Confessions of a Killer. The first of a two-part documentary features the confession tapes recorded on the day Ballymoney dentist Colin Howell admitted to murder. It also includes emotional testimony from some of those who knew the victims.
Later the same week, Killer in the House: The Murders of Lesley Howell and Trevor Buchanan goes out on ITV (Tuesday, January 27). This documentary also reexamines the notorious double killings.
Is James Nesbitt drama about Colin Howell a true story?
The Secret, starring James Nesbitt as Colin Howell, is based on a shocking true story. Colin Howell was a married dentist with four children and a “pillar of the Baptist community in Coleraine”.
However, behind closed doors, he was having an affair with married Sunday school teacher Hazel Buchanan. They decided the only way they could be together was if they murdered their spouses… Colin Howell subsequently devised a plot to poison them with carbon monoxide fumes and then stage their deaths as a double suicide. Colin set the scene to make it look like Lesley Howell and Trevor Buchanan had taken their own lives in anguish over their partner’s affairs.
The bodies of the victims were found in a fume-filled car in Castlerock in 1991. At the time, police believed they died in a suicide pact. The truth of what happened was kept secret until 2009 when dentist Howell, a former lay preacher, walked into a police station and told the truth.
On 29 January 2009 – 18 years after the murders – Ballymoney dentist Colin Howell admitted to the two murders – that if his wife Lesley Howell, as well as Trevor Buchanan, his former lover Hazel Buchanan’s husband.
The case remains one of the UK’s most notorious double killings. The couple were eventually found guilty of murdering their spouses, Trevor Buchanan and Lesley Howell. Colin Howell is currently serving a life sentence for double murder, plus five and a half years for multiple accounts of sexual assault on anaesthetised female patients.
Who is in the cast of The Secret on ITVX and Netflix?
James Nesbitt leads the cast of The Secret as double murderer Colin Howell. Of course, James is known for his roles in Cold Feet, Bloodlands, and – most recently – Netflix’s Run Away.
Genevieve O’Reilly stars as Hazel Buchanan. She’s famous for Andor, Tin Star, Glitch, Episodes, and All Saints.
The ensemble cast also includes the always-brilliant McDonald & Dodds actor Jason Watkins as Pastor Hansford. As well as:
- Doctor Who’s Patrick O’Kane as Victor Buchanan.
- Harry Wild’s Stuart Graham as Dave Stewart.
- Hollyoaks’ Glen Wallace as victim Trevor Buchanan.
- Emma’s Laura Pyper as victim Lesley Howell.
- Blue Lights’ Jonathan Harden as DC Devine.
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Liam McMahon as DS Ferris.
Is The Secret based on a book?
The Secret is based on journalist Deric Henderson’s true crime book Let This Be Our Secret, for which he conducted extensive research.
The synopsis for the book says: “The killer dentist, his mistress, how they murdered their spouses – and how they almost got away with it.”
Where can I watch James Nesbitt as Colin Howell in The Secret?
There’s good news for true crime fans. You can watch James Nesbitt’s chilling performance as Colin Howell in The Secret for free, right now.
The Secret can be found on ITVX. The series is also available on Netflix to subscribers.
How many episodes is it?
The Secret is a four-part drama, with each episode being an hour long.
In episode one, viewers see Colin Howell, a leading member of the Baptist community, embark on a dangerous romance. Of course, anyone who followed the shocking true crime story it’s based on, will know the affair has cataclysmic consequences.
In episode 2, Lesley inherits money and threatens to leave Colin. The situation forces Colin and Hazel to put their plan into action straight away.
Episode 3 sees Colin and Hazel glimpse freedom after a ruling in their favour. However, whatever the outcome, Hazel’s guilt is eating away at her.
In the fourth and final episode, Colin believes he will be able to put his past behind him. But he soon realises he has yet to fully atone for his sins…
Reviews for The Secret on ITVX and Netflix
Critics generally LOVED The Secret, and especially praised James Nesbitt’s performance as Colin Howell.
The Guardian’s Sam Wollaston said: “James Nesbitt leads a gripping true-crime drama where churchgoers are driven to wickedness by misplaced affections. […] It’s an equally scary portrait of the community – devout to the point that religion becomes a cover to throw over serious evil and pretend it’s not happening.”
Den of Geek’s Louisa Mellor said: “Forget Jekyll and Bloodlands, in true crime series The Secret, James Nesbitt’s performance shows everyday evil hidden under cover of piety. The Secret [is] a fascinating, psychologically complex and very well-acted drama.”
The Telegraph’s Gerard O’Donovan added: “James Nesbitt is credibly creepy in a devastating true-life tale. […] Nothing makes the skin crawl quite so thoroughly as seeing evil operate under cover of religious righteousness.”
Read more: The best true crime dramas you can stream for free if you enjoyed The Hack
