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IMDbPro

Code of a Killer

  • TV Mini Series
  • 20152015
  • 1h 5m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
3.2K
YOUR RATING
Code of a Killer (2015)
  • Biography
  • Crime
  • Drama
The story of Sir Alec Jeffreys' discovery of DNA fingerprinting and its first use by DCS David Baker in catching a double murderer.The story of Sir Alec Jeffreys' discovery of DNA fingerprinting and its first use by DCS David Baker in catching a double murderer.The story of Sir Alec Jeffreys' discovery of DNA fingerprinting and its first use by DCS David Baker in catching a double murderer.
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
3.2K
YOUR RATING
  • Stars
    • John Simm
    • Anna Madeley
    • David Threlfall
Top credits
  • Stars
    • John Simm
    • Anna Madeley
    • David Threlfall
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 17User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win

    Episodes2

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated
    1 Season
    2015

    Photos16

    John Simm and David Threlfall in Code of a Killer (2015)
    John Simm and David Threlfall in Code of a Killer (2015)
    John Simm in Code of a Killer (2015)
    Anna Madeley and John Simm in Code of a Killer (2015)
    Code of a Killer (2015)
    Code of a Killer (2015)
    Code of a Killer (2015)
    Code of a Killer (2015)
    John Simm in Code of a Killer (2015)
    Code of a Killer (2015)
    Code of a Killer (2015)
    Code of a Killer (2015)

    Top cast

    Edit
    John Simm
    John Simm
    • Alec Jeffreysas Alec Jeffreys
    2 episodes2 eps • 2015
    Anna Madeley
    Anna Madeley
    • Sue Jeffreysas Sue Jeffreys
    2 episodes2 eps • 2015
    David Threlfall
    David Threlfall
    • DCS David Bakeras DCS David Baker
    2 episodes2 eps • 2015
    Lorcan Cranitch
    Lorcan Cranitch
    • DI Alan Maddenas DI Alan Madden
    2 episodes2 eps • 2015
    Jaz Singh Deol
    Jaz Singh Deol
    • DC Taran Kholias DC Taran Kholi
    2 episodes2 eps • 2015
    Andrew Tiernan
    Andrew Tiernan
    • DS Geoff Tayloras DS Geoff Taylor
    2 episodes2 eps • 2015
    Robert Glenister
    Robert Glenister
    • DCC Chapmanas DCC Chapman
    2 episodes2 eps • 2015
    Lydia Rose Bewley
    Lydia Rose Bewley
    • Vicky Wilsonas Vicky Wilson
    2 episodes2 eps • 2015
    Tobias Burton-Rudge
    • Gavin Hopkirkas Gavin Hopkirk
    2 episodes2 eps • 2015
    Farzana Dua Elahe
    Farzana Dua Elahe
    • Tania Patelas Tania Patel
    2 episodes2 eps • 2015
    Paul Copley
    Paul Copley
    • Sidney Jeffreysas Sidney Jeffreys
    2 episodes2 eps • 2015
    Ged Simmons
    • Eddie Eastwoodas Eddie Eastwood
    2 episodes2 eps • 2015
    Shirley Dixon
    Shirley Dixon
    • Joan Jeffreysas Joan Jeffreys
    2 episodes2 eps • 2015
    Hannah Walters
    Hannah Walters
    • Kath Eastwoodas Kath Eastwood
    2 episodes2 eps • 2015
    Dorothy Atkinson
    Dorothy Atkinson
    • Barbara Ashworthas Barbara Ashworth
    2 episodes2 eps • 2015
    Jessica Woods
    • Carole Pitchforkas Carole Pitchfork
    2 episodes2 eps • 2015
    Neil Edmond
    Neil Edmond
    • Robin Ashworthas Robin Ashworth
    2 episodes2 eps • 2015
    Darren Bancroft
    Darren Bancroft
    • Mr. Hopkirkas Mr. Hopkirk
    2 episodes2 eps • 2015
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    7.2
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    Honour
    7.1
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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In the first episode, when DCS David Baker first meets Alec Jeffreys on the steps, the real Alec Jeffreys walks up the steps and passes them.
    • Alternate versions
      When Code of a Killer was released on DVD, the two 90-minute episodes were re-formatted as three 60-minute episodes.
    • Connections
      Featured in The Wright Stuff: Episode #20.70 (2015)

    User reviews17

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Code Of A Killer
    In the 1980s, Colin Pitchfork raped and murdered two teenage girls. The story of those horrific crimes has been minutely documented because this was the first time DNA fingerprinting/profiling was used in a criminal case. Although "Code Of A Killer" is presented as a dramatisation it contains little in the way of drama, nothing graphic, and is more of a documentary, following a number of similar historically accurate dramatisations on both sides of the Atlantic. It is also in effect two stories - that of the pioneering work of Alec Jeffreys, and of the hunt for a nascent serial killer.

    The mentally challenged Richard Buckland who confessed to the second murder is renamed Gavin Hopkirk, which will certainly not please the real owners of that name, bar the fictional murderer from a 2014 ITV series. The name of the man who was duped into impersonating Pitchfork to donate blood has also been changed, even though it is widely known. He paid a heavy price for that act of misguided loyalty.

    Beyond the scope of this dramatisation is the unthinkable release of this monster. In 2016 he was moved to an open prison and two years later was photographed in Bristol. He has since been denied parole, and the families of his victims have mounted a national campaign to put him back in a proper prison where he belongs.
    helpful•3
    1
    • a_baron
    • Nov 14, 2019

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 6, 2015 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • 真兇密碼
    • Filming locations
      • Ripley, Surrey, England, UK
    • Production company
      • World Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 5 minutes
    • Color
      • Color

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