Malcolm Webster: The Chilling True Story Behind The Widower
If you’re looking for a series that will genuinely keep you on edge this winter, Netflix has delivered with The Widower , a gripping crime drama that has climbed straight into the streaming giant’s top 10. Originally aired on ITV back in 2014, the series is based on the horrifying true story of Malcolm Webster, a former nurse from Surrey whose crimes shocked the nation. Webster, played chillingly by Reece Shearsmith, murdered his first wife and attempted to kill his second, all in the pursuit of life insurance money. Sheridan Smith stars as his first wife, Claire Morris, while Kate Fleetwood portrays Felicity Drumm, his second wife.
Webster’s pattern was both calculated and terrifying. He habitually pursued relationships with women, using them as a source of financial gain. In 1993, he married Claire Morris from Aberdeenshire. During their marriage, Webster drugged Claire and, in May 1994, orchestrated a car crash while she was in the passenger seat, setting the car on fire in a carefully staged accident. Amazingly, Claire survived, but the horrifying plot marked the beginning of Webster’s deadly double life.
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Later, in 1997, Webster married Felicity Drumm, an oncology nurse in New Zealand, with whom he had a son. By 1999, he staged a second car crash in a bid to kill Felicity and fraudulently claim £750,000 from multiple life insurance policies. Webster’s manipulative tendencies didn’t stop there; he even convinced another woman, Simone Banarjee, that he was terminally ill in an effort to inherit her estate, though the police intervened before any harm could occur.
The drama has been praised for its haunting performances. Reece Shearsmith’s portrayal of Webster has been described as masterful, his subtle expressions and chilling demeanor capturing the deceptive charm of a pathological liar. Sheridan Smith was widely applauded for embodying Claire’s terror and vulnerability, so authentically that Claire’s own brother, Peter Morris, said watching her performance brought back the memory of his sister. Viewers on Reddit and IMDb have echoed this sentiment, calling the series “compelling yet appalling” and warning that it’s deeply unsettling, especially knowing the events are real.
Webster’s crimes did not go unpunished. In July 2011, he was sentenced to a minimum of 30 years in prison, and subsequent appeals, including attempts to have his case reviewed by the High Court, were rejected. At 66, he remains incarcerated, a stark reminder of how deception and greed can lead to devastating consequences.
The Widower now streaming on Netflix is not just a series—it’s a chilling reminder of real-life horror. With the dark nights settling in, it’s exactly the kind of gripping drama that keeps you glued to the screen, simultaneously terrified and fascinated by the story of Malcolm Webster. Watching it, you can’t help but feel the weight of the true events behind the fiction, making it one of the most haunting crime dramas of recent years.
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