For viewers that missed out the first time round, ITV re-aired their award-winning 2011 drama Appropriate Adult on Tuesday evening. The two-part series is a dramatisation of the story of social worker Janet Leach, played by Emily Watson, who was hired as an 'appropriate adult' for notorious murderer Fred West during his criminal investigation in 1994. It seems that fans all had similar responses to the drama, praising Hollywood actor Dominic West's portrayal of the infamous criminal.
MORE: Is Appropriate Adult based on a true story?
© Photo: ITVEmily Watson as Janet Leach
One person wrote on social media: "#AppropriateAdult made for interesting viewing tonight, Dominic West was quite convincing as Fred West," while a second person said: "Dominic West deserves as much credit for this as David Tennant received for his portrayal of Dennis Nilsen #AppropriateAdult."
MORE: Viewers criticise ITV documentary Rose West & Myra Hindley: Untold Story
© Photo: ITVDominic West as Fred West
Meanwhile, a third person added: "Watching #appropriateadult as I didn't see it first time round, what an opening scene in the Police interview, Fred West so very matter of fact about the most horrific thing, a triumph of acting by Dominic West," as a fourth person simply wrote: "Dominic West - blimey. #AppropriateAdult."
Some viewers couldn't believe they had managed to miss the drama when it first aired in 2011. "How did I miss the award-winning #AppropriateAdult the first time round? Gripping true crime drama. Emily Watson and Dominic West are superb," said a fan.
Another, however, had a word of criticism for the actor, writing: "They missed a trick not giving Dominic West the ice blue eyes that were distinctive in Fred #AppropriateAdult."
© Photo: ITVViewers had high praise for the drama
In the real West case, Janet was brought in to aid Fred due to his illiteracy and the severity of the charges against him. The social worker knew nothing of the criminal before taking on the job and, as the series portrays, she suffered great distress both during and after the role
Janet ended up spending a total of 400 hours with Fred and he grew attached to her and would refuse to speak to police without her present. She controversially chose to remain in contact with Fred after her work was done.
However, the social worker was adamant this was due to her keenness to finding out more. Speaking previously about the case, she said: "I was desperate. I couldn't sleep at night. I kept having nightmares about all those poor girls in the cellar. But I felt I had to keep talking to Fred. Otherwise, how would their families ever know what had happened to them?"
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