Staying in to avoid the heat? Here’s the best crime documentaries of the year so far to watch while you keep cool
There's been some absolutely jaw dropping true crime shows on TV this year - we've rounded them up and share how to watch them
We are battling through another heatwave, and with schools closing and people being urged to work from home, there's going to be a lot of staying in going on while avoiding soaring temperatures.
If you're planning to remain firmly indoors in a bid to stay cool and have some spare time to dedicate to watching TV, you might want to take a look at our roundup of the best true crime documentaries to hit our screens this year.
There's been some horrifying and jaw dropping shows dedicated to dissecting crimes old and new in recent months. In case you missed our favourites, we reveal what you can expect from them and how you can tune in.
Best crime documentaries of the year so far
1. The Mother of All cons
The Mother of All Cons is a three-part BBC true crime documentary delving into the incredible story of a mother and daughter who set up a charity for critically ill children in 2012.
When Jean O'Brien's daughter Megan Bhari was diagnosed with a brain tumour at the age of 16, the pair started the Believe In Magic charity to help other children with life limiting illnesses.
However, it wasn't long before parents who came into contact with them started to question Jean's claims about her daughter's condition, and large financial donations to the charity went unaccounted for.
When Megan did later die, but not from the tumour her mother suggested she had, a devastating account of what could really have happened to her began to emerge.
2. Lover, Liar, Predator
Lover, Liar, Predator is another BBC true crime documentary, looking at the unthinkable actions of a man named Aaron Swan, and the impact he had on innocent victims.
The one-off film shows how a number of women all encountered the same man, Aaron, who was on the sex offender register.
As the title suggests, he told lies and began a series of physically and mentally abusive relationships with the women that led to pregnancies, affairs, coercion and abuse.
They waived their anonymity to tell their stories, sharing how they finally managed to bring him to justice.
3. Jeremy Bamber: Proof of Innocence - The Missing Phone Call
Recently released on Channel 5, the 90-minute special, Jeremy Bamber: Proof of Innocence - The Missing Phone Call takes a fresh look at a case from the 80s.
Jeremy Bamber is the man at the centre of the infamous White House Farm murders, and he currently remains in prison for being found guilty of shooting dead his adoptive parents, Nevill and June, his adoptive sister, Sheila, and her six-year-old twin sons, Nicholas and Daniel.
However, the documentary examines how a phone call that was logged but missed as evidence during the original trial, could be the key to proving Jeremy's innocence - he has always maintained he didn't kill his family.
There is also further evidence that comes to light in the film, including letters written by his sister deemed unreadable at the time, that have now been deciphered and could also add weight to the case to free him.
How to watch The Mother of All Cons, Lover, Liar, Predator, and Jeremy Bamber: Proof of Innocence - The Missing Phone Call
In the UK, you can tune in to The Mother of All Cons and Lover, Liar, Predator on BBC iPlayer. Jeremy Bamber: Proof of Innocence - The Missing Phone Call can be found on Channel 5's catch-up service, 5.
If you’re going to be away from your usual TV set-up and need to tune in to any of these documentaries from elsewhere in the world, you can do so with the use of a Virtual Private Network - a VPN.
A VPN allows you to change your IP address to that of the area of what you want to watch, meaning you can tune in to the show, even if you're not there.
If you've never installed a VPN before, don't worry, it's quick and easy. Just follow these three steps:
- Download and install the VPN following NordVPN's easy-to-follow instructions.
- Once you've installed your VPN, open the app and select your server location as anywhere in the UK.
- With your VPN installed and server location set to UK, you can now watch your chosen documentary on the catch-up service for the channel it originally aired on.
4. Maternal Instinct
Airing on Netflix, Maternal Instinct is pretty gruesome, and you really won't believe your eyes at times.
The single-episode documentary tells the horrifying tale of a woman named Taylor Parker, who was known for telling increasingly outlandish lies about herself.
Moving to a new area and meeting a man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with, Taylor told the ultimate lie and faked a pregnancy in order to keep the relationship going.
When her due date came and went, a desperate Taylor did a heinous thing in order to continue her lie, leaving her currently on death row. The documentary looks at how she faked her pregnancy, and the lives that have been destroyed because of her actions.
5. The Murder of Rachel Nickell
Also airing on Netflix, The Murder of Rachel Nickell is a documentary accompanying a three-part true crime drama The Witness, covering the horrifying murder of young mum Rachel Nickell who was killed on Wimbledon common in 1992.
The 23-year-old was stabbed multiple times in front of her two-year-old son, Alex Hanscombe, who was the only witness. The police later wrongfully arrested an innocent man, Colin Stagg for the crime, and took many years to find the real culprit.
The documentary contains previously unseen footage, detailing conversations Rachell's devastated partner André had with Alex when the investigation was getting underway.
Alex can be heard saying he thinks he saw the "bad man" before his mum did, who then "knocked me over." Devastatingly, the little boy can also be heard saying, "I saw the knife. I saw it, yeah, I saw it all."
6. Should I Marry A Murderer?
Another one to be found on Netflix, the three-part Should I Marry A Murderer? tells the shocking story of forensic pathologist, Caroline Muirhead, whose life took a dramatic turn after meeting a man on Tinder.
After a whirlwind romance with Alexander McKellar, the couple were thinking about marriage when Alexander admitted to killing a man in a hit and run, and burying his body near his workplace in the Scottish Highlands.
Caroline put herself in danger by staying with Alexander while working with police, to try and get him to reveal the location of the body - a man deemed a missing person, whose family were waiting for closure.
How to watch Maternal Instinct, The Murder of Rachel Nickell and Should I Marry A Murderer?
All three documentaries are airing exclusively on Netflix, and a subscription to the streamer is required.
Prices start at £5.99 per month for the cheapest membership which is ad-supported. This tier allows subscribers to watch on one device at a time with no downloads available.
For the £12.99 per month standard subscription, viewers can watch in HD and on two devices at a time.
Viewers can pay £18.99 per month for a premium subscription. This allows subscribers to watch in Ultra HD where available, on four devices at a time.
