Netflix’s The Widower starring Reece Shearsmith tells the true story of Malcolm Webster, the nurse who murdered his wife and attempted to kill his second
The Widower, originally aired on ITV in 2014, has just landed on Netflix and is already scaling the streaming giant’s most-watched chart.
The series of Netflix, which is home to a number of true crime shows, chronicles the life and heinous acts of Malcolm Webster (portrayed by Reese Shearsmith), a Surrey nurse who murdered his first wife and tried to kill his second.
Webster, now 66, was known for pursuing relationships with women to boost his income.
In 1993, he wed Claire Morris from Aberdeenshire, and during their marriage, he drugged her.
In May 1994, he drugged Claire before orchestrating a car crash with her in the passenger seat and setting the vehicle ablaze, making it appear as an accident.
In 1997, he married oncology nurse Felicity Drumm in New Zealand, with whom he had a son.
He staged a second car crash in 1999 and was accused of trying to murder her to fraudulently claim £750,000 from nine insurance policies.
Webster also planned to marry Simone Banarjee, having deceived her into believing he had terminal leukaemia.
She altered her will, leaving her entire estate to Webster, but police alerted her about her fiancé’s past and revealed he already had a wife and son.
In July 2011, he was sentenced to at least 30 years in prison, where he remains today.
The former nurse was convicted of murdering Claire Morris and attempting to murder Felicity Drumm.
These crimes were part of a scheme to claim nearly £1m in life assurance money.
In 2016, he tried to get his case referred back to the High Court, but the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission denied his application.
Previously in 2013, his appeal was dismissed when judges rejected his claim of being a victim of a miscarriage of justice.
The Widower is available on Netflix.