An Eye for a Killing - Episode 1

Welcome to hell. The true story of Scotland&rsquo;s notorious serial killers, Burke and Hare.<br /> <br /> On Christmas Eve in 1828, William Burke is on trial for murder at the High Court in Edinburgh. He&rsquo;s accused of killing an old woman, Madgy Docherty. In the witness box is his accuser &ndash; William Hare - who is Burke&rsquo;s accomplice in 16 murders.<br /> <br /> What started these two former canal labourers on a mass killing spree? Money and medicine. In 1828, Edinburgh is a world-leading centre of medical training and dissection. The anatomists need cadavers on which to demonstrate and practice &ndash; but the supply of bodies from hospitals and prisons isn&rsquo;t enough to meet the demand. Burke and Hare discover they can earn &pound;10 by selling a dead body and decide they will lure victims to their lodging house and murder them. <br /> <br /> Powerful five-part drama-documentary series from BBC Radio 4 with bonus scenes on BBC Sounds.<br /> <br /> Written and dramatised by Colin MacDonald.<br /> <br /> Narrator &hellip;.. Jack Lowden<br /> Burke &hellip;.. Gavin Mitchell<br /> Hare &hellip;.. James Boal<br /> John Fisher &hellip;.. Robert Jack<br /> Mary Paterson &hellip;.. Helen Mackay<br /> Janet Brown &hellip;.. Nicola Roy<br /> Madgy Docherty &hellip;.. Maureen Carr<br /> Jamie &hellip;.. Kyle Gardiner<br /> Sheriff Tait &hellip;.. Ron Donachie <br /> Sir William Rae &hellip;.. Stuart McQuarrie <br /> Robert Knox &hellip;.. Simon Donaldson<br /> Other parts played by the cast.<br /> Producer/director: Bruce Young