Bloodlands returns to BBC1 this September with its second series, and many fans have been wondering if the show is based on a true story.
Bloodlands follows DCI Tom Brannick, a serving police officer in Northern Ireland who is hiding a terrible secret – he’s actually the notorious killer Goliath.
So, is there any truth to the BBC show’s story?
Here’s what we know…
Is Bloodlands based on a true story?
Bloodlands starring James Nesbitt is a fictional story – there is no real DCI Tom Brannick running around!
However, show creator Chris Brandon reveals the plot was inspired by real events.
Chris shared that the show is inspired by real history and stories from The Troubles.
He explained how the legacy of The Troubles inspired the character of Tom Brannick.
He says: “The legacy of violence has left indelible scars.
“How Northern Ireland moves forward depends very much on how it deals with its past.
“Many feel there may be peace but there is still injustice.
“Many question how there can be reconciliation without truth.
“These struggles exist in Tom Brannick.
“As a veteran detective, he has a foot in both the past and the present.
“He is also stopped from moving forward by the resurrection of an assassin myth.
“A symbol of police collusion in past violence that holds deep personal significance.”
A recent BBC Northern Ireland docuseries called Murder in the Badlands explored four brutal murders of women during The Troubles.
The Troubles hindered the investigations of the murders.
The true crime story mirrors a lot of the story of Bloodlands and helps explain how Goliath went undiscovered for so long.
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