The show will focus on “the emotional impact” of Nilsen’s crimes…

Brian Masters’ Dennis Nilsen biography Killing For Company has been adapted by Luke Neal for ITV. Former Doctor David Tennant star as the notorious serial killer, who died in prison in May of 2018.

Scot Nilsen killed at least twelve young men between 1978 and 1983. The three-part Tennant-led series, which is called Des, explores “the personal and professional consequences of coming into contact with a man like Nilsen.” Line of Duty‘s Daniel Mays plays the police officer investigating the murders, and Jason Watkins (The Crown) is Killing for Company author Masters.

Here’s the first trailer…

“David Tennant is going to be brilliant as Dennis Nilsen, and with Daniel Mays as Jay and Jason Watkins as Brian, this has an incredible cast to bring this story to screen,” said ITV drama boss Polly Hill when the project was announced.

“Nilsen’s crimes shocked the nation in the early 1980s,” said Kim Varvell, executive producer for New Pictures. “Our program focuses on the emotional impact of those terrible crimes, both on those who came into contact with Nilsen himself, and also on the victims’ families.”

Des will premiere in September on ITV.