{"id":3227,"date":"2021-08-18T10:00:45","date_gmt":"2021-08-18T08:00:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1315558"},"modified":"2021-08-18T10:18:24","modified_gmt":"2021-08-18T08:18:24","slug":"memories-of-a-murderer-director-impressed-by-david-tennants-performance-in-des-but-didnt-let-it-influence-documentary","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/memories-of-a-murderer-director-impressed-by-david-tennants-performance-in-des-but-didnt-let-it-influence-documentary\/","title":{"rendered":"Memories of a Murderer director \u201cimpressed\u201d by David Tennant\u2019s performance in Des but didn\u2019t let it influence documentary"},"content":{"rendered":"

Michael Harte, who directs Netflix’s upcoming Dennis Nilsen documentary, spoke to RadioTimes.com about David Tennant’s performance as the serial killer. <\/p>

By Lauren Morris\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 18 August 2021 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

The director behind Netflix\u2019s Memories of a Murderer: Nilsen Tapes<\/a> says the ITV drama Des<\/a> didn\u2019t influence his documentary in anyway, although it was \u201cquite a shock\u201d to see David Tennant\u2019s accurate impression of Dennis Nilsen.<\/p>\n

Michael Harte, who directed the one-off film featuring tapes recorded by the serial killer, told RadioTimes.com<\/a><\/strong> in an exclusive interview that, while he did watch the ITV drama starring Tennant, Daniel Mays and Jason Watkins, he didn\u2019t take inspiration from it when making Memories of a Murderer.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had been in production for about seven months before the drama came out. We hadn\u2019t really shot anything yet because the lockdown had happened, so I\u2019d been through my process with the tapes and I knew his voice inside out by the time it came out.<\/p>\n

\""Des\"<\/div>
David Tennant as Dennis Nilsen in Des<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

\u201cWhen I heard David Tennant, I was so impressed by it because I thought he had the rhythms down perfectly, so that was quite a shock to see him play that.<\/p>\n

\u201cHowever, I didn\u2019t let it influence me because, by the time the drama had come out, I had formulated my own idea of what the documentary was going to be at that point.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd this is a documentary, this isn\u2019t a drama. These are two completely different formats and that\u2019s a three part series. We wanted to tell a one-off, very tight film that was thematically tight as well and so I watched [Des], but in no way did I let it influence how we made [Memories of a Murderer].\u201d<\/p>\n

The documentary takes a fresh look at Nilsen, one of Britain\u2019s most notorious serial killers, who is known to have killed 12 men and boys and attempting to murder seven others at his Muswell Hill flat in 1978.<\/p>

Memories of a Murderer: Nilsen Tapes arrives on Netflix<\/a> on 18th August. Looking for something else to watch? Check out out the best Netflix documentaries<\/a>. You can also plan your viewing with our TV Guide<\/a> or visit our dedicated Documentaries<\/a> hub for the latest news.<\/strong><\/section>\n
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