I don’t know that the story of NHS child killer Lucy Letby needs to be made into a movie or TV drama, especially whilst the families of the victims are still alive, but it’s not like ITV would ever allow a little thing like morals to get in the way of making a few quid, is it?

Looks like it will be a big time production, with both Killing Eve star Jodie Comer and Game of Thrones star Sophie Turner tipped for the lead role in the new drama from Line of Duty’s Jed Mercurio.

According to The Sun, the director will also be working alongside hospital consultant paediatrician Dr Ravi Jayaram on the show, who was a whistle-blower in the Letby case.

A source said:

‘Jed sees this as an important story that should not just be chronicled in a drama but also explored

It aims to try to explain how her crimes could have gone on for so long and how others — particularly Dr Jayaram — tried to act when suspicions were raised.

‘Bagging a high-profile name to play Letby would help give the show the attention it deserves too, but it’s not a role to take lightly.’

Lucy Letby was found guilty of murdering seven babies and attempting to kill six more while working as a nurse at the Countess of Chester Hospital’s neonatal unit between June 2015 and June 2016. She was given a whole life sentence in August 2023 following a ten-month trial. She’s also due to face a retrial at Manchester Crown Court this month on one charge of attempting to murder a baby girl in February 2016.

Now obviously Jodie Comer/Sophie Turner would absolutely knock this role out of the park and audiences will lap it up and it will do massive ratings, but it still seems way too soon to tell the Lucy Letby story as a TV drama for entertainment. You’d think they would at least wait until after the inquiry, but I guess you’ve got to strike while the iron’s hot when it comes to milking tragedy for profit.

Unless – they’re aiming to bring something new to light? Oh who are we kidding; it’s a total cash grab. On the plus side, ITV usually do these true crime dramas very well, and this probably be no different with Jodie Comer or Sophie Turner involved. No release date of yet, but expect it sometime in 2025.

Speaking of Jodie Comer, she’s also in line to play the next Bond girl.