ITV viewers 'turn off' true-crime drama 'A Confession' over 'shaky' camerawork

ITV’s highly-anticipated true-crime drama A Confession premiered Monday night, but some viewers were forced to ‘turn off’ after complaining about the show’s camerawork.

Starring Martin Freeman, the six-part series recounts the real-life story of Superintendent Steve Fulcher's investigation into the disappearance of a young woman named Sian O'Callaghan in 2011.

While fans were full of praise for the performances in the show, particularly for Freeman’s turn as Fulcher, many were unable to focus on the disturbing storyline due to the “shaky” camerawork. Some even claimed to “turn off” the programme as a result.

Imelda Staunton also stars in the series as Karen Edwards, whose daughter Becky also went missing. She’s joined by Happy Valley’s Siobhan Finneran, who plays O'Callaghan's mother Elaine Pickford, and This Country star Charlie Cooper, who plays O'Callaghan's boyfriend Kevin Reape.

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After eventually being led to suspect Christopher Halliwell, Fulcher broke police protocol by interrogating him without legal representation, a decision that ultimately cost him his job.

While Halliwel’s confession couldn’t be used as evidence, he was still convicted of O’Callaghan’s murder as the case against him was strong enough, but it wasn’t until 2016 that he was charged with the murder of Becky Godden-Edwards. He was later found guilty and sentenced to life in prison.

In a recent interview with Digital Spy, Freeman explained why he supports Fulcher’s decision to break police protocol during the investigation.

"He did what he did, which most people wouldn't even recognise as an infringement of the law," said Freeman. "He didn't kick or punch anybody. He didn't frame anybody up. He didn't put words into anybody's mouth.

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"My sympathy and my empathy is certainly with Steve Fulcher, let's put it that way, and not just because I've played him. I don't know how anyone could say he did the wrong thing, morally.

"I'm also somebody who believes passionately that police have to be accountable. Of course they do. But still, morally, I'd much rather coppers like him were out there."