• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Viewers Praise Stephen Merchant's 'Creepy' Performance As Grindr Killer Stephen Port

Home> Entertainment

Published 17:34 4 Jan 2022 GMT

Viewers Praise Stephen Merchant's 'Creepy' Performance As Grindr Killer Stephen Port

He stars as the killer in new BBC drama Four Lives

Claire Reid

Claire Reid

Viewers have been left feeling seriously unsettled by Stephen Merchant’s portrayal of serial killer Stephen Port in BBC drama Four Lives. 

The new three-part series centres on the horrendous crimes of Port - also known as the Grindr killer - who serving life in prison for drugging, raping and killing four men he met on the dating app. 

Port, 46, killed Anthony Walgate, 23, Gabriel Kovari, 22, Daniel Whitworth, 21, and Jack Taylor, 25, and callously dumped their bodies near his home in Barking, London. 

Met Police

Last year, the BBC announced it was producing a drama about the crimes, starring Merchant and Sheridan Smith.

In a statement, the BBC said the ‘factual drama will go beneath the headlines to shed new light on this story by telling it from the point of view of the families of Stephen Port's victims, focusing on their fight to uncover the truth about what had happened to their lost sons and brothers in the face of a now widely criticised police investigation'.

The first part aired on BBC 1 last night and viewers were left feeling creeped out by Merchant’s transformation into the killer. 

BBC

Posting on Twitter, one viewer said: “Watched Four Lives last night, TV drama at its best, unbelievable acting from Stephen Merchant, but what a sad story.”

Another wrote: “Stephen Merchant has done a great job of looking sinister as f**k on Four Lives.”

While someone else commented: “Watched Four Lives in one fell swoop last night and Stephen Merchant’s performance gave me actual nightmares. So heartbreaking- a brilliant watch.”

A fourth person praised Merchant, writing: “It is SO good. Stephen Merchant is fantastic - creepy, sinister, scary looking. What an awful true story this is, heartbreaking for the families.”

Someone else tweeted: “Chilling performance from Stephen Merchant.”

BBC

Merchant, who is better known for his comedy roles, has previously said it was a ‘privilege’ to be involved with telling this story. 

Merchant said: "This is a story that can't be ignored - how four young lives were lost and their families' brave attempt to uncover what happened.

"This factual drama will shed light on their story, so it's a privilege to be a part of telling it with the brilliant combination of Jeff Pope, Neil McKay and the BBC."

The second episode of Four Lives airs tonight on BBC1 at 9pm or you can watch them all on iPlayer now.

Featured Image Credit: BBC

Topics: TV and Film

Claire Reid
Claire Reid

Claire is a journalist at LADbible who, after dossing around for a few years, went to Liverpool John Moores University. She graduated with a degree in Journalism and a whole load of debt. When not writing words in exchange for money she is usually at home watching serial killer documentaries surrounded by cats. You can contact Claire at [email protected]

Choose your content:

2 hours ago
4 hours ago
5 hours ago
  • 2 hours ago

    Blair Witch Project movie ‘actually showed’ the witch and everyone missed it

    What are your thoughts about this take on the 1999 classic?

    Entertainment
  • 4 hours ago

    Netflix fans make realisation about 'diabolical update' that sees your favourite shows leave without you knowing

    The feature could see your favourite shows and movies leave without you realising

    Entertainment
  • 5 hours ago

    Danny Boyle reveals why 28 Years Later used ‘disturbing’ sound used by army to torture soldiers

    The recording is used by the US Army to psychologically test soldiers

    Entertainment
  • 5 hours ago

    Interstellar fan has mind-blowing theory about 'simple mistake' fans can't unsee 10 years later

    Fans on the 2014 film have been dreaming theories up for years

    Entertainment