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{{About|the 2011 television series|the legal term|Appropriate adult}}
{{pp-semi-indef|small=yes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox television
| image                = Appropriate Adult.jpg
| image_size           =
| image_alt            = 
| caption              = 
| genre                = [[Crime drama]]
| creator              = 
| based_on             = The [[Fred West]] murders
| writer               = Neil McKay
| screenplay           = 
| story                = 
| director             = [[Julian Jarrold]]
| starring             = {{Plainlist|
* [[Dominic West]]
* [[Emily Watson]]
* [[Monica Dolan]]
* [[Robert Glenister]]
* [[Sylvestra Le Touzel]]
* [[Samuel Roukin]]
}}
| narrated             = 
| theme_music_composer = [[Dan Jones (composer)|Dan Jones]]
| country              = United Kingdom
| language             = English
| num_episodes         = 2
| producer             = {{Plainlist|
* Lisa Gilchrist
* [[Jeff Pope]]
}}
| editor               = 
| cinematography       = 
| runtime              = 90 mins <small>(w/out advertisements)</small>
| company              =
| budget               = 
| network              = [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]
| first_aired          = {{Start date|2011|09|04|df=yes}}
| last_aired           = {{End date|2011|09|11|df=yes}}
}}
'''''Appropriate Adult''''' is a British [[crime drama]] [[television film]] shown in two parts on [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]], on 4 and 11 September 2011. It is based on the true story of [[Gloucester]] serial killer [[Fred West]] and his wife [[Rosemary West]]. It dealt with the events between the Wests' arrests in February 1994 and Fred's suicide in Birmingham's [[Winson Green Prison]] on New Year's Day 1995.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Appropriate-Adult-DVD-Dominic-West/dp/B0051UVJ0O/|title = Appropriate Adult| website=Amazon UK }}</ref> The series stars [[Dominic West]], [[Monica Dolan]] and [[Emily Watson]] as the protagonists of the story, Fred and Rose West, and Janet Leach, respectively.

The series was named after the role of [[Janet Leach (appropriate adult)|Janet Leach]] as an "[[appropriate adult]]" during the questioning of Fred West. The senior investigator wanted to ensure that there could be no suggestion that West did not understand any part of the process, so arrangements were made so that he had an "appropriate adult" present to ensure this at all times.

It was well received critically and received eight BAFTA television award nominations, with West and Watson winning the best actor and actress awards respectively, Dolan the best supporting actress award and co-producer Kwadjo Dajan the breakthrough talent award.

== Plot ==
In [[Gloucester]] in February 1994, social worker [[Janet Leach (appropriate adult)|Janet Leach]] is an [[appropriate adult]], someone present during police interviews with children or [[vulnerable adult]]s. She attends a police interview with [[Fred West]], who confesses to killing his daughter, Heather, in 1987 and burying her in his back garden. Fred privately tells Janet there were more victims, but appropriate adults cannot share conversations. After the police find the remains of several women buried at the West home, Fred says that one of them is a lodger, Shirley Robinson, killed in 1978 when she was pregnant with his child.

Janet is given the opportunity to leave the case due to its distressing nature but resolves to continue. West tells the police there is a third body in the garden. DC Hazel Savage suspects his first wife Rena and stepdaughter Charmaine, both missing since 1971, are also buried there, and that Fred's second wife [[Rose West|Rose]] was complicit, but Fred denies this. Fred appears surprised to learn that Shirley's baby had been removed from her abdomen, and tells Janet that Rose must have removed it.

Fred tells Janet he feels they have a connection. Disgusted, she decides to leave the case, but he begs her to stay. She agrees on the condition that he confess everything, and he confesses to "approximately" nine murders. The police begin digging in the Wests' basement and in the Herefordshire countryside, where West indicates a different area to Janet, and reminisces about his "true love", Anna McFall. DSI John Bennett is concerned that Fred's confession might have been made under [[Duress in English law|duress]] or fabricated to impress Janet, and warns her not to get too close to him.

Janet is approached by the media. Her partner Mike, who is [[Bipolar disorder|bipolar]], urges her to sell her story. He has a [[Mania|manic episode]] and is admitted to hospital. Janet's son Josh accuses her of having neglected the family. Fred tells Janet that he and Rose agreed to have Fred take the blame for the murders so Rose could look after the family. He calls Janet "Anna" and insists they are going on a journey together.

The police find remains of several more victims. Fred leads the police to a rural location, where he says he feels Anna's presence; he tells Janet that Anna is "guiding" him through her. Savage tells Janet that Anna was Fred's teenage babysitter while he was married to Rena in 1967; they had an affair, she became pregnant and then went missing.

Fred and Rose are jointly charged with murder and Savage tells Janet she is no longer required. Her family life resumes until Fred calls her from prison; she agrees to help him find a solicitor, to the dismay of Josh and Mike. A twelfth body is identified as Anna. With Janet's help, Fred begins writing a memoir.

Mike and Janet meet a journalist who suspects that the Wests may have been involved in the ritual killings of children. She agrees to sell information to him. Fred describes to Janet hearing the screams of children in a barn, and that there were at least 20 more victims. When Janet cancels her Christmas visit, Fred calls her, saying he sees more of Anna in her than in Rose.

Fred hangs himself in prison. As her duty of confidence no longer applies, she recounts everything Fred told her. Bennett dismisses Fred's book and tells her that Janet meant nothing to him. At home, Mike catches Janet preparing to swallow pills. She confesses that she misses feeling needed and important.

In court, Janet testifies that Fred described Rose as sadistic and murderous. She lies under oath that she has never spoken to the media about the case and collapses. Appearing in court again, she admits that she had sold her story. The defence accuses her of encouraging Fred to invent lurid stories, and suggests she was romantically involved with him. She testifies that she was only interested in the truth, and Rose is found guilty and sentenced to life in prison. The journalist finds a location matching Fred's description of the barn, but Janet expresses doubt that the truth will ever be known and returns to family life.

==Production==
The film was directed by [[Julian Jarrold]] and written by Neil McKay. The production was headed by ITV executive producer Jeff Pope, who considered it as the concluding feature in a trilogy of films about the most notorious British murder cases of the past century, the previous films being ''[[This Is Personal: The Hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper]]'' and ''[[See No Evil: The Moors Murders]]'', which won multiple awards. Co-producer Kwadjo Dajan researched and developed the project over four years after establishing contact with Janet Leach and consulting with [[Gloucestershire Constabulary]]. The drama was filmed over seven weeks in [[Manchester]]. Dominic West's physical resemblance to West was noted during filming. Fred West's daughter Mae West said he "captured the evil essence of him – his character, his mannerisms, even his gait".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hooton |first1=Christopher |title=Dominic West eerily similar to Fred West as filming of TV drama begins   |url=https://metro.co.uk/2011/08/25/dominic-west-eerily-similar-to-fred-west-as-filming-of-tv-drama-begins-127159/ |accessdate=25 October 2019 |work=Metro |date=25 August 2011}}</ref> Janet Leach found it difficult to approach Dominic West in character on set because he was so convincing that it took her back seventeen years to her work with the murderer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uk.tv.yahoo.com/news-extra/article/176427/tv-portrayal-of-killer-leaves-daughter-scared.html|title=TV portrayal of killer leaves daughter scared|publisher=[[Yahoo!]]|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929200103/http://uk.tv.yahoo.com/news-extra/article/176427/tv-portrayal-of-killer-leaves-daughter-scared.html|archivedate=29 September 2011|accessdate=3 July 2015}}</ref>

==Cast==
* [[Dominic West]] as [[Fred West]] 		
* [[Emily Watson]] as [[Janet Leach (appropriate adult)|Janet Leach]]
* [[Monica Dolan]] as [[Rosemary West|Rose West]]
* [[Robert Glenister]] as D.S.I. John Bennett
* [[Sylvestra Le Touzel]] as D.C. Hazel Savage
* [[Samuel Roukin]] as D.C. Darren Law	
* [[Anthony Flanagan]] as Mike
* [[Stanley Townsend]] as Syd Young
* [[Gerard Horan]] as Howard Ogden
* [[Seline Hizli]] as Mae West
* [[James McArdle]] as Stephen West
* [[Rupert Simonian]] as Josh Leach
* Jasper Jacob as [[Brian Leveson]] QC
* Jack Fortune as [[Richard Ferguson (barrister)|Richard Ferguson]] QC
* Vincent Brimble as [[Charles Mantell|Mr Justice Mantell]]
* Robert Whitelock as D.C. Carl Kempinsky

==Reception==
===Critics===
The first episode was met with positive reviews after it was broadcast on 4 September 2011. Sam Wollaston from ''[[The Guardian]]'' described it as "beautifully done, not sensational or hysterical". A later article by Phil Hogan in ''[[The Observer]]'' and ''The Guardian'' described Dominic West's performance as "worryingly close" but said "even with a set of chipped teeth, bad jumper choices and a rattling West Country burr, handsome Dominic could not quite conjure the Fred familiar from his demonic police mug shot. What he did conjure, in one impressively seamless personality, were the strange warring traits of a man cheerfully sane and yet not quite there – helpful but manipulative, confiding but controlling, troubled but carefree, a composite that perfectly explained why the police wanted the presence of an 'appropriate adult'".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2011/sep/11/appropriate-adult-good-evil-review|title=Rewind TV: Appropriate Adult; Horizon: Are You Good or Evil?; Reel History of Britain|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|accessdate=12 September 2011|location=London|first=Phil|last=Hogan|date=11 September 2011}}</ref> Hogan was also impressed with Monica Dolan's highly convincing performance as Rosemary, which he described as "literally spitting-mad". ITV claims that several daughters of the Wests and the families of the victims spoke positively about the series after having viewed it.<ref name="TIG"/>

===Detective Superintendent Bennett===
Following its broadcast, the programme was also criticised by retired Gloucestershire Detective Superintendent John Bennett who said, 
<blockquote>"the series went far beyond any justifiable claims of 'dramatic licence' and 'simplification' by creating dialogue and scenes which did not take place at all, these just sensationalising the story and not furthering it, wrongly depicting how Janet Leach was treated and her involvement, giving her a kudos she far from deserves".<ref name="TIG">{{cite web|url=http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/ITV-Appropriate-Adult-West-detective-John-Bennett/story-13313720-detail/story.html|title=ITV Appropriate Adult: West detective John Bennett speaks out|publisher=This is Gloucestershire|accessdate=13 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111001140308/http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/ITV-Appropriate-Adult-West-detective-John-Bennett/story-13313720-detail/story.html|archive-date=1 October 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> "This series painting her as a 'victim' and wrongly portraying the sequence of events and her contact with and payment by the Mirror Group whilst grossly exaggerating her involvement is an insult to the true victims, their families, which very much includes the extended family of the Wests, the witnesses who so courageously gave evidence, the investigating team, and its professionalism, also the many professionals and others who worked so hard to unravel the horrific crimes and bring the Wests and others to justice".<ref name="TIG"/> However, he concurred that "the mannerisms and psyche of Frederick West captured and enacted by Dominic West and Monica Dolan of Rosemary West are hauntingly accurate".<ref name="TIG"/></blockquote>

In response to Bennett's statement, ITV's Janice Troup issued the following response:

{{blockquote|We took the legitimate editorial decision to focus our drama on the largely untold story of how an ordinary mother and housewife, Janet Leach, became involved in one of Britain's most notorious murder investigations when she took on the role of Fred West's 'appropriate adult'. This is a drama not a documentary and the film has a caption at the start telling viewers that some scenes are created for purposes of dramatisation.

We have not attempted to whitewash Janet – her portrayal in the drama is subtle and balanced, and shows an ordinary woman subjected to an extraordinary situation. We depict her decision to accept the newspaper deal to sell her story, and how that was exposed in court during the trial of Rosemary West, as well as showing that her motivation was not simply financial. We met former Detective Superintendent John Bennett on several occasions to discuss the making of a factual drama based around the case of Fred and Rosemary West. Not only because he had led the police investigation, but also because, like others involved in the case, he had subsequently written a book about it.

He showed some interest in acting as a paid consultant on the project but we didn't pursue that option. We took the legitimate editorial decision to focus our drama on Janet Leach. It is certainly not ITV's wish to cause distress to the families of the Wests' victims, or their children. Two of Fred and Rosemary West's daughters have praised the drama and from those of the victim's families still contactable we have only received positive comments. The film neither recreates the crimes, nor attempts a definitive psychological analysis of Fred and Rosemary West. Like ''This Is Personal'' and ''See No Evil'' it is about the effect of the crimes, rather than crimes themselves. Whereas those earlier dramas focused variously on the police, the victims and their families, and the families of the murderers this one places at its centre a woman who was almost an accidental witness to the uncovering of what happened at 25 Cromwell Street.<ref name="TIG"/>}}

===Awards===
''Appropriate Adult'' was nominated for eight BAFTA awards at the [[2012 British Academy Television Awards]].<ref name=bafta>{{cite web|url=http://awards.bafta.org/keyword-search?keywords=Appropriate%20Adult|title=BAFTA Awards Search – Appropriate Adult|website=BAFTA.org|access-date=6 May 2021}}</ref> Dominic West and Emily Watson won their respective leading players categories, while Monica Dolan won the best supporting actress award and Kwadjo Dajan was the winner of the breakthrough talent category. Other nominations included best mini series, director, production design and writer.

{| class="wikitable" 
|-
! Award !! Category !! Nominee(s) !! Result !! Ref.
|-
| rowspan='8'| [[2012 British Academy Television Awards|British Academy Television Awards]]
| [[British Academy Television Award for Best Mini-Series|Best Mini-Series]]
| ''Appropriate Adult''
| {{nom}}
| rowspan="8"| <ref name=bafta />
|-
| [[British Academy Television Award for Best Actress|Best Leading Actress]]
| Emily Watson
| {{won}}
|-
| [[British Academy Television Award for Best Actor|Best Leading Actor]]
| Dominic West
| {{won}}
|-
| [[British Academy Television Award for Best Supporting Actress|Best Supporting Actress]]
| Monica Dolan
| {{won}}
|-
| [[British Academy Television Craft Award for Best Emerging Talent: Fiction|Breakthrough Talent]]
| Kwadjo Dajan
| {{won}}
|-
| [[British Academy Television Craft Award for Best Director: Fiction|Best Director: Fiction/Entertainment]]
| Julian Jarrold
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[British Academy Television Craft Award for Best Production Design|Best Production Design]]
| Pat Campbell
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[British Academy Television Craft Award for Best Writer: Drama|Best Writer]]
| Neil McKay
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="3"| [[Royal Television Society Programme Awards]] 
| Actor: Male
| Dominic West
| {{won}}
| rowspan="3"| <ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-09-05 |title=RTS Programme Awards 2012 |url=https://rts.org.uk/award/rts-programme-awards-2012 |access-date=2022-03-01 |website=Royal Television Society |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| Actor: Female
| Emily Watson
| {{won}}
|-
| Writing: Drama
| Neil McKay
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2"| [[Royal Television Society Craft & Design Awards]]
| Make Up Design - Drama
| Janet Horsfield
| {{won}}
| rowspan="2"|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://rts.org.uk/award/rts-announces-winners-craft-design-awards-2012|title=CRAFT & DESIGN AWARDS 2012|website=[[Royal Television Society]]|accessdate=26 February 2023}}</ref>
|-
| Tape & Film Editing Drama
| Andrew Hulme
| {{won}}
|-
|}

{{ITV True Crime Dramas}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb title|id =1831575|title =Appropriate Adult }}

[[Category:2011 British television series debuts]]
[[Category:2011 British television series endings]]
[[Category:2010s British crime drama television series]]
[[Category:2010s British television miniseries]]
[[Category:British serial killer films]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of British people]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of serial killers]]
[[Category:British English-language television shows]]
[[Category:Films directed by Julian Jarrold]]
[[Category:ITV television dramas]]
[[Category:Television controversies in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Television series by ITV Studios]]
[[Category:Television series set in the 1990s]]
[[Category:Television series set in 1994]]
[[Category:Television series set in 1995]]
[[Category:Television shows set in Gloucestershire]]
[[Category:True crime television series]]