Mark Stanley has told how he “breathed the biggest sigh of relief” after the real-life person he plays in White House Farm said he was pleased with his portrayal.
Stanley, 31, plays Colin Caffell, the ex-husband of Jeremy Bamber’s sister Sheila and father to twin boys Daniel and Nicholas Caffell, in the six part ITV drama.
In 1986, Bamber was sentenced to 25 years in prison after being found guilty of murdering Sheila, Daniel, Nicholas and her parents Nevill and June Bamber.
He has maintained his innocence throughout the years, trying repeatedly to have his conviction overturned.
White House Farm: Real Life & Characters - In pictures
Speaking to Standard Online, Stanley – who stars alongside Stephen Graham, Cressida Bonas, Alfie Allen and Gemma Whelan – revealed Caffell gave him guidance ahead of filming.
“He gave me a few hours on the phone initially,” he said. “He’s the bravest bloke I’ve ever met, he’s amazing. He allowed me to ask him about specific moments we knew we were going to see on screen. He was really generous with his recollection and experience of the time.”
He added: “Colin was really generous. He’s been so forthcoming throughout the project and him even giving it his blessing and everything I think was really important to everyone.”
When the series was complete, Caffell told Stanley he was pleased with how it had turned out.
“He’s seen the whole thing. When he told me he how happy he was with it, and how happy he was with how I’d portrayed him, I breathed the biggest sigh of relief of my life," he said.
“Imagine it going the other way! It would have been awful.
“You have to make sure you do these things with as much care as you can and respect for the people involved. Having that nod of approval, [I thought] thank God for that.”
Stanley also stars in the series alongside Freddie Fox, part of the Fox acting dynasty, which he described as “coming home” as the pair trained in drama school together at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in the capital.
“I’ve known Freddie for like 10 years. I found out he was in it too when I went for a wig fitting and we were both just over the moon,” he added.
“We’re in quite a few great scenes together that have been great, and having that camaraderie with him and everyone else that was knocking about has just been fantastic.”
White House Farm airs tonight (Wednesday January 8) at 9pm on ITV.
