Latest news with #RoseWest
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Daily Mail
I was Fred West's son: Dad was a monster but my psychopath mum Rose was even worse
Barry West was just seven when he watched his parents beat his sister Heather to death at their Cromwell Street home in Gloucester. The son of Fred and Rose West died of a painkiller overdose, aged 40, in 2021 after telling a doctor his life was 'not worth living'. Between 1967 and 1987, Fred and Rose tortured, raped, and murdered at least 12 young women in Gloucester, including two of their own daughters, before Fred died by suicide and Rose was sentenced to life in prison in 1995. In a previously unshared interview, that took place two years before his death, Barry told the Mirror that his father was a 'solid monster' but it was his mother that was 'a complete psycho'. The deviant couple married at Gloucester Register Office in January 1972 and moved into a three-storey property at 25 Cromwell Street shortly afterwards. It was here, in what was dubbed the 'House of Horrors', that the majority of their victims were found buried in the garden and cellar in 1994. Among their 12 victims was their eldest daughter Heather, who was 16 when West killed and dismembered her, and Charmaine, Fred's eight-year-old daughter from his first marriage to Rena Costello. During their time together, Fred and Rose shared ten children in total - including five they had together. Then there were the two girls, including Charmaine and Fred, as well as three daughters Rose gave birth to after becoming pregnant from clients she slept with while working as a prostitute. Barry was Rose and Fred West's youngest child, with the couple also parents to daughters Heather Ann, Mae June and Louise, alongside son Stephen, 45. In June 1987, Heather, 16, became the final victim of the Wests after suffering years or trauma and abuse at the hands of her parents. Barry, then seven, witnessed the death of his sister at the hands of her parents. Taken into care five years later, he was too scared to give evidence at his mother's 1995 trial and was plagued by nightmares and psychiatric problems his entire life. 'That's what people don't know: My mum was, child abuse-wise, the main person,' Barry said. 'My mum was completely sick in the head. She beat me way more than my dad did, and enjoyed it, absolutely enjoyed it.' Barry's bedroom had been in the soundproofed cellar at 25 Cromwell Street, where the West children were often locked in overnight with Rose wearing the keys around her neck. Opening up about the abuse he suffered, he revealed that Rose would violently lash out straggling and even stabbing her children. Barry said that his nose had become deformed due to the number of times she broken it and that she would regularly beat him with a giant wooden spoon which would split his head open. 'She was just as sick as him. Her moods didn't change. She used to hit us even on Christmas Day. She used to smack you straight in the mouth,' Barry added. He recalled one Christmas where he hid his Brussels sprouts behind the back of a chair and when Rose found it days later, she made him eat the rotting vegetable before forcing him to swallow his own sick. Barry described his father as 'disgusting man' who forced him into sexual situations with his mother at just eight or nine'. He claimed Fred regularly spoke about wanting to take his daughters' virginity in front of him , telling him about about the family tradition of incest, and sex with animals. According to Barry, the children would answer to phone to take booking for Rose when she working as a prostitute and he was also offered up to clients. He recalled his mother telling him 'there's a man in here and I want you to do exactly what he tells you to do, no matter what'. Charmaine West (pictured) was murdered by Rose West at the age of eight and buried in the garden by Fred upon his release from prison Mae West (pictured as a teenager) was not taken into care and is believed to be the only one of the siblings who maintained contact with Rose after she was imprisoned Stephen West pictured as a young boy with his dad Fred and his sister Heather, whose grave he was made to dig The man became a regular and repeatedly raped him as well as having sex with Rose. He claimed he and his sibling were made to watch homemade porn featuring their mother. Barry admitted that he thought about killing his father and stabbed him with a screwdriver when he was aged 11. However, Fred just laughed at him, he said. 'Why didn't we all run away?,' Barry asked. He responded to himself by saying his 'dad was like God' who 'you couldn't beat' as 'he would find you.' His older sister Heather's death acted as a warningr. The rest of the children were told she'd moved away, but it went on to become a family 'joke' that if your crossed Fred and Rose, you could suffer the same fate - dead under the patio. Inside the House of Horrors: How Fred and Rose West killed 12 people and buried them in their Cromwell Street home Fred and Rose West are believed to have killed at least 12 people, with most of the victims subject to rape and other forms of sexual torture before their eventual deaths. The couple married at Gloucester Register Office in January 1972 and moved into a three-storey property at 25 Cromwell Street shortly afterwards. It was here, in what was dubbed the 'House of Horrors', that the majority of their victims were found buried in the garden and cellar in 1994. Rose and Fred's first victim was teenager Lynda Gough, who the couple met through a male lodger in early 1973. Her body was found dismembered, with bones missing, in a pit beneath the couple's garage in Gloucester. A further five victims were murdered and buried in the cellar at Cromwell Street between November 1973 and April 1975. The first of these victims, Carol Ann Cooper, 15, was abducted in November 1973. Cooper lived in the Pines Children's Home in Worcester, and was kidnapped after spending the evening at a cinema with her boyfriend. As had been the case with Lynda, Cooper died from strangulation or asphyxiation, before her body was dismembered and buried in a shallow, cubical grave in the cellar. Four further victims, aged between 15 and 21, suffered a similar fate over the next 17 months. Fred's first wife Rena was also murdered aged 27 after her daughter Charmaine was killed in 1971. It is understood Fred killed teenager Anne McFall, who was pregnant with his child, in July 1967. Her body was found in 1994 buried in a cornfield, with her limbs severed and several of her bones missing. The pair also killed their daughter Heather in June 1987. Their children began to come forward about the abuse they suffered at the hands of their parents in 1992. Social services then started investigating Fred and Rose and later questioned Heather's disappearance. They were granted a search warrant for the Cromwell Road property in 1994 and Fred later confessed to the murder of his daughter. Fred killed himself in prison in 1995 while awaiting trial on 12 murder charges. His wife, 67, was sentenced to life in jail without parole for ten murders.
Scottish Sun
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
I was jailed with UK's most evil killers… I slapped Myra Hindley for sick tune & saw raging Rose West froth at mouth
Convicted killer Linda Calvey describes the bizarre incident which sent serial killer Rose West into a blind rage DARK TIME I was jailed with UK's most evil killers… I slapped Myra Hindley for sick tune & saw raging Rose West froth at mouth HEARING 'Britain's most evil woman' cheerfully singing along to the radio, convicted killer Linda Calvey felt something snap inside. Seconds later Linda - dubbed 'The Black Widow' - slapped child killer Myra Hindley so hard she left a handprint mark on her face, leaving the child killer recoiling in horror and pain. 12 Evil Myra Hindley was considered the 'most evil woman in Britain' due to her crimes Credit: Hulton Archive - Getty 12 Linda reveals the Moors Murderer considered her 'a friend' - much to her annoyance 12 She labelled Rose West 'not very intelligent, drab and dull' Credit: PA:Press Association 'It all happened in a split-second,' Linda tells us. 'I yelled, 'How dare you sing when you murdered all of those children!' I slapped her without thinking.' This was her first of many encounters with the Moors Murderer, who butchered five kids aged 10 to 17 alongside partner Ian Brady in the Sixties, in three different prisons. Linda, jailed for multiple robbery offences and murder, would, reluctantly, get to know Myra better than anyone behind bars and now reveals all for The Sun's Meeting a Monster series. She tells us how Hindley duped prison staff to feed her interest in the occult and hid her secret fling with another notorious inmate. Recalling her attack on Myra, Linda tells us: 'I walked into the washing room and couldn't believe she was singing along to the radio. 'The next second I snapped, before I knew it, without even thinking, I slapped her. I thought, 'Oh God, what have I done?' but I'm still glad to this day that I did it. 'I remember she looked at me, rubbed her face and there was a handprint. She yelled, 'I could get you shipped off to [HMP] Holloway'. 'I said 'Holloway holds no fears for me' and walked out. The mad thing is she never reported me but I think part of it was that she had been attacked so many times before. 'Prior to that an inmate had broken her nose and there were various other issues, I think she feared officers would force her to give up her job washing inmates' clothes. 'That wouldn't have benefitted her, she would have been locked in her cell all day with nothing to do.' Pathetic last days of Rose West revealed as serial killer monster can barely walk, has no friends & has new fake identity 12 Moors Murderer Myra and Ian Brady committed abhorrent killings during the Sixties Credit: Shutterstock 12 Evil Ian Brady died at the age of 79 Credit: Hulton Archive - Getty It would take four more encounters before Myra spoke again to Linda - who next week releases gangland crime fiction Hope, loosely influenced by her experiences in prison and London's East End underworld. By this time, Hindley no longer sported her trademark blonde hair, instead dying it red. But she had the same 'harsh features and look about her' that made many lags feel uncomfortable. 'You wouldn't look at her twice on the street. She looked more like an everyday housewife than a monster but there was this evil, horrible feeling around her,' Linda recalls. 'There was no warmth or niceness. She had this unpleasant aura and was very aloof but highly, highly intelligent.' Evil obsession Linda worked in the prison library and Myra would often come in to order books - permitted for inmates - but the monster had a dark motive behind it. While she requested romantic books under her own name, she secretly used the identity of other inmates to pursue her real passion. 'She would say, 'Can you order a book under this name?' and choose totally different books. They were about Adolf Hitler, black magic and obscure things,' Linda says. 'I told one of the staff, 'This is ridiculous. Is she allowed to do this?' 'They told me to just order the books. Myra bucked the system and it proved her true feelings and desires. This was long into her sentence too.' The serial killer considered herself 'far superior' to her fellow inmates who she considered 'stupid and thick' according to Linda. It was right for her to suffer so intensely at the end of her life after all the harm she caused. I remember I used to look at her and think, 'You deserve this' Linda on Myra Hindley Myra mainly kept to herself and few prisoners wanted to talk to her. One who did was fellow monster Rose West, who tortured and killed 10 young women with her husband Fred. Linda noted that they 'became thick as thieves', spending every meal time and any spare moments together, as well as often disappearing into each other's cells, in HMP Durham. 'Everybody knew they were having a fling, it was like they were stuck together. It's just beyond belief to think about,' Linda says. 'These were the two worst women in Britain, two mass murderers, and they were getting involved with each other, having an affair. 'They used to go to each other's cells all of the time and while you couldn't lock the door you could close it. Everybody knew what was going on. 'I remember one prison officer, who came over from the men's wing, being horrified when he saw them together and said, 'If I had a camera I could retire tomorrow.'' Their fling lasted seven weeks before it 'suddenly stopped' according to Linda, which she found 'very bizarre' due to how cosy they had been. She suspects the lawyer representing Rose, who was then awaiting trial, may have advised her against spending time with Myra because it was 'not a good idea and didn't look good'. 'Poetic justice' The final time Linda met Myra was in HMP Highpoint, where the villain was kept isolated living in two cells between the hospital wing and cell block. 12 Myra Hindley and Ian Brady murdered five kids Credit: SWNS:South West News Service 12 West lost her temper and flew into furious rages in front of Linda Credit: Alamy Linda says: 'It was called 'no man's land' and they decided she had to live there. Her life was totally solitary. She lived in one cell and she had a job repairing books in the other. 'She was a really ill woman then. She did suffer a lot. She had such brittle bones that they were always snapping and chronic COPD but remained a chain smoker. 'Normally you'd feel sympathy for someone like that - 'that poor person' - but for her it felt like poetic justice. 'It was right for her to suffer so intensely at the end of her life after all the harm she caused. I remember I used to look at her and think, 'You deserve this.'' Knowing she trained as a hairdresser and that they had met before, Linda was the unfortunate soul picked to style Myra hair - a task she couldn't refuse, fearing it would impact her chance of parole. She would dye it red once a month and wash it twice a week and noted that the murderer was 'very particular' as her hair was the 'only thing left she could control'. During their time together, Myra asked about life on the prison wing and spoke about her longing to go to the gym - which she was unable to do. In a bizarre moment, after several weeks styling her hair, Linda was forced to speak to Myra's mum on the phone and was told she was the beast's 'only pal'. 'With a really elderly voice, her mum said 'Hello' and 'I'm so pleased my Myra's finally got a friend',' Linda tells us. She was hysterical, absolutely enraged and yelled, 'He should be hanged! That poor cyclist'. While yes, it was terrible, that was coming from a mass murderer Linda on Rose West 'I thought, 'I am not her friend', but didn't say it. I thought about all her poor mum must have suffered having her for a daughter. She must have taken a lot of stick.' Myra was so desperate for attention that she gave Linda a bevvy of gifts including a cardigan 'to keep me warm, which looked awful' and an empty chocolate box, because it was velvet and she thought it 'looked lovely' . The monster, who died from respiratory failure in 2002, had a miserable time rotting in prison before she passed. Linda says: 'Myra was really lonely and the longer into the sentence she got the worse it was for her. In HMP Highpoint she couldn't mix with anyone and had a very lonely existence in the final two years before she died.' 'Foaming with rage' Another famous lag Linda shared her stint with was Rose West - but unlike Myra, the former was a woman of 'quite low intelligence'. One moment that highlighted it to her, was the night her husband Fred took his own life in 1995 while the House of Horrors killers were awaiting trial. 'We could hear the men from the male prison wing singing 'Fred West, has gone and hung himself' to the tune of The Village People song Go West,' Linda says. 'We all heard it but Rose never associated what they were singing with Fred having killed himself and that it was about her husband. She wasn't intelligent. 'When she found out about his suicide, she wasn't happy at all. She wasn't upset, she was angry and absolutely raving about what he had done. 12 West was 'absolutely raving' when she discovered husband Fred killed himself Credit: Shutterstock 12 Linda credits third husband George Ceasar, who died from cancer in 2015, with encouraging her to write Credit: Supplied 'I think she felt that way because until that point she thought she was going to walk away and Fred would take the rap for their crimes.' Besides being 'rather thick', Linda thought Rose was 'very drab, dry and very old fashioned' and the only positive thing about her was that she was a very talented seamstress. And while she gave off a meek persona, claiming to have been bent to evil under duress from Fred, there were a few times where the monster's mask slipped. Once was during a prison session with a university lecturer, who encouraged inmates to debate stories in the newspaper. The one they chose was about a drunk driver who ran over a cyclist, killing him, which Linda says left Rose so enraged she was 'foaming at the mouth'. 'She was hysterical, absolutely enraged and yelled, 'He should be hanged! That poor cyclist'. While yes, it was terrible, that was coming from a mass murderer. 'She started foaming at the mouth, it looked like toothpaste and we were transfixed by this gross white gunk coming out of her mouth. That's when the debate ended.' Another outburst followed an arsonist setting fire to her cell, which nearly killed her pet budgie, who was left covered in black soot. He was always proposing. He didn't write love letters, he would just say, 'I was thinking, if you'd like to marry me the offer is still there' Linda on notorious lag Linda recalls: 'Rose was hysterical, 'How could anyone be so evil to set fire to a cell and leave a bird in there' she yelled. She begged the guards to save it. 'It was given to another inmate to nurse back to health. After that, she went and lay on her bed for two days straight. She didn't get off it until the budgie was better.' Serial proposers In another surprising twist, Linda found herself on the receiving end of affection from two notorious prisoners - mobster Reggie Kray and violent lag Charles Bronson. The former, she tells us, would call her every week from prison, lavished her with gifts and once proposed before telling her 'forget I said anything' after she turned him down. Meanwhile Bronson popped the question 'probably every three months and at least 14 times' in letters as well as sending her photos. The lag, who has nearly served 50 years behind bars, contacted her claiming he knew some of her friends and said 'what a lovely person I was'. 'Due to being in prison for so long, he didn't have a lot to chat about so would ask me questions like, 'How are you?', 'Any family visits?' and that kind of thing. 12 Charles Bronson bombarded Linda with proposals Credit: SWNS:South West News Service 12 Reggie Kray (left) also tried to woo the bank robber Credit: Getty 'Then all of a sudden, 'Would you like to marry me?' I said, 'I don't think it's a good idea'. He said 'That's ok' and then three months later, was like, 'Would you like to marry me?' again. 'He was always proposing. He didn't write love letters, he would just say, 'I was thinking, if you'd like to marry me the offer is still there.' Although Bronson was originally jailed for petty crime and robbery, his attacks on fellow inmates and prison officers have seen his sentences extended to total five decades. 'I feel sorry for him, that he's still in prison. It's a shame when you put it into context. Everyone assumes he murdered someone but he didn't," says Linda. 'He just drove authorities mad for so many years with his antics. What he did wasn't that big and he's been in there forever.' Linda, who was released on parole in 2008, has put criminality firmly behind her and dedicated her life to her family and writing - she's published two memoirs and is about to release her fourth novel. Titled Hope, it's about three generations of women caught in the grips of London's murky underworld and many of the characters are loosely based on crooks she met. 'It's a world I came from, which makes it more real, and some characters are based on women I knew and met in prison,' she says. 'It was my late husband, George, who died from cancer nine years ago, that inspired me. He told me, 'Linda, go for it. Do your writing'. I've found my niche and I know I'm making him proud.' Hope, the second in a crime gangster trilogy, is published by Mountain Leopard Press on July 17. To preorder, visit here
Metro
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
'It's a one season banger': Your favourite underrated true crime shows
True crime isn't for the faint of heart, but its popularity among TV fans shows no sign of slowing down. From documentaries to dramatisations, there's no shortage of such shows on the streaming platforms. Just recently, we've seen the return of BBC's The Gold, while a harrowing Netflix documentary on the crimes of Fred and Rose West soared up the most-watched chart. And there's even rumours that the much-loved Mindhunter could be making a return. Whether you get your fix from well-worn cases or crimes that went unnoticed by the wider public, there's something for everyone. But with all these new releases, it's easy to overlook older TV shows that perhaps never got the attention they deserved. We've asked Metro readers to share their favourite underrated true crime shows, and here's what they recommend… Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro's TV Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we'll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you. One user, calling themselves PhilhelmScream, suggested We Own This City, to which another user echoed: 'We Own This City is so good!' The six-episode series is based on the book of the same name by Baltimore Sun reporter Justin Fenton, and chronicles the rise and fall of the Baltimore Police Department's Gun Trace Task Force. Meanwhile, WillNeighbor wrote: 'No one talks about ZeroZeroZero and it's a little one season banger. Undercover and the prequel/spinoff Ferry also had me a little hooked, as long as you don't mind subtitles'. ZeroZeroZero is also based on a book, this one by Italian journalist Roberto Saviano. The series follows the journey of a massive shipment of cocaine across the world. Dus90 praised Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez, which is a Netflix limited series about the former NFL star and convicted murderer. They said:'[It] isn't just another true crime doc, it dives deep into toxic masculinity, sports culture, trauma, and identity.' And they added: 'What makes it so good is that it doesn't just lay out the events, it actually tries to understand how someone ends up there. It's way more than just shock value, it's a complex, layered story.' Elsewhere, GuiltEdge recommended The Serpent, a BBC series about a serial killer, saying: 'It really nails the vibe of Thailand in the 70s,' while Dofrogsbit suggested The Case, which interviews police officers about cases that still haunt them and is free to stream on Tubi. Other true crime shows mentioned by TV fans included Dr. Death, which follows stories of medical malpractice, as well as The FBI Files and Forensic Files, both of which take a look behind the scenes of real-life investigations. Looking for more TV recommendations? We also asked Metro readers about their favourite underrated TV thrillers, and these series came out top: House of Cards — No, not the Kevin Spacey series, but the original British version following a fictional Chief Whip of the Conservative Party. — No, not the Kevin Spacey series, but the original British version following a fictional Chief Whip of the Conservative Party. Edge of Darkness — Policeman Ronald Craven attempts to solve the brutal murder of his daughter, leading him to uncover a government conspiracy. — Policeman Ronald Craven attempts to solve the brutal murder of his daughter, leading him to uncover a government conspiracy. River — A brilliant police officer attempts to hunt down his colleague's killer, all while dealing with her estranged family, his new partner and a psychiatric evaluation. — A brilliant police officer attempts to hunt down his colleague's killer, all while dealing with her estranged family, his new partner and a psychiatric evaluation. Stag — A black comedy following an obnoxious group of friends in the Scottish Highlands on a deer hunting weekend. Things turn sinister when they find themselves being picked off one by one. — A black comedy following an obnoxious group of friends in the Scottish Highlands on a deer hunting weekend. Things turn sinister when they find themselves being picked off one by one. Collateral — DI Kip Glaspie investigates the murder of a pizza delivery driver, who was gunned down by a masked shooter while delivering to the ex-wife of a politician. — DI Kip Glaspie investigates the murder of a pizza delivery driver, who was gunned down by a masked shooter while delivering to the ex-wife of a politician. The Worricker Trilogy — The three films star Bill Nighy as MI5 officer Johnny Worricker, whose life is turned upside down when his boss and best friend dies suddenly. Read all about these underrated TV thrillers. The 2022 miniseries is based on a true case of mass police corruption in Baltimore and his been compared to hit crime drama series The Wire (and even stars some of the same actors). A synopsis reads: 'It examines the corruption and moral collapse that befell an American city, in which the policies of drug prohibition and mass arrest were championed at the expense of actual police work.' The series proved popular with fans and critics alike, earning an impressive 93% score on Rotten Tomatoes. The Daily Beast wrote in their review: 'With firecracker performances from Jon Bernthal and Josh Charles, it's a worthy spiritual successor to The Wire, in all its greatness.' And Common Sense Media quipped: 'If the worst thing we could say about this show is that it's like another season of The Wire, that's not too bad.' Where to watch: All six episodes are available to stream on Apple TV Plus, Now TV and Sky. In the drugs trade, 'zero zero zero' is the nickname for the very purest, highest quality grade of cocaine. This TV series, based on the non-fiction book of the same name by Roberto Saviano, follows the journey of an enormous cocaine shipment — from the Italian cartel purchasing it, to its packaging in Mexico and shipment to Europe, all while looking at the people whose livelihood depends on a successful delivery. Critics gave the series a near-perfect 94% score on Rotten Tomatoes, while TV fans on Reddit have raved about how 'underrated' it is. One user said: 'I honestly can't believe no one really talks about it, it's such an impressive production, big action scenes, great actors, fantastic writing'. Where to watch: Stream all eight episodes on Apple TV Plus and Now TV. Aaron Hernandez was a much-loved American football player for the New England Patriots, until he was arrested in 2013 for the murder of his fiancée's sister's boyfriend, Odin Lloyd. This documentary begins with footage of the arrest and the news frenzy that followed, and examines how Hernandez went from NFL star to convicted killer via interviews with friends, players and insiders. Viewers have called the three-part series 'riveting', 'fascinating' and 'binge-worthy'. One reviewer praised: 'I watched the first episode when tired but refused to go to bed until I had finished the three parts. Brilliant, fascinating, disturbing, interesting and really well produced. Amazing story fantastically told.' Where to watch: All three episodes are available to stream on Netflix. First airing on BBC One and now available on Netflix, The Serpent tells the true story of French serial killer Charles Sobhraj (played by Tahar Rahim), who preyed on travellers exploring South Asia's 'hippie trail' in the 70s. The show received mixed reviews, with many praising Rahim and Jenna Coleman's performances while others said it was a slow-burner with 'bad storytelling'. But when it landed on iPlayer in January 2021, it became one of the most-streamed shows on the platform on what became its biggest-ever week, with more than 162 million programmes streamed over seven days. According to the BBC, The Serpent was streamed a total of 33 million times between January and March on iPlayer. Where to watch: Stream all eight episodes on Netflix. With six seasons to binge for free on Tubi, The Case is sure to scratch the true crime itch. The documentary tracks the criminal cases that still haunt the police officers once assigned to them, and asks what it is that means these stories have stayed with them. Cases covered in the 36 episodes include manhunts, disappearances, heists, international investigations and much more. It's a French series, so as long as you can get past the English dubbing, this true crime show is worth a watch — especially as it's available through a completely free streaming service. Where to watch: Stream six seasons for free on Tubi. Based on the true crime podcast of the same name, which chronicles cases of egregious medical malpractice, Dr. Death's two seasons dramatise the lives and work of Christopher Duntsch (played by Joshua Jackson) and Paolo Macchiarini (played by Édgar Ramírez). Duntsch is a former neurosurgeon who was sentenced to life in prison in 2017 after maiming and, in some cases, killing over 30 patients he had operated on. Macchiarini, meanwhile, is a former surgeon who rose to fame for developing the world's first artificial windpipe. However, many of his patients ended up dying or had complications following surgery. He was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison in 2023 by a Swedish court. More Trending Dr. Death has a very respectable 86% Rotten Tomatoes score across its two seasons, with the first series enjoying an impressive 93%. It's been hailed as 'stomach-knotting', 'impactful' and 'chilling' by TV critics, with several comparing it to a horror movie. The Irish Independent wrote in their review: 'It's an absolutely terrific performance by Jackson in a drama brimming with stomach-knotting tension. Every scene he's in is freighted with a sense of dread at what's going to happen next. Superb.' View More » Where to watch: Seasons one and two are available to stream on Apple TV Plus and Paramount Plus. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: My ex never wanted to get married — when we broke up, he got engaged MORE: 'Epic' sci-fi series returns to streaming — and four more shows to binge this month MORE: 'Wildly entertaining' sci-fi series with 97% Rotten Tomatoes score gets second season
Daily Mirror
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Surge in serial killer baby names as dark 2025 parenting trend emerges
According to new data from BabyCentre, parents to be are putting aside the traditional baby name books in favour of a much darker source of inspiration - true crime Throughout history, parents -to-be have found inspiration for baby names from a variety of sources, from great kings and queens to beloved relatives. Now, mums and dads have found inspo in a bloody yet undeniably popular genre - true crime. To quote William Shakespeare, "What's in a name? That which we call a rose, By any other name would smell as sweet." It's unlikely, however, that The Bard was at that time considering that people would one day be naming their daughters after the notorious serial killer, Rose West. And Rose isn't the only name creeping into the charts. We humans have arguably long had a taste for the morbid and macabre, and a host of gripping crime documentaries and shocking podcasts are now accessible at the click of a button. And it would seem that some baby name choices are settling into our subconscious, alongside plenty of nightmares. While announcing its Top 100 Baby Names of 2025, BabyCentre UK noted a new trend towards crime-related picks, which may well come as a surprise. Intriguingly, as explained by experts, you may well have picked up a liking for a serial killer's name without even realising it, with chart-dominating listens making the monikers impossible to forget. BabyCentre UK's Baby Naming Expert, and author, SJ Strum, revealed: 'These names aren't being chosen because of crime. More often, parents are unconsciously absorbing popular culture, and these names creep into our minds via gripping TV, podcasts and viral content. It's a fascinating lens on how culture shapes language, and by extension, baby names.' True Crime-inspired names featured in BabyCentre's top 100 baby names for 2025 are as follows: Anna – The 'Fake Heiress' Anna Delvey Arthur – Zodiac Killer suspect, Arthur Lee Allen, Bella – Inspired by wellness scammer, Belle Gibson, Erin – Erin Patterson, dubbed The Mushroom Killer Freddie & Rose – The story of serial killer couple Fred and Rose West, featured recently in a Netflix doc Joseph – A nod to 'Joe Exotic', Tiger King Luca – From the shocking documentary Don't F** with Cats Teddy – A soft spin on serial killer Ted Bundy Ruby – From viral doc 'Devil in the Family', Ruby Franke Ronnie & Reggie – As in the notorious London gangsters, the Kray twins Meanwhile, in quite literally much lighter news, celestial baby girl names are also on the rise, with names such as Luna, Nova, Aurora and Maryam lighting up the charts amid fascination with all things lunar cycles and astrology.
Daily Mail
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Alarming baby name trend on the rise as parents unwittingly inspired by true crime are giving newborns the same monikers as famous murderers
Popular culture has a bigger influence on baby names than we might realise, but one particular genre has been unexpectedly providing new parents with inspiration. The explosion in true crime documentaries and dramas over recent years means the names of infamous murderers, scammers and thieves are fresh in our minds - and making their way into baby name lists. According to BabyCentre UK, names linked to headline-grabbing criminal cases, true crime celebrities and viral scandals are trending, even if parents might not realise the origins of the names. The pregnancy app has revealed that monikers like Freddie and Rose are increasingly popular, as well as names like Ted - unwittingly reminiscent of serial killers Fred and Rose West and Ted Bundy. SJ Strum, BabyCentre UK's baby naming expert and author, said: 'These names aren't being chosen because of crime. More often, parents are unconsciously absorbing popular culture, and these names creep into our minds via gripping TV, podcasts and viral content. 'It's a fascinating lens on how culture shapes language and by extension, baby names.' But the rise true crime-inspired baby name trends comes alongside an increase in classic, celestial and high society-inspired names emerging this year, BabyCentre UK added. SJ Strum said: 'Names flow in and out of style, and popular culture plays a huge role in shaping the baby names we see rising. We often choose names in tune with what's happening in the world around us as we welcome our little ones. For example, Evie, the newest addition to Peppa Pig's family, is a perfect short and sweet vintage pick that's now soaring in popularity. 'We've also seen an uplift in names honouring the late Queen, like Eliza, Elsie, and Elizabeth. Royal-inspired names remain strong year-on-year: from Charlotte, Zara, and Mia, to George, Harry, William, Charlie, and Archie. Even Princess has seen a surprising comeback, as the nation rallied around Princess Kate during her recent cancer treatment.' The top names linked to some of the most scandalous true crime figures in BabyCentre's top 100 baby names 2025 are: Anna Inspired by the 'Fake Heiress' Anna Delvey, a con artist who posed as a wealthy heiress in New York from 2013 to 2017. She defrauded major financial institutions, banks, hotels, and individuals out of millions of dollars and was the subject of the 2022 hit Netflix series Inventing Anna. Arthur Inspired by Arthur Leigh Allen, the only named suspect in the shocking Zodiac Killer series of murders that took place between the late 1960s to 1980s. He repeatedly denied the allegations and died in 1992, and the identity of the Zodiac Killer remains a mystery until today. Last year, he was discussed in a three-part Netflix docuseries titled This is the Zodiac Speaking. Bella Inspired by Australian wellness scammer Belle Gibson, who falsely claimed she was diagnosed with brain cancer but had cured it with alternative therapies and healthy eating. Having conned millions of Instagram followers into believing her story, Belle successfully launched a recipe app and cookbook and claimed she was donating most of her profits to charity. The Netflix series Apple Cider Vinegar tells the story of her rise and fall. Erin According to BabyCentre UK, the name 'Erin' has been unwittingly inspired by the high-profile murder case against Erin Patterson, an Australian woman who has been accused of cooking deadly mushrooms and feeding them to her relatives. She was charged with the murders of her in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, as well as Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson, who all became sick and died days after she cooked them lunch. She denies the charges. The trial continues. If these two names together ring a bell, it may be because of the infamous English serial killers Fred and Rose West. Together, the pair committed at least 12 murders of girls and young women between 1967 and 1987 - including Fred's stepdaughter, Charmaine. Fred died by suicide while detained on remand, before he could be sentenced, while Rose was sentenced to 10 life terms with a whole life order. They recently became the focus of Netflix series Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story. Joseph BabyCentre UK says the name 'Joseph' - while sounding innocuous enough - is a nod to Joe Exotic, the self-proclaimed 'Tiger King' who was the subject of a 2020 Netflix series of the same name. He was suspected of hiring hit men to murder Carole Baskin, a rival to his big cat zoo business, and was convicted and sentenced to 22 years in prison for animal abuse and attempted murder. Luca The name 'Luca' may be a variation of 'Luka', after Luka Magnotta of the viral true crime docuseries Don't F*** With Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer. In 2010, Luka shared a video of himself cruelly killing two kittens, which sparked an online manhunt by amateur sleuths. He went on to commit the grisly murder of a student from China named Jun Lin in 2012, for which he was convicted and sentenced to a mandatory life sentence and 19 years for other charges. Teddy The name brings to mind soft, cuddly bear toys, but BabyCentre UK believes 'Teddy' is also surprising spin on notorious serial killer Ted Bundy. Bundy famously abducted, raped and murdered dozens of young women and girls between 1974 and 1978, and has been the subject of numerous true crime series and podcasts. In 2019, he was portrayed by Zac Efron in the film Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile. Ruby Inspired by Ruby Franke, the subject of the viral documentary Devil in the Family which charted the vlogger's journey from creating content about her picturesque Mormon family to her imprisonment for child abuse. She initially posted parenting content and videos of life with her husband and their six children, but after meeting a woman named Jodi Hildebrandt, things took a much darker turn. Her daughter Shari Franke also recently wrote a book about their experience titled The House of My Mother. Ronnie and Reggie The names Ronnie and Reggie are particularly recognisable in the UK because of the Kray twins, Britain's most notorious gangsters. Ronald Kray and Reginald Kray ran a gang called The Firm, based in Bethnal Green, from the late 1950s until their arrest in 1968. They were involved in an array of crimes, including murder, armed robbery, arson, assault, and protection rackets. Tom Hardy portrayed them both in the 2015 film Legend.
