ITV Drama Tells Delia Balmer's Survival Story

The ITV drama 'Until I Kill You' is based on the harrowing true story of Delia Balmer, the only known survivor of the axe murderer John Sweeney. Delia, an agency nurse in London, met Sweeney, who later became abusive and controlling, eventually attacking her with an axe and knife. Despite confessing to Delia that he murdered his ex-girlfriend Melissa Halstead, Sweeney evaded capture for six years after nearly killing Delia. During his time on the run, he also murdered Paula Fields, whose dismembered body was found in a canal. Sweeney was ultimately arrested and convicted of these murders, with his incriminating artwork and poems providing key evidence. The series, featuring Anna Maxwell Martin as Delia and Shaun Evans as Sweeney, draws from Delia's memoir 'Living With a Serial Killer' and aims to depict her resilience and the challenges she faced.