Colin Howell Murders: UK True-Crime Series Drives Renewed Interest

LONDON (Azat TV) – Renewed public fascination with the chilling 1991 double murders committed by Northern Irish dentist Colin Howell is driving significant audience engagement for ITV’s true-crime series “Killer in the House.” As of January 28, 2026, the series, which details Howell’s confession to killing his wife Lesley Howell and Trevor Buchanan, is trending across UK streaming platforms, prompting discussions about the enduring impact on victims’ families and the commercial implications for broadcasters like ITV.

The surge in viewership, partly fueled by fresh placement on BBC iPlayer’s “Confessions of a Killer” page, is generating considerable buzz. This renewed interest is seen as a potential boost for ITV’s near-term advertising demand and commercial revenue, according to market observers. The cross-platform discovery mechanism encourages lapsed viewers to re-engage, extending the life of the series and reinforcing its search interest.

Renewed Spotlight on a Decades-Old Crime

The original crime, which took place in May 1991 in Coleraine, Northern Ireland, involved the deaths of Lesley Howell, a young mother of four, and police constable Trevor Buchanan. Their bodies were discovered in a fume-filled garage, and their deaths were initially dismissed as a suicide pact, allegedly prompted by the discovery of an affair between their respective spouses: Colin Howell and Hazel Stewart. For nearly two decades, this narrative of mutual despair was largely accepted by the community.

However, the truth began to unravel in 2009 when Colin Howell, a man once regarded as a devout family man and respected dentist, confessed to church elders that he had murdered his wife and Buchanan. He admitted to staging the scene to appear as a suicide. It was members of his church who ultimately persuaded him to surrender to the police, bringing an end to almost twenty years of secrecy. This confession sent shockwaves through the community and the families involved, upending lives already marked by profound loss and confusion, as reported by Evrimagaci.org.

The Deceptive Plot: A Family Man’s Dark Secret Unveiled

Colin Howell’s meticulously planned deception involved sedating both victims before staging their deaths to resemble a suicide pact. The affair between Howell and Hazel Stewart, Buchanan’s wife, had been ongoing, and the murders were an attempt to clear the path for their relationship. The case was brought to a wider audience through ITV’s dramatization “The Secret” in 2016, and now again with the documentary series “Killer in the House,” which delves deeper into the psychological and emotional impact of the murders.

The public’s enduring fascination with the case, particularly the “where are they now” aspect concerning the perpetrators and victims’ families, continues to drive viewership and search interest. This consistent engagement, while modest in its overall market impact, provides a steady stream of traffic for broadcasters and content platforms, influencing ad placements and fill rates for premium slots, as noted by Meyka.com.

Legal Consequences and Lingering Trauma

In November 2010, Colin Howell pleaded guilty to the murders of Lesley Howell and Trevor Buchanan. He was subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 21 years before he would be eligible for parole. Just over a year later, Howell also pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting several female patients while working as a dentist in Ballymoney. For these indecent assaults, he received an additional five-and-a-half-year sentence, to be served concurrently with his life term, and was stripped of his NHS pension, Cosmopolitan reported.

As of January 2026, Colin Howell remains incarcerated at HMP Maghaberry in Northern Ireland and will not be eligible for parole until at least 2031. The emotional fallout from Howell’s crimes has been profound and continues to affect the victims’ families deeply. Jonathan Clarke, Colin Howell’s son with Lesley Howell, described the revelation of his father’s true nature as “like I was living in a nightmare,” expressing overwhelming confusion and betrayal. Chris Clarke, Lesley Howell’s brother, openly stated his disdain for Colin Howell, admitting, “I despise him. I wish him harm.”

Lauren Bradford-Clarke, Howell’s daughter with Lesley Howell, revealed that after her mother’s murder, Hazel Stewart remained a significant presence in her life for five years. “It’s very sad in a lot of ways, I saw her as a mummy. I had lost my mum, and I wanted nothing more than to have a mum,” she shared, highlighting the complex emotional landscape faced by those closest to the tragedy. As an Independent.ie review noted, the children of Lesley Howell have voiced sentiments such as “I don’t consider him my father.”

The Enduring Public and Commercial Resonance

The renewed attention on the Colin Howell case demonstrates the continued power of true-crime narratives to captivate audiences. For broadcasters like ITV, timely, brand-safe inventory tied to talked-about shows can see improved fill rates and a better sell-through mix, aiding margins. Streaming sessions also add valuable first-party data for targeting and retargeting, which matters more than raw impressions. However, true-crime surges can fade quickly, and sustained interest often requires continued promotional efforts and a wider slate of related content.

The enduring public interest in the Colin Howell murders underscores a societal fascination with the psychology of crime and the long-term impact on those left behind. While media platforms leverage this interest for commercial gain, the concurrent amplification of victims’ voices provides a critical avenue for public understanding of trauma and justice, ensuring that the human cost of such atrocities remains at the forefront of the narrative.