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Homepage ► U Be Dead

Everyday, across the world, someone becomes obsessed with another person’s life. In 2007, Maria Marchese was sentenced to nine years in prison for viciously stalking a London doctor, his family and even the lawyer who prosecuted her. The Metropolitan Police called it “one of the worst cases of stalking we have ever had to investigate”. This is the story of an obsession that almost cost one man his freedom.

Based on an extraordinary true story – told with the help of the very people who suffered at the hands of Marchese - U Be Dead stars David Morrissey (Five Days, State Of Play, Mrs Mandela), Tara Fitzgerald (Waking The Dead, Jane Eyre, Brassed Off), Lucy Griffiths (Collision, Robin Hood) and Monica Dolan (Wallis & Edward, The History of Mr Polly, Poirot). The film is produced by Darlow Smithson (Touching the Void, Clapham Junction, The Diary of Anne Frank) for ITV1.

Threatening telephone calls and texts

Dr Jan Falkowski (David Morrissey) and his fiancée Debbie Pemberton (Tara Fitzgerald) could think of no-one who would want to stalk them with threatening texts and phone calls. Even when the stalker professed to being in love with Jan, they refused to take her increasingly manic behaviour seriously. That is until she broke into their houseboat and opened the gas taps, threatened Jan’s family and attempted to cancel their wedding.

In fear for their lives, they moved to an address nobody, including their parents, knew. In an attempt to flush the stalker out, Jan and Debbie eventually staged a fake wedding. Although Jan had now fallen in love with a younger woman, Bethan Ancell (Griffiths), he agreed to go through with the charade, shadowed by plain clothes officers. Warning texts and phone calls rained down on everyone connected to the wedding and Debbie was told to “prepare your funeral, not your wedding.”

An arrest is made

Finally, the police began to close in. As a final text arrived - “U BE DEAD” - they surrounded the phone box it was sent from and arrested the woman who had been stalking Dr Jan Falkowski for two years. Maria Marchese (Dolan) was an unlikely stalker who had only met Jan a handful of times through a patient of his. After initially denying she was guilty of harassing Jan, she then claimed to be texting him because he had raped her. And she had DNA evidence to prove it.

Jan’s nightmare had just got much, much worse. The DNA evidence on Marchese’s underwear was compelling. As a rape suspect he was suspended from his psychiatric practice and, if found guilty, could be jailed for life. An extraordinary trial followed which fascinated the media and public alike.

Disturbing criminal case

‘This is not only a disturbing criminal case and nail-biting thriller, but it's also a fascinating insight into human relationships, desperation and endurance. Some of the facts of this case defy belief and Gwyneth Hughes has worked tirelessly with the victims, police, families and lawyers to really get under the skin of what Maria Marchese put everyone through,' said producer Elinor Day

Production.

U Be Dead is written by Gwyneth Hughes (Miss Austen Regrets, Mysterious Creatures, Five Days). The Executive Producer is John Smithson and the producer is Elinor Day (The Diary of Anne Frank for the BBC, Clapham Junction, Sherlock Holmes and The Case of The Silk Stocking). Jamie Payne (Primeval, Life Line, The Baby War) directs.

Darlow Smithson Productions is one of the most prestigious and celebrated independent production companies in the UK and has achieved worldwide industry recognition for its ground-breaking docu-dramas, series and documentaries. The quality of Darlow Smithson’s work has been recognised with more than 30 international awards.

ITV’s U Be Dead starring David Morrissey & Tara Fitzgerald

Based on a true story, this is the obsessive tale of a stalker

Starring David Morrisery, Tara Fitzgerald, Lucy Griffiths & Monica Dolan.

Photograph of David Morrissery

Photograph of David Morrissey star of ITV's U Be Dead

There is no DVD available for this programme