Faking It: Tears of a Crime

Harold Shipman was a highly regarded physician whose television appearances attracted millions of viewers as he explained the advantages of medical care. Unbeknownst to the audience, he had already taken the lives of dozens of his patients in his practice.

Harold Shipman is a television episode that focuses on the story of a general practitioner whose public image appeared flawless. The programme presents the doctor as a well‑liked figure, someone who’d earned the affection of his community and the trust of countless patients. The core of the episode follows the GP as he appears on a broadcast, speaking calmly about the advantages of proper medical care. While he discusses the benefits of treatment to a nationwide audience, the narrative subtly hints that his outwardly benevolent persona masks a far darker reality. Millions of viewers tune in to watch the doctor’s televised advice, assuming they’re witnessing a caring professional. In reality, the programme reveals that, unbeknownst to the public, he had already taken the lives of dozens of those under his care. This stark contrast between his on‑screen charm and his hidden actions forms the unsettling heart of the story. By the end of the episode, the audience is left to confront the chilling fact that a figure once celebrated for his medical skill was, in fact, responsible for a series of patient deaths. The show underscores how a seemingly trustworthy doctor could conceal such a lethal secret behind his popular public appearances.