Murders That Shocked the Nation

In this programme, presenter Fred Dinenage investigates the criminal activities of George Joseph Smith, infamously dubbed the Brides in the Bath murderer and a bigamist. Smith was responsible for drowning three of his wives over a two‑year span from 1912 to 1914.

The programme, presented by Fred Dinenage, turns its attention to one of the most notorious criminal cases of the early twentieth century. It centres on the figure of George Joseph Smith, a man who gained infamy as the “Brides in the Bath” murderer and who also led a double life as a bigamist. Dinenage guides viewers through the investigation, offering a clear account of Smith’s actions and the impact they had on the victims and the wider community. At the heart of the broadcast are the murders themselves. Between 1912 and 1914, Smith is responsible for the deaths of three women, each of whom he married and then drowned in a bathtub. The programme outlines how these crimes were carried out, noting the pattern of deception and the method of killing that linked the three cases. By focusing on the period in which the killings occurred, the episode provides a concise timeline of Smith’s murderous spree. The final segment of the show looks at the broader implications of Smith’s deeds. It highlights his status as a bigamist and the way his fraudulent marriages facilitated the murders. Throughout, Dinenage keeps the narrative straightforward, presenting the known facts without speculation, and allowing the stark details of the case to speak for themselves.