BritBox True Crime Drama 'The Hunt for Raoul Moat' Tells the Story of Britain's Largest Manhunt
Matt Stokoe in "The Hunt for Raoul Moat"
(Photo: Courtesy of BritBox)
BritBox continues to be a destination for Anglophiles looking for true crime fare. The streamer has been making something of a name for itself in this space in recent years, bringing over multiple dramas focused on real-life British crimes in recent months, from the strange but quirky (Stonehouse, The Thief, His Wife, and the Canoe) to the downright grisly (The Barking Murders, forthcoming drama The Sixth Commandment). It's latest offering sounds as though it will be somewhere in the middle: The Hunt for Raoul Moat, which is set to depict the largest manhunt in modern British history --- and the human cost that went along with it.
Set in Northumberland in 2010, the series follows the story of Moat, who is eager to rekindle his relationship with his ex-partner, Samantha, upon his release. She, however, has moved on, and is already dating another man. (Moat had allegedly been abusive toward her in the past.) This sets Moat off and within a 24-hour period, he shoots three people ---Sally, her new partner, and a police officer --- before going on the run.
As his continuing threats to harm members of the public escalate, the police race to track him down. The search for Moat was the first manhunt to be covered live by 24-hour news channels in the U.K., and events were made murkier by sensationalist media narratives seemed to frame Moat as something of a dark vigilante, a persecuted victim fighting back against the police.
The search for Moat lasted seven days and involved over 150 armed officers and response vehicles. Police used everything from sniper teams and dogs to helicopters as part of their efforts, and famous British tracker and outdoor enthusiast Ray Mears was brought in as part of the search. (There was even a Royal Air Force jet involved in reconnaissance.) After six days on the run, Moat was cornered by police near Rothbury, Northumberland, where he ultimately shot himself in the head after a six-hour standoff with authorities.
The Hunt for Raoul Moat is an unflinching account of those shocking events but its three episodes primarily focus on Moat’s innocent victims, the officers who put themselves in the firing line, and the journalist who sought to tell the real story.
Matt Stokoe (Bodyguard) plays Moat, alongside Sally Messham (Sherwood) as his ex-girlfriend Samantha. Lee Ingleby (The Serpent Queen) is Neil Adamson, a senior Northumbria Police Officer leading the race against time to apprehend Moat, and Sonya Cassidy (The Man Who Fell to Earth) is local journalist Diane Barnwell. The ensemble cast also includes Vineeta Rishi (Vera) and Josef Davis (Young Wallander).
All three episodes of The Hunt for Raoul Moat will be available to stream on BritBox on Thursday, September 28.
