New U and U&W Documentary Features Kathleen Richards, One of the Last Surviving Witnesses to Fred and Rose West

Kathleen is Reunited with Childhood Friend and Fellow Witness, Karen Hamilton, for the First Time in Almost 50 Years

(L-R) Kathleen Richards, Kathleen Richards and Karen Hamilton

UKTV has commissioned a two-part true crime documentary Surviving Fred and Rose West: Inside Cromwell Street (2x60’) for . The U&Original series is produced by Red Sauce for free streaming service U and U&W, and will launch later this year. Virgin Media Television has pre-bought the series for broadcast in Ireland, and international distribution is being handled by BossaNova.

Kathleen Richards, one of the last surviving victims of abuse inside 25 Cromwell Street, will share her story of when she moved into the Gloucester home of Fred and Rose West at 17 years old, alongside her sister. Seeking a home, what she found instead was a house of manipulation, grooming and fear. Unbeknown to Kathleen at the time, six bodies were already buried at the property.

Alongside personal archives, photographs, family testimony, police material and news footage, the two-part documentary explores her many harrowing months living under the Wests' roof and how she narrowly escaped becoming another torture and murder victim. Across two gripping episodes, Kathleen reflects on her time at Cromwell Street and the decades-long impact it had on her life. 

Through Kathleen's testimony, viewers gain a first-hand account of her friendship with fellow lodger Shirley Robinson, who was carrying Fred West's child before she disappeared, and the increasingly disturbing reality of life inside Cromwell Street as Kathleen came to understand she was also being groomed by Fred and Rose West. The documentary also sees Kathleen reunite with childhood friend and fellow witness Karen Hamilton to discuss their experiences together, and they return to Cromwell Street for the first time in almost 50 years.

The two-parter traces Kathleen's journey from life inside Cromwell Street, her eventual escape in the late 1970s through to the discovery of the murders in 1994, her vital testimony at Rose West’s trial, and the therapeutic process that ultimately helped her confront her trauma and share her story.

Kathleen's testimony is supported by contributions from family and friends, including former Cromwell Street resident Karen Hamilton. The series also features journalists and police officers connected to the case, including expert analysis from psychologist Dr Elly Hanson who offers insight into the psychology of Fred and Rose West, and the lasting impact of trauma on survivors, alongside insight from Fred West’s biographer Geoffrey Wansell.

Surviving Fred and Rose West: Inside Cromwell Street has been commissioned by Kirsty Hanson, Senior Commissioning Editor, with Helen Nightingale, Head of Factual and Factual Entertainment Commissioning, and ordered for U and U&W by Hilary Rosen, Commissioning Director. Executive Producers are for UKTV Helen Nightingale, Tom Edwards for Red Sauce and Chelsea Randall is Series Director.

Helen Nightingale said: This documentary places women's stories at the centre of the Cromwell Street narrative. Through Kathleen's extraordinary survivor testimony, we are able to hear first-hand what it was like to live in that house with the Wests, and Katheen and Karen can honour all the young women who lost their lives. More than a true crime documentary, Surviving Fred and Rose West: Inside Cromwell Street is a powerful testament to resilience, survival and bravery.

Tom Edwards said: "The story of Fred and Rose West has often been told through the lens of their crimes and their victims. Kathleen's testimony gives us also an exceptionally rare opportunity to understand the lived reality of someone who survived such devastating abuse, but also to explore the strength, determination and resilience that enabled her to reclaim her life afterwards."

Surviving Fred and Rose West: Inside Cromwell Street is in production now and will be available to stream on  and on air on U&W in Autumn as UKTV continues to commission insightful unscripted content, including the likes of Outback Terror: The Falconio Murder, Paul C. Brunson: Red Flag and The Search for Leah Croucher: A Parent’s Nightmare. 

-Ends-

For more information, please contact:

Lauren Mutimer, Publicist, UKTV, 

Lottie Scott, Head of Consumer Communications, UKTV,

Notes to Editors

About UKTV 

UKTV has been at the forefront of British television for over 30 years, with programmes spanning comedy, entertainment, natural history, factual and drama, available across its channel portfolio and its free streaming service, U (u.co.uk). Shows from UKTV’s free‑to‑air channels - U&Dave, U&DRAMA, U&W, U&YESTERDAY and U&eden - can be watched free in the UK on U, and via Freeview, Freesat, Freely, Sky and Virgin Media, with on‑demand access to thousands of hours of original commissions, acquisitions and archive titles. UKTV also operates dedicated FAST channels in the UK on Samsung TV Plus, Amazon Prime, Pluto TV and Virgin Media. UKTV’s pay TV brands - U&GOLD and U&alibi - are available in the UK via Sky, Virgin Media and NOW. In Ireland, UKTV's channels are available via Sky, Virgin Media, Eir, Vodafone and NOW. UKTV is a significant investor in British creativity, commissioning original content and working with new and established writers, directors and programme-makers across genres.UKTV is part of BBC Studios, the UK’s most-awarded production company and commercial subsidiary of the BBC. 

About U 

U is UKTV’s free streaming service in the UK, offering on-demand access to programmes from UKTV’s free-to-air channels: U&Dave, U&DRAMA, U&W, U&YESTERDAY and U&eden. U is available online at  and via the U app on mobile devices and tablets, as well as on smart TVs and streaming platforms including Freeview Play, Freely, Amazon Fire TV, YouView, Samsung TV, Apple TV, Freesat, Sky Glass, Sky Stream, NOW and Roku. Thousands of hours of selected U content are also available on Channel 4’s streaming service.U provides access to over 9,000 hours of programming, including exclusive original commissions, UK premieres and iconic BBC titles across drama, comedy, entertainment and factual entertainment. It was nominated for Best Streaming Service at the 2025 Edinburgh Television Festival Awards, and again in 2026. Programmes available on U include Bergerac, Whitstable Pearl, The Count of Monte Cristo, The Marlow Murder Club, Outrageous, The Bill, Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over, Guy Martin: Proper Jobs, Bangers & Cash, Pete Wicks: For Dogs’ Sake and MasterChef Australia. U is the streaming home for UKTV’s channel brands and their on-demand catalogue in the UK. 

About U&W 

Sky 157, Virgin Media 125, Freeview 25, Freesat 28 & Freely 156 

U&W’s quality mix of UKTV Originals includes heart‑warming series led by some of the UK’s most loved talent, uplifting frontline shows that shine a light on heroic emergency services, and true crime programming rooted in empathy for the victims at the heart of each story. U&W shows are available to watch free in the UK on UKTV’s streaming service, U (u.co.uk). Winner of Broadcast Digital Awards’ Entertainment Channel of the Year 2024, U&W is life unfiltered - capturing raw, genuine moments where emotions run high and people reveal their true selves. U&W Originals include award‑winning hits such as Pete Wicks: For Dogs’ Sake, Emma Willis: Delivering Babies, Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over and Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over USA, At Home With Katherine Ryan and Katie Piper’s Jailhouse Mums; powerful frontline series including Inside the Ambulance, Young Midwives of Essex, Nurses on the Ward and 999 Rescue Squad; and gripping true crime titles Back From The Dead: Who Kidnapped Me?, Red Flag and Lies, Deceit & Betrayal. Shows from U&W can be watched for free in the UK on UKTV’s free streaming service, U (u.co.uk). 

About Virgin Media Television

Virgin Media Ireland is home to the country’s fastest broadband and is the leading provider of connected entertainment and broadcasting. We power millions of connections nationwide every single day, delivering award winning ultrafast broadband, TV, mobile and home phone services that keep Ireland working, streaming and communicating at superfast speed. Our Virgin Media Business division provides the fastest broadband speeds and advanced connectivity solutions for entrepreneurs, SMEs, large organisations and the public sector. 

Virgin Media Television is Ireland’s number one commercial public service broadcaster, delivering four free to air channels - Virgin Media One, Virgin Media Two, Virgin Media Three and Virgin Media Four, along with Virgin Media Play, our state of the art free streaming service. We deliver fresh, diverse and original Irish content - from news and current affairs to entertainment, factual and drama - alongside the best of international programming. 

Virgin Media Ireland is part of Liberty Global Ltd. (Nasdaq: LBTYA, LBTYB, LBTYK), a leading international converged connectivity and investment company. Liberty Global manages three complementary platforms: Liberty Telecom, which provides around 80 million fixed and mobile connections across Europe and generates $21.6 billion in aggregate revenue; Liberty Growth, which invests in scalable technology, media, sports and infrastructure businesses valued at $3.4 billion; and Liberty Services, which delivers technology, operational and financial services generating approximately $700 million annually*. Together, these platforms create long term, sustainable value for shareholders. 

For more information, visit  

*As independently valued as of December 31, 2025. 

**Represents full year 2025 revenue of Liberty Services, substantially all of which is derived from our consolidated businesses and nonconsolidated joint ventures