Bancroft Meets Her Match

After two years since its first season aired on ITV, Bancroft returned January 1st for three consecutive nights.
When we come back to Bancroft (Sarah Parish), she has been in the role of Detective Chief Superintendent for a little over two years. She has confidently embraced this new role, using her position to control the drug trade with Daanish Kamara (Ryan McKen) - who has taken over his brother's role as crime boss. We also learn that Bancroft eventually murdered DS Katherine Stevens (Faye Marsay) who was last seen in a coma after being shot in the head by Bancroft in season one. However, this new season takes a much darker turn and sees Bancroft face her most challenging nemesis yet - her son's new psychopathic and twisted girlfriend, Annabel Connors (Charlotte Hope).

After the brutal murder of her Father and Step-Mother, Annabel cruelly stops at nothing to manipulate boyfriend Joe Bancroft and to frame him for their murder. Knowing that her son is innocent and incapable of murder, Bancroft obsessively searches for the truth - going head to head with fellow psychopath, Annabel.

With scenes that depict blood, violence and sex, the three episodes saw two strong, controlling and damaged women both fight for the outcomes that they want - reaching an intense and gruelling climax that saw Elizabeth Bancroft fighting for Joe's freedom and her own life. Meanwhile, a subplot saw Superintendent Cliff Walker (Adrian Edmondson) fight to uncover Bancroft of her corrupt misconduct in the force - something that he has been determined to do since the end of season one. His mission eventually becomes a success and sees Bancroft being arrested for conspiracy to murder DS Andy Bevan (Charles Babalola). It was a blow that left many reeling, even I had been rooting for the corrupt officer and had warmed up to her devilish antics after seeing Annabel do much worse.

Regarding season three, Bancroft writer and creator Kate Brooke, told Digital Spy how she would love to delve deeper into Bancroft's psychopathy; "There's research that you don't get born a psychopath. You know, it's all about your environment, and what happens to bits of your brain that develop at different times" - a topic that opens up the nature vs nurture debate.
Annabel, having witnessed the gory death of her Mother at the age of four, developed psychopathic tendencies that left her with a sexual desire for blood. However, Bancroft's backstory is yet to be explored properly, with her Mother telling her in episode two that "I know what you are, your my child, how could I not...", which leaves us wondering what other dark deeds Elizabeth has done and explains how the psychopath was able to spot the same tendencies in 'sweet little' Annabel.

Now that she's locked up and free of professional restraints, it'll be interesting to see what the likeable psycho is really capable of once she lets loose.



🔺 Both Season one and two of Bancroft are available to stream on the ITV Hub 🔺