Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
ITV SHOW ON MY BECKY’S MURDER HAS RUINED MY LIFE
He brands Martin Freeman drama ‘shameful’ for portraying him as bad dad
AN angry dad says an ITV murder drama has ruined his life.
John Godden says A Confession, about daughter Becky, 20, was “shameful”.
THE father of murdered Becky Godden says she would turn in her grave at the way ITV portrayed him as an uncaring oaf.
John Godden begged producers of crime drama A Confession not to air scenes which caused him huge pain and triggered a social media backlash that left him frightened to leave home – but he says they ignored his pleas.
Becky, 20, was murdered by suspected serial killer Christopher Halliwell, played by Joe Absolom.
John, 60, says the series – also starring Martin Freeman and Imelda Staunton – would have horrified Becky and has urged ITV to pull it from their catch-up channels.
He says: “Becky would be turning in her grave if she had seen the way I’ve been treated.
“When I saw the show I sat there in shock at how I was being portrayed – even the way the actor was dressed was nothing like me. I was an oaf, it was a total character assassination.
SHAME
“My life has been ruined over this. ITV have a lot to answer for. They should hang their heads in shame.”
In his first interview since the cold case was thrust back into the limelight by the show, John claims:
ITV refused to pull the scene which he says portrays him as being unconcerned by his girl’s disappearance.
He told producers their version of Becky’s death was a “fairytale” which would cause heartache to his family.
He says he didn’t even meet the actor who played him.
A Confession was ITV’s six-part prime time dramatisation of Halliwell’s murder of Becky and Sian O’Callaghan, 22. Five million viewers tuned in when it aired in September.
But John says he was painted as an unfit dad who did nothing to help find his missing daughter.
He says: “I was treated like I didn’t matter.
“My mum had to watch the show and see me like that. She has terminal cancer and said if that didn’t kill her then the stress of this would. I should have had my wishes respected after everything I have had to go through.
“I lost a daughter in the most horrific way. To not show me any compassion is disgusting. You don’t do that to people who are grieving.
“ITV have killed me... and killed Becky again.”
The show was based on a book written by Det Supt Stephen Fulcher, who put his job on the line to find Becky. It was developed with the help of John’s estranged wife – Becky’s mother Karen Edwards, 59.
John was invited to a screening before the show aired. He says a scene where Karen – played by Imelda Staunton – meets John in a café, was inaccurate and especially upsetting.
The Sunday Mirror has seen emails that John sent to Jeff Pope, who was also behind hit series such as The Moorside and the Rhys Jones murder drama Little Boy Blue. In the emails, John pleads with the screenwriter not to misrepresent his family.
But A Confession went out with the original scene included. John says he feels exploited, adding: “I’m a grieving father. They took advantage of my vulnerability.
“I’ve been suffering for years with her death. There is a scene in a café where we are blamed for confusing the search. But it’s all lies.
“That didn’t even happen. We never met in a café and she never said, ‘Our family has a lot to answer for’. My family are made to look like villains. I said, ‘If I’m going to be portrayed as a piece of dirt then I want to be cut out’. They completely ignored my requests.”
Speaking at home in Swindon, he adds: “I was really excited when Jeff told me he wanted me on board as I thought it would be a chance for the world to know how much I loved Becky and how close we were.
“I thought I would be Becky’s voice. But when I saw how I was portrayed as an uncaring father I was horrified.”
Becky vanished in 2003 and her whereabouts were a mystery until Halliwell was arrested eight years later on suspicion of murdering Sian. He confessed to killing Becky and took Det Supt Fulcher – played by Martin Freeman – to the murder spot.
But the confession was thrown out of court after a judge ruled Fulcher hadn’t read Halliwell his rights.
Halliwell, 55, initially escaped justice for Becky’s murder but was finally given a whole life term in 2016.
The Sunday Mirror previously revealed he has been linked to at least 12 other murdered or missing women. And his secret trophy store of 60 items of women’s clothing indicates he may have raped and murdered many more.
JUSTICE
Becky was only reported missing in 2007 and in the ITV show her mum claims this was because John’s family told her they had seen her after 2003.
John disputes this and reveals a barrage of hate on social media has left him on anti-depressants and suffering nightmares.
He says: “I received Twitter threats saying how awful I was. One said, ‘He deserves father of the year... not’.
“Others said, ‘If it wasn’t for him and his family, who are liars, Becky would have been reported missing’. I had to delete all my social media. As soon as I saw this hate mail I cried and broke down. I couldn’t even go out. I am scared people in the street are going attack me.
“I’ve done nothing wrong. My only crime is being Becky’s dad. When Becky died I had a breakdown. It nearly killed me. I was just getting to the point where I could cope and this has set me back.”
John says the “final insult” was getting the photo of the actor who
You don’t do this to people in grief. They should hang their heads in shame... JOHN GODDEN ACCUSING ITV BOSSES OVER TELLY DRAMA
played him, Christopher Fulford – signed with a kiss. John says: “Everyone else met the actors who played them so they could get a sense of the character. They knew I was distraught so they sent me a signed photo. I didn’t even meet him.”
John opens his heart as he reveals a shrine to his daughter, including the last picture of Becky.
He says: “I cry every day for her. We were like peas in a pod. I can’t celebrate Christmas now as she used to spend every Christmas with me and loved it. Every birthday I get her a card.”
John tells how he visits the Wiltshire field where her remains were found once a week and lays fresh flowers on a cross in her memory. He adds: “I feel close to her there. It’s somewhere I can talk to her. It’s just me and her.” The dad of three is now demanding an apology from ITV, which previously faced criticism for filming scenes for a drama about serial killer Levi Bellfield on the anniversary of the death of victim Milly Dowler, 13. John says: “You’d have thought they would have learned. They just don’t care.”
ITV said: “We listened to what John had to say and, where possible, amended some scenes to reflect his thoughts.
“We are satisfied that what was depicted in the finished piece was both accurate and fair.” An ITV source added that John had asked to be sent the photograph of the actor.