Lord Lucan has been missing for 50 years - this man think he has found him
On the night of November 7, 1974, Lord Lucan, a member of the aristocracy, escaped from his home in Belgravia after violently killing his children's nanny, 29-year-old Sandra Rivett. Since then, his escape has sparked endless speculation. Nearly 50 years later, the BBC docuseries Lucan takes a fresh look at the story, focusing on a new key figure: Neil Berriman, the biological son of Sandra. After years of investigation, he believed he had finally found the person responsible for his mother's death.
Even though Neil was aware of his adoption throughout his life, it wasn't until he reached adulthood that he uncovered the identity of his biological mother. This revelation sparked an investigation that would shape his future. In an envelope gifted to him by his adoptive mother, he found his original birth certificate, a letter from the agency that managed his adoption, and an intriguing newspaper article concerning Lord Lucan. It didn't take Neil long to connect the dots.
It’s completely understandable that this realization became an obsession for him. As he describes it, “The odds of being adopted and discovering that your biological mother is involved in one of the greatest murder mysteries ever is just unbelievable.” Although the police mostly believe that the murder was a case of mistaken identity—suggesting Lucan intended to kill his wife, Veronica—Neil has his doubts.
Let's start by putting things into context. Friends of Lucan and experts who have studied the case describe him as a troubled individual and a compulsive gambler. His life unraveled after he lost custody of his children following a contentious divorce. Laura Thompson, who wrote *A Different Class of Murder: The Story of Lord Lucan,* observes that in the weeks before the incident, he became increasingly fixated on Veronica, even to the point of stalking her. She notes, “That was truly the breaking point for him.”
Although Lucan has been "seen" numerous times throughout the years, there has never been any official proof of where he is. He was declared legally dead in 1999, and a death certificate was issued in 2016. However, the documentary provides intriguing hints that there may still be more to uncover. We are introduced to Marianne Robey, who worked for one of Lucan's close friends in 1979. She claims that she arranged a trip to Africa for Lucan's children after their father vanished and revealed that there was an address book from the late 1970s containing a listing for Lucan in Mozambique.
The combination of wealth and drama surrounding Lucan and his difficult marriage has often overshadowed the real tragedy of the situation. The first episode of Lucan aims to set the record straight by featuring interviews with people who knew both Rivett and her murderer. John Dankins, her boyfriend when she died, becomes emotional as he remembers Rivett as a funny, kind, and resilient person. It's truly heartbreaking to reflect on how her life was so abruptly ended.
For Neil, the pain of heartbreak seems both distant and intimately familiar. He shares, “Just seeing a dramatization is terrible.” While he doesn’t have a deep connection with Sandra, when he sees her story portrayed on screen, it feels like it’s about his own mother. Think about it: what if the most traumatic experience of your life was constantly discussed and re-enacted, yet you had never met any of the individuals connected to it?
"I may not be a detective, but honestly, you don't need to be one," Neil states. "I'm incredibly determined—I won't just let things go." However, it's evident that this determination is affecting both Neil and his loved ones. "Having a purpose in life is important, but not if it harms your own well-being," his partner Kim points out. "He’s really driving himself hard, jeopardizing his mental health, but for what reason?"
I'm captivated by the Cluedo-like tale of the Earl found in the basement with the lead pipe, just as the entire nation has been for the past 50 years. However, Neil's deeply personal quest for the truth is even more fascinating. By exploring both the mysterious high-society case and the man driven by it, the narrative offers a truly remarkable experience. This is a story that will completely transform your perspective on storytelling.
"Lucan" will air again tomorrow at 9 PM on BBC Two.
