Red Riding actor Paddy Considine is to star in an adaptation of Kate Summerscale’s book The Suspicions of Mr Whicher for ITV1.

The two-hour drama is being made by Hat Trick Productions and adapted by Neil McKay, whose credits include Mo and See No Evil - The Moors Murders.

Set in 1860, the true story tells of the investigation into the murder of three-year-old Saville Kent.

The Suspicions of Mr Whicher will film on location around London in October.

It is being directed by James Hawes and the executive producer for Hat Trick Productions is Mark Redhead.

Redhead said: “This a very modern story. It gripped the country in the way that the case of Madeleine McCann has done in our day. It became an obsession for the press and was even debated in the House of Commons. Perhaps for the first time, the Rode Hill House murder exposed the darkness that lay behind the solid front door of the respectable English home. As a story it is riveting but also deeply touching.”

The production was commissioned by ITV director of drama commissioning Laura Mackie and controller of drama commissioning Sally Haynes.