Home / Series / BBC Documentaries / Aired Order / Season 2009 / Episode 32

A Necessary Evil?

The untold story of two infamous labourers, Burke and Hare, who embarked upon a year-long killing spree in Edinburgh during the 19th century to provide corpses for the most famous anatomist of the day, Dr Robert Knox. The common perception is that Burke and Hare were Scottish graverobbers but, as this programme reveals, they were serial killers from Northern Ireland. Presented by Dr Alice Roberts and Dr Mark Hamilton, this programme uses dramatic reconstruction to investigate this macabre tale.

English
  • Originally Aired September 21, 2009
  • Runtime 60 minutes
  • Content Rating United States of America TV-PG
  • Network BBC
  • Created August 25, 2010 by
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  • Modified August 25, 2010 by
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Name Type Role
Alice Roberts Guest Star
Mark Hamilton Guest Star
Natalie Maynes Director