The series was first announced by the BBC in November 2020 as a drama exploring the death of Peter Farquhar and the gaslighting campaign of abuse he suffered at the hands of church warden Benjamin Field.

It was confirmed that the production had the full co-operation of the families of Peter Farquhar and Ann Moore-Martin, the real-life victims whose deaths inspired the series.

The lead cast, including Timothy Spall, Anne Reid, Éanna Hardwicke, Annabel Scholey and Sheila Hancock, was announced in June 2022.

Filming took place in Bristol and Bath, Somerset starting in July 2022, with the shoot lasting three months for actor Éanna Hardwicke.

The series holds an 88% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with The Guardian's Lucy Mangan awarding the first episode five out of five stars.

The show won Best Limited Drama at the 2024 British Academy Television Awards, with Timothy Spall winning Best Actor and Anne Reid and Éanna Hardwicke also receiving nominations.

At the Royal Television Society Programme Awards in March 2024, Sarah Phelps and Éanna Hardwicke won for Writer - Drama and Supporting Actor respectively, and the series won the Limited Drama category.

Éanna Hardwicke won the Best Actor award at the 2024 IFTA Film & Drama Awards for his role in the series.