Profile of Richard Hillman on Famous Like Me

Richard Hillman was a character in the British soap opera Coronation Street and was the first serial killer to appear in a British soap. He was played by Brian Capron.

Hillman, a financial advisor and a relative of Alma Baldwin, first appeared at Alma's funeral in the summer of 2001. He quickly became friends with Gail Platt and eventually moved in with her. He quickly won the hearts of Gail's children, Sarah Louise and David, by buying them expensive gifts.

Hillman's dealings were questioned after some elderly people had lost their savings to him. He set up a business called Kellett's Towers and went into business with Duggie Ferguson. They set up a string of council flats, but Duggie tried to cut corners with Richard. Hillman confronted Duggie at the flats when Duggie fell several floors and was critically injured. He not only didn't help, but he also robbed Duggie of his money. Duggie died the next day and was found by Gail.

Hillman's second wife Patricia came to Weatherfield and wanted her half of the business. Hillman refused and, after a heated argument at the flats, smashed Patricia in the face with a spade, killing her immediately. Her body was buried in the foundations of the flats. One regular, Norris Cole, suspected that Hillman was up to no good, but Hillman bullied him into silence. Several months later Hillman and Gail married.

Over the following months, his business going downhill, Richard found out that his mother in law, Audrey Roberts, was worth £250,000. Over the next few months, he convinced Audrey that she was going insane, then tried to kill her in a house fire. She survived and eventually realised that Hillman was trying to kill her. She tried to warn her daughter of his shady dealings, but instead was chucked out of the house. Audrey and a friend tried to expose Hillman, but were unsuccessful.

Hillman was becoming desperate for money and needed to kill again. His next target was Emily Bishop, whose house he had bought. One night while out at a party, Hillman sneaked out of the pub and disguised himself as a young homeless man. He quietly broke into a neighbour's house (who Emily was babysitting for) and brutally attacked Emily with a crow bar. The owner, Maxine Peacock, confronted Hillman. He said, "You should had stayed at the party Maxine," and beat her to death. Hillman staged a robbery and framed the homeless kid. Emily survived the attack.

Hillman received a phone call that a lady who enstrusted her savings with him had died and that the money had gone to him. Hillman was distraught with guilt, realising that he didn't need to murder anyone at all. A month later, Gail confronted Hillman, who confessed to the murders. Gail was sickened and described her husband as "Norman Bates with a briefcase". Hillman ran, but returned two weeks later and planned to kill his entire family. Originally, he was going to gas the family in the garage, until Audrey, who had come around to help Gail make tea, disturbed his plans. With the help of the neighbours, they broke down the garage door. Hillman drove off, with "You and Me Song" by The Wannadies playing on the CD player, which he said was a favourite of Sarah-Lou's from a previous summer holiday. Martin and various other Street men were pursuit in another car. Gail smuggled a pair of scissors from the house and subtly handed them to Sarah Lou before she got into the car. She cut David's tape, then cut her own, so they could track him down. Hillman eventually drove them into the canal, screaming "This is it! I LOVE YOU!" The family survived their terrible ordeal but Hillman perished.

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