The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
BBC Two, 9pm
Ryan Murphy follows up The People vs OJ Simpson with a nine-part “true crime” drama, written by Tom Rob Smith (London Spy), telling the story of the death of the international fashion mogul Gianni Versace, who was murdered by Andrew Cunanan. Versace was the fifth victim of Cunanan’s killing spree, shot dead on the doorstep of his Miami mansion in July 1997. The drama is based on a book, Vulgar Favours by Maureen Orth, which, according to a statement from the Versace family, was not authorised, and therefore “this TV series should only be considered as a work of fiction”. The People vs OJ Simpson was also criticised for its historical inaccuracies, but that didn’t stop it from being a quality drama — it was nominated for 22 Emmys, winning nine. The Assassination of Gianni Versace isn’t in quite the same class, but it is stylish and compelling (and the interiors and costume design are impeccable), so don’t let its habit of playing fast and loose with the truth put you off. The first episode opens with the brutal murder and then heads back to 1990, with Cunanan (Darren Criss) encountering Versace (Édgar Ramírez, a ringer for the designer) in a nightclub and later for post-opera drinks. (Versace’s family deny a link between Versace and his killer.) Then we’re back to the crime scene, and the efforts to save Versace’s life and the subsequent police hunt for Cunanan. It really gets going with the introduction of Penélope Cruz as Donatella, who arrives at the Versace compound to establish control of her brother’s empire.

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