Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Norman Silvester

Elaine C Smith takes on new role as only witness who met notorious killer Bible John

Elaine C Smith has said she feels honoured to take on the role of the only witness thought to have met Bible John.

The Two Doors Down star performs a ­monologue as Jean Langford, the sister of Helen Puttock – the final victim of the 60s ­Glasgow serial killer.

Elaine said the role was a “privilege” because for the first time the story was about the women involved rather than the murderer, adding: “I did this because it was about the women and their lives and their families. Too much of the reporting has focused on Bible John.

“I grew up with the mythology that surrounded him. The tragedy was I didn’t know the women’s names. I didn’t know there had been a sister.

“All too often the three victims have been ignored. So it was a privilege and an honour to tell Jean’s story.”

The words were from transcript of an interview Jean gave in 1996 in Dreghorn, Ayrshire, to journalist Audrey Gillan – now on BBC podcast Bible John: Creation of a Serial Killer.

Elaine’s performance is being released tomorrow as a 35-minute episode called The Witness.

On October 31, 1969, Jean and her sister shared a taxi home from Barrowland Ballroom with stranger “John” who Helen, 29, had just met.

Jean said she asked him lots of questions because she was nosey.

The taxi dropped her off, leaving “John” and Helen in the cab. The next day, the mum of two’s body was found beaten and strangled.

Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.

READ NEXT:


Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.