Until I Kill You viewing figures deliver major revelation for ITV

Until I Kill You, the gripping true crime drama that's been airing on ITVX, tells the harrowing tale of Delia Balmer (portrayed by Anna Maxwell-Martin) and her near-death experience in a relationship with murderer John Sweeney (played by Shaun Evans). The viewership figures have just been released by ITV, indicating that it's set to become one of the network's most-watched dramas ever.

The show is second only to Mr Bates v The Post Office in terms of popularity, having attracted massive streaming audiences in its first week alone, with over 10 million streams to date. The chilling narrative is based on Delia's own memoir, Living With A Serial Killer.

The cast were eager to emphasise Delia's courage and resilience as she navigated the police and criminal justice system in an attempt to bring Sweeney to justice. The four-part series has garnered five-star reviews from critics, many of whom have lauded Anna's depiction of Delia.

In a glowing review, The Guardian stated: "This extraordinary portrait of Delia Balmer, who survived a relationship with the murderer John Sweeney, is that rarest of things fearless TV that values viewers' intelligence."

Since the series premiered on November 3, streaming hours have surged by nearly a third compared to the same period last year, reports the Mirror.

Many viewers opted to binge-watch the entire series in one go, as all episodes were made available on ITVX simultaneously.

The series was complemented by a revealing documentary that included interviews with the real Delia Balmer, giving her a platform to share her harrowing experiences firsthand.

Delia, who was working as an agency nurse in London in 1991, encountered Sweeney in a local pub. Their relationship quickly escalated, and once Sweeney had moved into her home, the sinister aspects of his character began to surface.

He launched a series of brutal assaults on Delia, during which he confessed to killing his former girlfriend, Melissa Halstead.

Despite being apprehended, Sweeney was released on bail, and it was during this period that he carried out a vicious attack on Delia, inflicting severe and lasting physical and psychological injuries.

The serial killer managed to avoid the law for six years until he was finally caught in London for the murder of another partner, Paula Fields.

While Delia tried to rebuild her life, the process of healing was disrupted when she was called upon to give crucial evidence against him in court.

ITV described the narrative, saying: "This is the story of one woman's astonishing will to survive through physical and emotional torment, despite the failings of the institutions which were meant to protect her."