DAN WALKER HEADS TO DEATH ROW FOR 5 

ITN PRODUCTIONS DOCUMENTARY EXPLORES THE STARK REALITIES OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN THE U.S.

5 has announced Dan Walker on Death Row (w/t), a one-off documentary that takes an unflinching look at the deeply divisive issue of capital punishment in the United States. 

Produced by ITN Productions, this 1x90’ film sees acclaimed broadcaster Dan Walker immerse himself in America’s death penalty system, meeting those on all sides of the debate from convicted prisoners and victims' families to executioners and exonerated former inmates. 

Dan travels to Huntsville, Texas, home to the country’s most active execution chamber, where nearly 600 executions have taken place since 1982. He meets a death row inmate convicted of double murder, a family seeking justice, and follows the final days of a man set to be executed, offering rare insight into the process of capital punishment. 

Beyond the inmates, Dan speaks with prison staff who have overseen multiple executions, exploring the emotional and moral toll of their work. He steps inside an execution chamber, witnesses the final meal ritual, and meets a man who spent nearly 30 years on death row before being fully exonerated, shedding light on the devastating consequences of wrongful convictions.

Guy Davies, Commissioning Editor, Factual, 5, said: “In this unfiltered exploration deep inside the world of those charged with delivering capital punishment in the U.S, Dan’s thoughtful and immersive film shines a chilling light on the state that has a right to kill. It challenges viewers to question whether after 60 years we would ever reconsider if our own society could, or should, take a life…whatever the crime.”

Speaking about the documentary, Dan Walker added: “I have always been fascinated by the American justice system and the arguments around the death penalty. Staring into the eyes of a convicted murderer, speaking to someone who was innocent but spent nearly 30 years on death row, and meeting those directly affected by these cases was a real eye-opener. I hope viewers see that this issue isn’t as black and white as it may seem from afar and understand why it remains such a thorny and divisive topic.”

With capital punishment abolished in the UK, the debate on its reinstatement remains contentious, reignited by high-profile crimes and shifting public opinion. Against this backdrop, Dan Walker on Death Row asks: Could Britain ever follow America’s example? 

Dan Walker on Death Row (w/t) is an ITN Production for 5. It was commissioned by Guy Davies, Commissioning Editor, Factual, Channel 5. The film is produced and directed by Oliver Price and Sam Budd, with Andy Dunn serving as Executive Producer.