This thought provoking documentary is a factual introduction to the famous executioner Albert Pierrepoint. We scrutinise his personality and ambitions; we also explore the moral dilemma associated with the difficult decision to enter his chosen profession.

For Pierrepoint, his grisly trade was something of a family tradition. His father Henry and his Uncle Thomas were both high-profile executioners. Henry was sensationally sacked after an eleven year career for being drunk on the job. Thomas, with Albert as his assistant, carried out hundreds of executions before he went it alone.

During the Second World War, Pierrepoint was hailed as a hero. He was the only Executioner allowed to cross the English Channel; his mission was to end the lives of some of the most notorious Nazi criminals in history. Indeed, he carried out thirteen hangings of the war criminals from Belsen including Josef Kramer, the notorious ‘Beast of Belsen’. Albert was also charged with the execution of Lord Haw Haw - a fascist politician and Nazi propaganda broadcaster to the United Kingdom.

We also meet Albert’s wife Anne, who he never discussed his career with. It was not until the Second World War that Albert had to formally admit to being an executioner. This was because of the long period he spent away from home while he was carrying out executions in Germany and Austria.

Next, we outline Pierrepoint’s controversial change of heart. He eventually settled upon the decision that capital punishment did not deter criminals from offending. We look at his alternate career as a pub landlord in the 'Help the Poor Struggler' Failsworth and some of the famous detectives who would visit him there for a crafty pint.

Finally, we take a macabre tour through the history of capital punishment. We tell the story of one of Albert's predecessors, John Ellis. This executioner eventually committed suicide after the pressure of the job got too much. We look at the differences between hangings in Scotland, England and Ireland.