Inside Shaun Evans' life off-screen including famous ex as he takes on chilling Until I Kill You role

Shaun Evans takes on the role of axe murderer John Sweeney in ITV's Until I Kill You.

Until I Kill You is coming to ITV and it tells the harrowing true story of Delia Balmer, who was almost killed by her partner John Sweeney following years of abuse and torment.

Endeavour star Shaun Evans plays John Sweeney and the 44-year-old actor from Liverpool is also recognised for his roles in Vigil and Betrayal.

Born to Irish parents, his father worked as a taxi driver and his mother worked in a hospital. The star, who has an older brother, joined the National Youth Theatre before moving to London as a teen to study drama.

His first major role was as French teacher John Paul Keating in the Channel 4 comedy-drama Teachers, but his main career highlight was as the young Inspector Morse in Endeavour.

Shaun is also talented behind the scenes as he has directing credits for Casualty and Endeavour.

Off-screen, nothing is known about Shaun's current relationship status but he was previously in a relationship with Andrea Corr.

The Irish musician and actress is the lead singer of the Celtic folk rock and pop rock group The Corrs along with her three elder siblings Caroline, Sharon and Jim.

She has also had an acting career and wrote a book about her youth, family and passion for music.

The pair were first seen together in 2003 and were in a relationship for four years before separating.

Since then, he has kept his personal life out of the spotlight and opened up to Ox in a Box about his desire for privacy.

He said: "[Endeavour has] little impact on my life which I like because I’m not a person who has a public persona, or a profile on social media.

"I just like to do my job and then go home and carry on with my life."

He did joke about having a crush on American singer Patti Smith, who is a huge Endeavour fan.

Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph he said: "I'm totally gushing now, but as soon as I finished one of her books, I started it again, because I was so intoxicated with the atmosphere of it. She's something else."

Until I Kill You airs on ITV from November 3