What happened to Lord Lucan? Life of 7th Earl of Lucan explained - and when did he disappear

The second part of ITV series Lucan continues the story of the flamboyant aristocrat
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

ITV aired the first part of its Lucan series on 4 August, with the second part on TV at 9pm on Wednesday (11 August).

But who was Lord Lucan and what happened to him?

Here’s what you need to know.

Richard John Bingham, 7th Earl of Lucan, was born on 18 December 1934 and commonly known as Lord Lucan (Photo: Douglas Miller/Keystone/Getty Images)Richard John Bingham, 7th Earl of Lucan, was born on 18 December 1934 and commonly known as Lord Lucan (Photo: Douglas Miller/Keystone/Getty Images)
Richard John Bingham, 7th Earl of Lucan, was born on 18 December 1934 and commonly known as Lord Lucan (Photo: Douglas Miller/Keystone/Getty Images)
Read More
Where will I’m A Celebrity 2021 be? Is the show returning to Gwrych Castle – as ...

Who was Lord Lucan?

Richard John Bingham, 7th Earl of Lucan, was born on 18 December 1934 and commonly known as Lord Lucan.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He was an Anglo-Irish aristocrat, the eldest son of George Bingham, 6th Earl of Lucan by his mother, Kaitlin Dawson.

Lord Lucan attended Eton College and served with the Coldstream Guards in West Germany from 1953 to 1955.

He developed a taste for gambling and became skilled at backgammon and bridge.

He was an early member of the Clermont Club and left his job at a London-based merchant bank to become a professional gambler.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Lord Lucan became known for his expensive tastes, driving raced power boats and Aston Martins.

In 1963, he married Veronica Duncan, who he had three children with. The marriage broke down in 1972 and he moved out of the family home at 46 Lower Belgrave Street in Belgravia to a nearby property.

A bitter custody battle ensued and he reportedly became obsessed with regaining custody of the children, recorded their telephone conversations and spied on Veronica.

When did he disappear?

On the evening of 7 November 1974, Veronica Duncan and the family’s nanny, Sandra Rivett, were attacked in the basement of the Lucan family home.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Rivett was killed and Duncan identified Lord Lucan as her attacker, which prompted the police to launch a murder investigation.

However, while this was taking place, Lucan had his mother collect the children and drove to a friend’s house in a borrowed car which was later found abandoned.

Inside the vehicle, there was a piece of bandaged lead pipe, which was similar to one found at the crime scene that police believed to be the murder weapon, as well as several bloodstains.

Lucan was officially named as the prime suspect in Rivett’s murder case which led to a widespread investigation and a huge amount of media coverage.

However, he disappeared and has never been found.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Many believe Lucan took his own life, but no body has ever been found.

Lady Lucan has said she believed he jumped off a ferry leaving Newhaven.

The second episode of the two-part show airs at 9pm on ITV on Wednesday 11 August, with the first episode now available to watch on ITV Hub.

Related topics: