They join Tahar Rahim (The Looming Tower) who will play real life serial killer Charles Sobhraj, one of the most evasive criminals of the 20^th century.

The series, written by Richard Warlow and Toby Finlay, follows Sobhraj’s murderous spree, which was estimated to have taken place between 1975 and 1976 across India, Thailand and Nepal’s ‘Hippie Trail’.

He was the chief suspect in almost 20 unsolved murders of young Western travellers during this time and by 1976 was Interpol’s most wanted man, with arrest warrants on three different continents.

Coleman will play Marie-Andrée Leclerc, Sobhraj’s partner and accomplice, with Howle cast as Herman Knippenberg and Bamber as Angela Knippenberg.

When Knippenberg – a junior diplomat at the Dutch Embassy in Bangkok – stumbles upon Sobhraj’s world of crime, lies and murder, everything changes for them both.

Knippenberg becomes determined to bring Sobhraj to justice, but this proves to be no easy feat when dealing with a psychopath, con man and master of disguise.

Jenna Coleman expressed her excitement at starring alongside Rahim, Howle and Bamber to bring to life the “unfathomable real-life story.”

She said: “The Serpent intoxicated me into the dark seductive world of Charles Sobhraj.”

With regard to taking on the role of Knippenberg, Howle said: “When I heard about the story behind The Serpent, I couldn’t believe what I was reading.

“What an interesting role, in a fascinating story, with a brilliant team behind it - shooting in such a great part of the world, as well.”

Bamber described learning about the story of the Knippenbergs and Sobhraj as “every bit inspiring as it is fascinating.”

Filming for the eight-part series has now begun and will premiere on BBC One in the UK, and on Netflix outside of the UK and Ireland.