ITV1 has released a number of first look images from their upcoming drama about the hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper alongside an impressive casting announcement.
Written by George Kay and directed by Lewis Arnold, The Long Shadow is a seven-part true crime drama which promises to be the definitive depiction of the desperate five-year hunt for serial killer Peter Sutcliffe, sensitively focusing on the lives of the victims who crossed his path and those of the officers at the heart of the police investigation.
With the victims, their families and the survivors at the heart of this series, The Long Shadow promises to bring a new perspective to a well-documented story.
Meticulously researched and drawing upon the most extensive archive of the investigation, comprising of hundreds of case files, interview transcripts and police reports, the series is also based on Wicked Beyond Belief, Michael Bilton’s critically acclaimed account of the case, published by William Collins.
The first look images released today reveal the cast, which includes Toby Jones as DCS Dennis Hoban, who initially led the enquiry, with David Morrissey taking the role of DCS George Oldfield, who famously took on the investigation.
Elsewhere, Lee Ingleby plays DCS Jim Hobson, whilst Katherine Kelly plays Emily Jackson with Daniel Mays as her husband, Sydney Jackson and Shaun Thomas as their son, Neil Jackson.
Jill Halfpenny plays Doreen Hill, with Daisy Waterstone as her daughter, Jacqueline Hill. Jasmine Lee-Jones plays Marcella Claxton, Molly Wright as Donna Deangelo, Liz White as PS Meg Winterburn and Shaun Dooley as DCS Chris Gregg.
The cast also includes Alexa Davies, Chloe Harris, Stephen Tompkinson, Jack Deam, Michael McElhatton, Adam Long, Ruth Madeley, Dorothy Atkinson, Rob James-Collier, Charley Webb, Steven Waddington and Kris Hitchen.
One murder has the power to cast a long shadow and this case plunged a whole society into darkness. For every victim, there were friends and loved ones. For every police officer, there was the burden of failure of near misses and guilt and the knowledge that as they failed to find their man, more women continued to suffer.
The impact on the lives of those who live on after the death of their loved one remains to this day. Those who cannot escape what happened, who must sit with their incomprehensible trauma for decades after, enduring their own life sentences.
With people today holding to account the institutional foundations that foster misogyny, racism, and violence against women, The Long Shadow will speak to the societal issues of the past whilst highlighting alarming parallels between these terrible crimes and tragic events in our more recent history.
Produced by New Pictures, The Long Shadow is executive produced by New Pictures co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Willow Grylls with renowned director Lewis Arnold directing the series, Matt Sandford producing and Sarah Lewis series producing. It has also been co-produced by Alison Matthews with George Kay, Lewis Arnold and Elaine Pyke also serving as executive producers.
The Long Shadow will air in September on ITV1
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