Wikipedia

The Long Shadow (TV series)

The Long Shadow is a seven-part British true crime drama television series, written by George Kay and directed by Lewis Arnold. The series details the five-year manhunt for the serial killer Peter Sutcliffe, commonly referred to as the Yorkshire Ripper. The series began airing on ITV1 on 25 September 2023.

The Long Shadow
Promotional poster
Based onWicked Beyond Belief
by Michael Bilton
Written byGeorge Kay
Directed byLewis Arnold
Starring
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes7
Production
Executive producers
  • George Kay
  • Lewis Arnold
Production locationsVersa Studios, Leeds, United Kingdom[1]
Production companies
Original release
NetworkITV
Release25 September (2023-09-25) –
6 November 2023 (2023-11-06)

Cast

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Episodes

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No.Directed byWritten byOriginal release date Viewers
(millions)
1Lewis ArnoldGeorge Kay25 September 2023 (2023-09-25)[3]4.31
The police struggle to find the murderer of a woman in Leeds and a married mother has to make a difficult decision. Guest cast: Ben Cartwright as Michael Baxter, Alexa Goodall as Sonia McCann, Dylan Hall as Richard McCann, Katherine Kelly as Emily Jackson, Brian McCardie as Steve Rawton, Gemma Laurie as Wilma McCann, Michael Parr as Paul Hughe, Rebecca Hanssen as Pat Jackson, Melanie Kilburn as Auntie Win, Joe Hughes as Eddie Brown
2Lewis ArnoldMichael Bilton2 October 2023 (2023-10-02)4.90
The police have arrested who they think is the murderer but find that the murders have continued. As they face the fact that there could be more than one killer, a survivor gives testimony that could change what they think they know. Guest cast: Ruth Madeley as WPC Judy Womack, Molly Vevers as Irene Richardson, Prisca Bakare as Maggie Shaw, Rosa Hesmondhalgh as Pam Hartwell, Kirsty Mather as Paula Dodd, Damien Matthews as James Coverdale, Rakhee Sharma as Beverley Dennings
3Lewis ArnoldGeorge Kay9 October 2023 (2023-10-09)5.06
Guest cast: Liam Ainsworth as Clifford Williams, Nigel Betts as Dr Alan Caplin, Natalie Gavin as Georgie Showalter, Sophie Hopkins as Patricia Atkinson, Asif Khan as Ali Jafari, Andrew Knott as Angus Brownley, Cara Theobold as WPC Jill Adams, Molly Wright as Donna Deangelo, Rob Norbury as Mark Peterborough, Michael Hawkins as Nigel Desford
4Lewis ArnoldUnknown16 October 2023 (2023-10-16)5.52
Guest cast: Harry Egan as Eamon Lister, Jumayn Hunter as Leroy Reid, Mark Jordon as Ray Wood, Ian Lloyd Anderson as Terrence Hawkshaw, Sophie Powles as Samantha Davies, Yasmin Taheri as Lizzie Deacon, Nicola Sloane as Elsie Hawkshaw
5Lewis ArnoldUnknown23 October 2023 (2023-10-23)5.61
Guest cast: Emily Coates as Tracy Browne, Jonathan Coy as Howard Cohen, Orla Fitzgerald as Anna Rogulskyj, Mark Frost as Nick Clarke, Lucie Shorthouse as Cindy Thornbury, Lee Harding as Ben Henderson, Lucy Black as Nora Browne
6Lewis ArnoldUnknown30 October 2023 (2023-10-30)5.66
Guest cast: Craig Anthony-Kelly as James Amberley, Ray Ashcroft as Mr Neal, Kya Brame as Mary Knight, Julian Kay as Dylan Parker, Naomi Radcliffe as Mrs Ashworth, James Dryden as Leonard Symes, Alexander Forsyth as Jack Windsor Lewis, Leah Walker as Olivia Relvers, Neil McKinven as Sir David McNee
7Lewis ArnoldUnknown6 November 2023 (2023-11-06)6.16
Guest cast: Shaun Dooley as DCS Chris Gregg, Adam James as Desmond Wilcox, Calam Lynch as PC Robert Hydes, Jason Done as DS Des O'Doyle

Production

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Screenwriter George Kay used the Michael Bilton 2003 book Wicked Beyond Belief combined with case files, interview transcripts, and police reports, to pen the series.[4] The series is produced by New Pictures for ITVX and directed by Lewis Arnold.[5] It is also made in association with Sundance Now who have exclusive rights in North America, and All3Media International are distributing the series internationally. Willow Grylls is executive producer alongside Kay, Arnold and Elaine Pyke. The series is produced by Matt Sandford, series produced by Sarah Lewis and co-produced by Alison Matthews.[6]

Filming

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Filming took place in Yorkshire in June and July 2022, with filming locations including Wortley, Leeds,[7] Dewsbury, York and a residential property on Langford Lane in Burley-in-Wharfedale, near Ilkley.[8]

Broadcast

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The series was broadcast in the United Kingdom on ITV1, STV, and ITVX on 25 September 2023.[3] A trailer was revealed on 31 August.[9] On 2 October 2023, all episodes were released early on ITVX and the STV Player.

Reception

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In The Guardian, Lucy Mangan praised the series not focusing on the perpetrator: "the attention is on the women. Specifically, the living women. And, when they are gone, the people they leave behind."[10] She also says: "We have come to expect virulent misogyny and racism to be on show in dramas set in earlier decades and involving the police – or any other unwieldy, male-dominated institution – but The Long Shadow succeeds in embedding it more quietly but firmly. It is a way of life, a way of thinking rather than a succession of big instances."

Accolades

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In March 2024, the series was nominated in the Best Limited Drama category at the 2024 British Academy Television Awards.[11]

References

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  1. ^ "Projects". Versa Studios. 25 April 2024.
  2. ^ Hughes, Lorna (8 August 2023). "ITV Peter Sutcliffe drama The Long Shadow cast revealed including Corrie and Emmerdale stars". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  3. ^ a b Court, Molly (8 August 2023). "The Long Shadow: ITV announces cast for Peter Sutcliffe drama". Herald Scotland. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  4. ^ Cremona, Patrick (8 August 2023). "Line of Duty and Detectorists stars cast in ITV drama The Long Shadow". Radio Times. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  5. ^ Goldbart, Max; Ntim, Zac; Shackleton, Liz (8 August 2023). "Toby Jones & David Morrissey Board ITV Yorkshire Ripper Drama; UK Unscripted Working Group; Lynne Ramsay Sarajevo; Warner Bros. Discovery J:COM Deal; BBC Studios Partners With Pinterest – Global Briefs". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  6. ^ Ramachandran, Naman (8 August 2023). "'Hijack,' 'Lupin' Creator George Kay's ITV True Crime Drama 'The Long Shadow' Reveals Cast". Variety. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  7. ^ Kay, Jaimie (12 June 2022). "The Long Shadow Yorkshire Ripper ITV series filming underway as crews spotted filming in Wortley, Leeds". Leeds-live.Co.uk. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  8. ^ Newton, Grace (4 July 2022). "The Long Shadow: Filming for new ITV crime drama takes place at suburban house in Yorkshire". Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  9. ^ "The Long Shadow - trailer". ITV Press Centre. 31 August 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  10. ^ Mangan, Lucy (25 September 2023). "The Long Shadow review – a shattering serial killer drama that breaks all the rules". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  11. ^ Richardson, Hollie (20 March 2024). "Bafta TV awards 2024 nominations: full list". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
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