ITV and New Pictures have today announced the casting for true crime drama, The Long Shadow, solely written by acclaimed screenwriter, George Kay (Hijack, Criminal: UK) and solely directed by BAFTA-winning director Lewis Arnold (Sherwood, Time, Des) coming to ITV1 this Autumn.
The 7 x 60 drama is the definitive depiction of the desperate five-year hunt for serial killer Peter Sutcliffe, sensitively focussing 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 brings a new perspective to a well-documented story.
Award-winning actor Toby Jones will play DCS Dennis Hoban, who initially led the flawed enquiry, with David Morrissey taking the role of DCS George Oldfield, who famously took on the investigation. Lee Ingleby is 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 Chris Gregg.
The cast also includes Steven Waddington, Alexa Davies, Charlee Webb, Chloe Harris, Stephen Tompkinson, Jack Deam, Michael McElhatton, Adam Long, Ruth Madeley, Dorothy Atkinson, Rob James-Collier and Kris Hitchen.
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.
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 let it affect them into adulthood or the decades after, face 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.
New Pictures, the award-winning independent production company behind critically acclaimed and high rating dramas including Des and White House Farm, is producing the drama in Yorkshire.
Commented Willow Grylls: “George Kay, Lewis Arnold and an exceptional cast have bought to life an important event drama that is as tragically resonant today as it was over 40 years ago.”
ITV’s Head of Drama Polly Hill commissioned The Long Shadow, which is being produced in association with Sundance Now, which holds exclusive rights in the U.S. and Canada, and All3Media International.
Commented Polly Hill: “George’s scripts and Lewis’ direction together with this wonderful cast have produced a sensitive and brilliant drama that we are proud to have on ITV.”
