What if you were one of the murder victims of a serial killer, but now people are fighting for justice? Directed by Lewis Arnold, a crime drama series titled “The Long Shadow” is based on a similar concept and is ready to be released in this fall season.
The Long Shadow is based on Michael Bilton’s book Wicked Beyond Belief for viewers to follow along on the immense criminal manhunt in British history. The upcoming drama series will focus on the story of one of the sizeable murder investigations in British history.
It focuses on the murder committed by Sutcliffe from 1975 to 1980 when he went on a killing spree ending the lives of 13 women and his attempt to end the lives of seven more. Released on 25 September 2023, the series stars Toby Jones playing the role of DCS Dennis Hoban, Mark Stobbart playing the role of Peter .
David Morrissey playing DCS George Oldfiel’s role, Daniel Mays playing the role of Sydney Jackson, Lee Ingleby playing DCS Jim Hobson’s role, Katherine Kelly playing the role of Emily Jackson, Shaun Dooley playing DCS Chris Gregg’s role, Daisy Waterstone playing Jacqueline Hill’s role.
He has 13 women victims whose lives he ended and seven women he attempted to end. Produced by George Kay and Lewis Arnold, the series provided viewers a chance to see society’s reality as the world is filled with monsters like Sutcliffe on a hunt to end people’s lives for their satisfaction.
One has to be careful about similar monsters living amongst us in hiding and waiting for their next target. Killers like Sutcliffe enjoy the pain and suffering of others as they believe they are doing good and ending the suffering of others, or they just take out their anger and pain on others.
The Long Shadow – Premise
The ongoing true crime-thriller series focuses on the investigations behind the serial killer Peter Sutcliffe and his intent behind ending the lives of thirteen women and his attempt to end the lives of seven more lives. The series focuses on Peter Sutcliffe popularly known as The Yorkshire Ripper going on a killing spree until his arrest in 1981.
The series retells the events and feelings of the victims who crossed paths with the serial killer in a sensitive manner. Peter’s horrific attacks left a deep scar on the nation’s psyche after he ended the lives of 13 women, while seven were left lucky after they survived his brutal attacks.
The series opens with the murder of Peter’s first victim, Wilma McCann, a mother of four children from Leeds and Sydney Jackson. The series’ first episode focuses on the first two victims of Peter. Sydney Jackson and Emily, his wife in the 1970s faced tough economic times like most of the people in that period.
This led to Emily making the difficult choice of becoming a sex worker to support her young children but become Peter’s second victim. Initially, Sydney became the suspect in the murder of his wife, but things took a turn after the police discovered the connection between Emily and Wilma’s murder.
During the investigation, the police discovered that Wilma used to go out in the evening every day on a regular basis. Hoban’s investigating team lacks sympathy for Wilma as she is a sex worker, but Hoban is determined to bring justice to her.
Hoban reveals the news of their mother’s death to her young children before asking them to pose with their favourite toys. In a heartbreaking twist, Emily also lost her life after crossing paths with Peter after she started to work as a sex worker to support her family.
The Long Shadow – Filming Locations
The true-crime series filming took place exactly where Peter killed his victims.
1. Leeds, England
Known for its Royal Armouries Museum and Thackray Medical Museum, a beautiful northern city, Leeds, was used for the filming of the true-crime thriller.
2. Bradford, England
Known as the home of fairies and the Bradford Sling, another beautiful city in the northern side of England was used to film some of the scenes of the true crime drama series. As a substitute for Millgarth Police Station, Bulmer & Lumb dyehouse, off Halifax Road in Bradford, was used by the production crew of The Long Shadow. Some other locations used include Buttershaw, Low Moor, and Royds Hall Lane.
