If you’ve hit a bit of a wall with regards to what to watch next and are on the lookout for a seriously gripping series – look no further than ITV’s masterpiece crime drama The Long Shadow. Starring Sherwood’s David Morrissey, The Crow Girl’s Katherine Kelly and Line of Duty’s Daniel Mays, the heartbreaking watch with a perfect cast tells the story of one of Britain’s biggest manhunts.
The dark drama, inspired by true events, takes us to West Yorkshire in the mid 1970s as the nation became paralysed with fear as Peter Sutcliffe carried out a series of fatal attacks against women. Rather than putting Sutcliffe at the centre of the drama, The Long Shadow gives a voice to the victims, the survivors and their families, while examining the rampant police failures and victim-blaming culture that further endangered these women.
Intrigued? With the series available to watch now, here’s everything you need to know about The Long Shadow, including the plot, cast and how to watch it.
What’s The Long Shadow about?
The seven-part drama tells the story of the desperate five-year hunt for serial killer Peter Sutcliffe, also known as the Yorkshire Ripper, who was convicted of killing 13 women between 1975 and 1980. Written by George Kay, the drama, which first aired on ITV1 in 2023, puts an emphasis on the stories of the victims, survivors and their loved ones – rather than retelling the story through the gaze of the killer.
After the murder of Wilma McCann, we meet Emily Jackson (Katherine Kelly), a mother whose family is facing extreme financial woes. She makes the decision to take up sex work in a bid to try and save them from losing their home, but, heartbreakingly, this choice drives her into the path of Sutcliffe.
Meanwhile, DCS Dennis Hoban (Toby Jones), ACC George Oldfield (David Morrissey) and DCS Jim Hobson (Lee Ingleby) lead different stages of the increasingly desperate investigation. As more women are attacked, the drama expertly scrutinises the misogynistic attitudes and media messaging that repeatedly hinder the response and endanger more women.
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Katherine Kelly, who grew up in South Yorkshire, recalled how entrenched the fear was rooted in the surrounding communities. ‘There was nobody in the area that wasn’t affected by it,’ she previously told Stylist. ‘Even if it was just on a day-to-day basis. If a woman was 10 minutes late for work, it wasn’t, “Oh, she’s missed the bus.” Everybody’s first thought was, “Is she the next victim?”’
Who’s in the cast of The Long Shadow?
The cast of The Long Shadow includes:
- Toby Jones (Mr Bates Vs The Post Office) as DCS Dennis Hoban
- David Morrissey (Sherwood, Tip Toe) as ACC George Oldfield
- Katherine Kelly (The Crow Girl, Innocent, Cheat) as Emily Jackson
- Lee Ingleby (Inspector George Gently, Innocent) DSI (later DCS) Jim Hobson
- Jill Halfpenny (The Feud, Number One Fan) as Doreen Hill
- Jasmine Lee-Jones (Dead Pixels) as Marcella Claxton
- Liz White (Life On Mars) as WPS Meg Winterburn
- Daniel Mays (Line Of Duty, Mrs Biggs, Believe Me) as Sydney Jackson
Is The Long Shadow any good?
Yes – while it’s a harrowing watch, the series is very powerful because it doesn’t make Peter Sutcliffe the focus of the drama, keeping the women and their families at the centre. Katherine Kelly delivers the standout performance as Emily Jackson, whose desperate decision to try and save her family from eviction has devastating consequences. The meticulous research, drawing on case files, reports, transcripts and Michael Bilton’s acclaimed Wicked Beyond Belief, makes the drama feel extremely authentic, while ensuring it remains, first and foremost, deeply human.
Is there a trailer for The Long Shadow?
Yes – you can watch the full trailer for The Long Shadow below.
How can I watch The Long Shadow ?
All episodes of The Long Shadow are available to watch now on ITVX.
What other crime dramas can I watch now?
For a gritty detective drama steeped in history, we’d point you towards Inspector George Gently, as the eponymous anti-corruption inspector takes a rash and young DS John Bacchus (Lee Ingleby) under his wing to solve a string of complex crimes in 1960s North East England. Inspector George Gently is available to stream now on Netflix. For another moving crime drama, we’d suggest Common, which tells the story of a vulnerable teenager Johnjo (Nico Mirallegro), who unwittingly gets caught up in a murder case after a fatal stabbing. You can watch Common now on BBC.
