Katherine Kelly and Daniel Mays lead cast with first-look at new true crime drama
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ITV has released a first look at their new true crime drama, The Long Shadow.
The upcoming series documents the real story of the desperate five-year hunt for serial killer, Peter Sutcliffe. Based on extensive archival material and Michael Bilton’s book Wicked Beyond Belief, the show sensitively revisits the lives of the victims, the officers in charge of the investigation, and the survivors.
The Long Shadow boasts a sensational cast led by Line of Duty's Daniel Mays as Sydney Jackson, alongside Coronation Street actress Katherine Kelly as his wife Emily, who share an on-screen son Neil (Shaun Thomas).
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Toby Jones will play DCS Dennis Hoban, the first investigator on the case, before David Morrissey as DCS George Oldfield, famously takes over.
The first-look images establish the sombre and harrowing tone, as reporters turn up at Sydney’s door, while the investigators are confronted with grim crime scenes and their despair at being unable to prevent the murderer.
The synopsis reads: "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."
It continues: "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."
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The cast also features Coronation Street and EastEnders star Jill Halfpenny as Doreen Hill, The Durrells' Daisy Waterstone as her daughter, Jacqueline, Jasmine Lee-Jones as Marcella Claxton, Molly Wright as Donna Deangelo, Liz White as PS Meg Winterburn and Shaun Dooley as DCS Chris Gregg.
The seven-part series is written by Hijack screenwriter George Kay, with direction from the BAFTA-winning Lewis Arnold (Sherwood).
ITV’s head of drama Polly Hill said: "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."
The Long Shadow will be released on ITV1 and ITVX next month.
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