ITV has shared the first images of its upcoming new series about the Yorkshire Ripper, and has revealed the all-star cast.
The gritty true crime drama, titled The Long Shadow, is set to air on ITV1 and ITVX next month.
Written by revered screenwriter, George Kay, and solely directed by BAFTA-winning director, Lewis Arnold, the new seven-part drama is described as being the “definitive depiction” of the desperate five-year hunt for serial killer Peter Sutcliffe – who was more commonly-known as the ‘Yorkshire Ripper‘ -and is set to “sensitively focus” on the lives of the victims who crossed his path, and the officers at the heart of the police investigation.
With the victims, their families, and the survivors “at the heart”, ITV says the series “brings a new perspective” to what is already a well-documented story.
ITV has shared the first images of its new Yorkshire Ripper drama series / Credit: ITV
Based on Michael Bilton’s critically-acclaimed account of the case, Wicked Beyond Belief, producers say the series has been “meticulously researched” and draws upon the “most extensive archive” of the investigation – with hundreds of case files, interview transcripts, and police reports all forming part of the storyline.
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Celebrated stars of the TV screen feature as part of the cast unveiled this week – with Coronation Street‘s Katherine Kelly leading the pack, alongside other famous names such as Toby Jones, David Morrissey, Lee Ingleby, Jill Halfpenny, Jasmine Lee-Jones, Liz White, and Daniel Mays.
Some of the other recognisable names in the cast include Shaun Dooley, Ruth Madely, Daisy Waterstone, and Marcella Claxton.
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Toby Jones, David Morrissey, Katherine Kelly, Lee Ingleby, Jill Halfpenny, Jasmine Lee-Jones, Liz White and Daniel Mays star in true crime drama, The Long Shadow produced by New Pictures and written by George Kay, coming to ITV1 and ITVX next month. Details >… pic.twitter.com/DlgRSfLFS2
A synopsis for the new series on the ITV website 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 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 must sit with their incomprehensible trauma for decades after, enduring their own life sentences.”
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The all-star cast has also been revealed / Credit: ITV
ITV says The Long Shadow will “speak to the societal issues of the past”.
But while it takes a look back, the series will also be aiming to highlight the “alarming parallels” between the terrible crimes and tragic events of the past to those in our more-recent history, and will also touch on how people today are “holding to account the institutional foundations that foster misogyny, racism, and violence against women”.
The Long Shadow is set to air on ITV1 and ITVX next month.
Featured Image – ITV
TV & Showbiz
Wayne Rooney joins the cast of Gary Neville’s The Overlap
Danny Jones
Wayne Rooney has secured a new job just a few months on from departing as Birmingham City head coach, with the Manchester United and England legend being named as the latest member of The Overlap team.
Set to join the cast of the popular Stick to Football online series alongside the likes of former teammates Gary Neville and Roy Keane, as well as the rest of the recurring panel.
Rooney is also set to feature on various other shows across The Overlap channel, including the likes of their regular fan debates and other interviews with athletes and well-known figures.
They announced the signing in true transfer window fashion as well.
As transfer expert Fabrizio Romano quips in the video, Rooney “has signed an agreement with The Overlap” and is expected to make his debut very soon
‘Wazza’ has appeared as a pundit on Sky Sports in recent weeks and has even been spotted playing some FIFA with comedy YouTuber AngryGinge as part of his pro clubs series, but hasn’t been in a steady role since being sacked as the Birmingham manager at the start of the year.
Having already appeared as a guest in one of the most popular episodes of Stick to Football and clearly sharing a strong chemistry with his old friends – as well as the likes of fellow Scouser Jamie Carragher, Jill Scott and Ian Wright – it looks to be a natural fit for the sport-based channel.
The 38-year-old revealed some pretty interesting details about his playing and managerial career last time around, not to mention some of the other offers he’s had since…
Rooney reiterated during his own interview that his primary focus is still on coaching and finding his next managerial role, but for the time being, he’ll be bringing the insight of another ex-pro to the popular YouTube channel.
Speaking on his latest move, the former striker said, “I’m excited to announce that I will be joining my good mate Gary Neville and the team at The Overlap to appear on the channel across some of their brilliant shows on YouTube and the podcast. I can’t wait to get started”.
With an episode from at least one of their series going out most weeks, you can expect to see the footballing legend back on the channel soon.
Featured Images — The Overlap/Wayne Rooney (via Instagram)
TV & Showbiz
Paddy McGuinness announces work-in-progress shows ahead of first stand-up tour in eight years
Danny Jones
Beloved British comic Paddy McGuinness is heading back out on his first live stand-up tour in eight years this year and has announced a new run of work-in-progress shows in preparation, including one right here in Greater Manchester.
McGuinness hasn’t been out on the live comedy circuit for the best part of a decade but announced his long-awaited return late last year, with the 50-year-old heading out on the road this October.
However, as he looks to get stage sharp shape ahead of his ‘Nearly There’ tour, Paddy has picked a pair of local North West venues for the WIP sets, with a trio of shows at The Met in Bury, as well as half a dozen over in Darwen, Lancashire.
Just like the tour itself, these are sure to go quickly.
The Phoenix Nights and Max and Paddy star is playing nearly half a century of shows across the UK and Ireland from this fall onwards before closing out his tour in Dublin by April 2025.
His last tour, ‘Daddy McGuinness’ ran from 2015-16 and got pretty decent reviews across the board, with the focus largely revolving around his journey into parenthood, but his latest material is set to be quite the shift in tone.
Speaking ahead of the tour, the former Take Me Out and Top Gear host said: “It’s been eight years since my last tour and there’s lots of things to laugh about! I’m looking forward to getting back in front of a live audience, along with running the gauntlet of cancel culture, clickbait and fake news!”
Paddy also made a bit of a stir around these parts recently after he declared Bolton as still being part of Lancashire. No likey, no lighty on that one – sorry Paddy.
But never mind all that, we’re glad to see him getting back to his roots. The Farnworth-born funny man was also recently given a permanent role on BBC Radio 2 after becoming a firm favourite amongst the listenership. He will now run the 11am-1pm slot on Sundays.
As for his tour, after his warm-up shows in Bury and Darwen, the household name will be heading to The Lowry in Salford in March next year, with other nearby shows in the likes of Blackburn and Blackpool.
Tickets for Paddy McGuinness’ work-in-progress dates go on sale Friday, 3 May at 10am.
Emily Sergeant -
9th August 2023 
