The Long Shadow

I don't normally write reviews after just one episode so I may come back at a later date and amend this review. After episode one of the seven part ITV series based on the Yorkshire Ripper it's unlikely I will change my opinion. Mainly because the cast is almost a Who's Who of the best British acting talent out there. In episode one We have Toby Jones, David Morrissey, Lee Inglbey and Daniel Mays. And more to come in later episodes.

ITV have clearly pushed the boat out to produce a drama of the highest quality, not only the superb cast, but the script direction and attention to detail of the period is at the top drawer. For Once I'm quite glad that this hasn't been put on ITV Player as it gives me something to look forward to On Monday nights. 9/10.

I was 17 when the first murder victim was killed and 22 when that monster was finally caught. Living in the area where these events happened was terrifying throughout that time of going at night with friends but always being aware that he could be the man walking near you.

This drama series is blessed with some excellent British character actors, and is sympathetic to the women and girls who were slaughtered by that piece of scum who I won't name. These events are still so entrenched in my memories that the names of the victims and the police officers investigating the crimes have never left me. We have to remember that things were very different then and with no DNA and no centralised police computer system, the work involved for the police was almost insurmountable.

I hope that the victims' families will feel that this series has been made to make us see them as people rather than just names, photos and, sadly, descriptions in the media at the time. The excellent cast and writers, in fact everyone involved, were apparently keen to achieve that.

For many many years , really since Broadchurch, ITV has produced drivel on a regular basis, ridiculous dramas that are nothing better than day time soaps and turned off after the first episode. Finally The Long Shadow arrives and within 10 minutes the difference was there to be seen. With an absolutely stellar cast and some top drawer actors this is totally compelling stuff The subject matter is very grim but it's a story that needs to be told, especially to a generation that will have no knowledge of that era.

The victims and their families are portrayed in a sympathetic manner and all the fashions and dialogue are spot on Definitely one of the best dramas this year.

The shows creators have made an admirable decision in approaching this story from the viewpoint of the women who were murdered and their loved ones and the botched investigation - rather than a re-enactment that gives face time to their twisted killer.

As someone who was a teenager at the time I can remember how huge the impact of this long running crime spree was - and in retrospect how badly the victims were mistreated not just by their fates but by the misogyny and prejudices of the media and the police and sections of the general public at the time.

This series does its best to give them a voice and importance that was denied to them at the time and deserves to be commended.

Production values were very high, period detail was excellent and it was well directed with an excellent score. The casting was superb all round and the intelligent script by George Kay was understated and let the power of the women's stories prevail as they should.

One of the best UK dramas of 2023 that raises many questions about male violence that are sadly just as valid today as they were in the 70's and 80's when these crimes took place.

I lived in Shipley, Bradford during this, because I worked as an engineer and I banked in Shipley I was interviewed by the police during this investigation. I knew Peter Sutcliffe's brother Carl, I knew his Employer Willy Clarke. I don't know whether I ever met Peter Sutcliffe because he looked like 100's of guys back in the 70's. This series is very complimentary on the level of gross ineptitude and incompetence by the West Yorkshire police at this time. They were literally beyond useless during the whole of this investigation. This series highlights the plight of the victims which is an interesting perspective never really touched on before. It also highlights the level of prejudice and misogyny in police ranks waged against women of what was seen to be low moral character. The Yorkshire Ripper was more prolific than the Whitechapel murders in 1889, he was caught by mere chance by vigilant police officers in Sheffield , if this hadn't have happened, he might never have been caught.