The Long Shadow: release date of 2023 ITVX Yorkshire Ripper drama, cast - and who plays Peter Sutcliffe?

The Long Shadow is an upcoming ITVXtrue crime drama series about the five year police manhunt for serial killer and rapist Peter Sutcliffe, AKA the Yorkshire Ripper.

Sutcliffe killed 13 women and attempted to kill seven others between 1975 and 1980. The murderer, from Bingley, carried out most of his crimes in towns across Yorkshire, hence his grim moniker.

The police investigation into the Yorkshire Ripper has been the subject of much criticism because it took so long to catch the killer, and because some believed that the authorities did not take the killings seriously when they believed that it was solely prostitutes who were being targeted.

Additionally, police were led on a false trail by a hoax called with a north east accent, which meant that resources were spent on searching for the killer in Sunderland, and evidence that he was from Yorkshire was initially discounted.

The long manhunt was the subject of major 2020 Netflix documentary The Ripper, and is now being reimagined in an ITVX seven part drama full of well known British stars. 

Who plays Peter Sutcliffe in The Long Shadow?

County Durham actor Mark Stobbart plays the serial killer Peter Sutcliffe, known as the Yorkshire Ripper, in The Long Shadow. Though he only appears as Sutcliffe in two of the seaon’s seven episodes, Stobbart has one of the most important roles. 

The actor cut his teeth on crime procedurals, appearing in 55 Degrees North, Line of Duty, Vera, and The Hunt for Raoul Moat, but this will be his biggest role to date. Stobbart’s upcoming projects include crime drama film The Chelsea Cowboy, in which he will play British filmmaker Ken Loach. 

Who is in the cast of The Long Shadow?

The rest of the main cast in The Long Shadow are:

• Lee Ingleby as  DCS Jim Hobson7 episodes 
• Jack Deam as DI Les Hanley
• Michael McElhatton as CC Ronald Gregory 
• Kris Hitchen as DC John Nunn
• David Morrissey as ACC George Oldfield
• Steven Waddington as DSI Dick Holland
• Chloe Harris as WPC Jenny Bush
• Jasmine Lee-Jones as Marcella Claxton
• Toby Jones as DCS Dennis Hoban
• Liam Garrigan as PS Bob Blake
• Stephen Tompkinson as David Gee
• John Henshaw as Mike Dugdale 
• Victoria Myers as WPC Sue Neave
• Christopher Hatherall as DCS John Domaille
• Liz White as PS Meg Winterburn 
• Emma Cunniffe as Margaret Oldfield
• Adam Long as DC Andrew Laptew
• Charley Webb as WPC Anna Lawson 
• Shaun Thomas as Neil
• Kate Rutter as Irene MacDonald
• Daniel Mays as Sydney Jackson

Is there a trailer for The Long Shadow?

Yes there is, and you can watch it right here:

When is the release date of The Long Shadow?

The Long Shadow will premiere on ITV1 on Monday 25 September at 9pm with later episodes in the series being released at the same time weekly.

Episodes will be released on ITVX after they are first broadcast on ITV1. There are seven episodes in the series.