Viewers blown away by new Yorkshire Ripper series The Long Shadow

Viewers have been shocked after watching the new Yorkshire Ripper series.

The first episode of The Long Shadow, chronicling the lengthy investigation into Peter Sutcliffe's heinous crimes, aired tonight (25 September). If you missed it, you can watch the trailer here:

Between 1975 and 1980, the lorry driver murdered at least 13 women, attacking seven more before he was eventually caught.

The seven-part series boasts an all-star cast, with Toby Jones playing DCS Dennis Hoban, the man tasked with finding the serial killer before he strikes again.

A synopsis for the series says it is 'the definitive depiction of the desperate five-year hunt for serial killer Peter Sutcliffe, sensitively focussing on the lives of the victims who crossed his path and those of the officers at the heart of the police investigation'.

It goes on: "With the victims, their families and the survivors at the heart of this series, The Long Shadow brings a new perspective to a well-documented story."

Taking to social media, some viewers say it was a harrowing look at Sutcliffe, known as the 'Ripper' back then, who destroyed countless lives.

One said: "That was a stunning opening episode. Such believable performances from Toby Jones, Katherine Kelly and Daniel Mays. It’s a tough story to tell and a tough story to watch but it seems as though this is going to do it sensitively and with respect."

Another added: "This may have the best cast for an ITV drama in nearly 20 years. To have two of them would be impressive but Toby Jones, Daniel Mays, David Morrissey, Katherine Kelly, Lee Ingleby and more to come is being spoilt. Good start."

A third wrote: "The Long Shadow..... Brilliant, wish I could watch the next one NOW."

A great start to #TheLongShadow - Toby Jones, as the lead detective in the Yorkshire Ripper murders - is superb as ever.

— Nick Rennie (@renster157) September 25, 2023

Omg !!! #TheLongShadow @DanielMays9 @katherine_kelly
Absolutely brilliant . Cant wait until next episode . Great cast 👏🏼

— 💋Jayne 💋 (@jayneralph41) September 25, 2023

As well as Jones, The Long Shadow stars David Morrissey, who takes the role of ACC George Oldfield.

The cast also includes Alexa Davies, Chloe Harris, Stephen Tompkinson, Jack Deam, Michael McElhatton, Adam Long, Ruth Madeley, Dorothy Atkinson, Rob James-Collier, Charley Webb, Steven Waddington and Kris Hitchen.

The script was written by George Kay, who previously worked on Killing Eve.

Speaking to LADbible about the series, director Lewis Arnold said he never planned on working on another true crime series after Des, which saw David Tennent play serial killer Dennis Nilsen, but was blown away by the screenplay.

"My instinct wasn't to do it," he told us. "Having done Des, Time, and Sherwood, I didn't really feel like I wanted to do another show that dealt with the darkest side of the human condition, and also, the social economical politics felt similar to things I've done recently.

"And then I read the scripts, and I think I was so bowled over by the humanity, and the way George had framed the show around the victims."

The Long Shadow continues on ITV at 9pm next Monday (2 October).