David Morrissey is one of those actors that can do no wrong. From Tip To to Daddy Issues with Aimee Lou Wood and the likes of Sherwood, we're a big fan of the his on screen presence - and The Long Shadow is no exception.
The crime drama, which is now streaming for free, is arguably the actor as his best, alongside a stellar cast and retelling one of Britain's most harrowing stories. Here's what you need to know about the show if you haven't seen it already, from the cast to the storyline and more.
What is The Long Shadow about?
The Long Shadow is based around the true story of a five-year hunt for serial killer the Yorkshire Ripper, real name Peter Sutcliffe, between 1975 and 1980. It was one of Britain's largest murder investigations after 13 women were found across Yorkshire and Manchester, clouding the country in fear and devastation.
Instead of focussing on the harrowing crimes, however, The Long Shadow shines a light on the victims, survivors and their families, as well as the police officers dedicated to solving the case.
While the true story is distressing, the series attempts to handle it sensitively, and the result is an outstanding crime drama. As the ITV synopsis details, "The police struggle to catch the killer of a woman murdered in Leeds, and a desperate mother is forced to make a difficult decision."
Sutcliffe murdered 13 women and attempted to murder seven others, that police know of, with the series focussing on four of the victims and some survivors.
Who else stars in The Long Shadow?
The cast is absolutely brilliant, with David Morrissey joined by an impressive calibre of talent:
- David Morrissey plays DCS George Oldfield, the senior detective who took over the investigation during the manhunt
- Toby Jones from Mr Bates vs The Post Office plays DCS Dennis Hoban, the original lead investigator on the case
- Lee Ingleby from Cuckoo and Inspector George Gently DCS Jim Hobson, another detective who's across the inquiry
- Jack Deam from DCI Banks and Father Brown as DI Les Hanley, a detective inspector
- Katherine Kelly from In Flight and The Crow Girl as Emily Jackson, one of Peter Sutcliffe's victims
- Daniel Mays from Lynley and Line of Duty ias Sydney Jackson, Emily Jackson's widower
- Daisy Waterstone from The Capture and The Durrells as Jacqueline Hill, one of the victims
- Jill Halfpenny from The Feud and The Cuckoo as Doreen Hill, mother of victim Jacqueline Hill
Where can you watch The Long Shadow?
All seven episodes of The Long Shadow are available to watch for free on ITVX. Each episode is roughly 50 minutes each and originally aired on the channel in September 2023.
What were the reviews of The Long Shadow like?
Radio Times gave it four out of five stars, commenting, "The show is gripping from start to finish, more than earning its seven hour run-time by packing the episodes with detail. This is evidently extremely thoroughly researched, making the drama as informative as it is emotional."
The Telegraph also gave it four stars, saying, "The Long Shadow is a considered, unsensational handling of a story steeped in tabloid headlines, made all the more chilling by the fact that we know what is to come. The real-life investigation lends itself to drama, with the police following false leads."
The Guardian was more on the fence with their review, adding, "Does the drama keep its promise of sensitivity? Sutcliffe seems firmly sidelined, but there are still “serial killer victim” motifs, including the timeless classic: bare legs lying lifeless on the grass. The Long Shadow has enough strong moments and fine performances to keep me invested. As a revolutionary shakeup of the true crime genre, it’s less convincing."
