ITVX

Believe Me – Premieres 10 May on ITV1 and ITVX

Believe Me premieres on Sunday, 10 May 9PM on ITV1 and ITVX.

Believe Me tells the story of how the victims of one of the most prolific sex attackers in British history were failed by the system. John Worboys was dubbed the ‘black cab rapist’ after preying on women under the cover of being a ‘respectable’ licensed taxi-cab driver. He was convicted in 2009 for sexually assaulting twelve women between 2006 and 2008, with their cases selected from a large number of suspected further victims. His modusoperandi was to pick up women in his cab after they’d been on a night out, claim that he’d had a win at a casino or on the lottery, then persistently offer them a drug-laced glass of champagne to help him celebrate – but which rendered his victims unconscious.

The drama focuses on the ordeal of Sarah (Aimée-Ffion Edwards) and Laila (Aasiya Shah), who reported sexual assaults by Worboys (Daniel Mays),and how the Metropolitan Police failed to thoroughly investigate their allegations, leading them to feel that they were just not believed. We see what countless women say they have to go through after reporting being raped, the indignity of multiple interviews and intimate evidence gathering, and how they can face skeptical lines of questioning from the police.

Believe Me will relate how the Met’s failings effectively left Worboys free to commit assaults undetected for many years; following his trial came the realisation that he was linked to allegations of further sexual offences against over a hundred women. Sarah and Laila then joined forces with solicitor Harriet Wistrich, played by Philippa Dunne and barrister Phillippa Kaufmann QC, played by Rachael Stirling, to sue the Metropolitan Police under the Human Rights Act for their failure to properly conduct investigations into their allegations of sexual assault, leading to their being subjected to degrading treatment and contributing to their distress. They won. And when the Met appealed that judgment all the way to the Supreme Court, they won again and again.

As these women fought against the odds to have their cases heard, looming in the background was Worboys’ first parole hearing. Unbelievably, only eight years after he was convicted for his crimes, his victims were made to fight again to keep him behind bars.Sarah, Laila, Harriet and Phillippa were joined by Carrie Symonds (Miriam Petche), who was targeted by Worboys in her youth but had a narrow escape, and who was now a senior figure in the Conservative Party press team. She put her career on the line to spearhead a huge media and political campaign pushing for an unprecedented judicial review of the Parole Board’s decision. The campaign, with Sarah, Laila and Carrie at the forefront, was successful, and Worboys’ parole was quashed. The bravery and resilience of these women resulted in significant changes to the law.

Daniel Mays speaks about taking on the challenging role of Worboys: When you’re playing a real person in any drama, there’s always a huge responsibility that comes with it, but this was a whole other level. This isn’t a drama about the motives of John Worboys, and rightly so. This is told from the perspective of the victims, and for them to tell their truth, have their stories told – the ordeals that they went through and the fight they took on against the Metropolitan Police and the court systems. So, when you’re dealing with that, the onus was on me to get it absolutely 110% right. That was paramount to me.

I hope it shines a light on an incredibly dark story, and I hope that it allows all of these women that he attacked to have their moment in the sun, to speak their truth. It’s an incredibly harrowing and controversial and disturbing story to watch, but in the middle of all of that and throughout, it’s incredibly inspiring – the strength and the courage that all these women found within themselves to fight the good fight and to keep him in prison. It was a long and arduous legal journey for them to go on. Ultimately, I hope this is a really uplifting and inspiring story, and that it’s compelling.

Trailer

(photos courtesy of ITV/ITVX)

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The Long Shadow ITV 9PM Mondays

The Long Shadow premieres this evening Monday, 25th September at 9PM on ITV and ITVX. The remainder of the 7 episodes follow every Monday evening at 9PM.

Daniel Mays stars as Sydney Jackson who was the husband of of one of the murder victims Emily Jackson.

Episodes will air weekly on ITV

Episode 1

Episode 2

Series Overview

The Long Shadow, written by award-winning screenwriter, George Kay (Hijack, Criminal: UK) and directed by BAFTA-winning director Lewis Arnold (Sherwood, Time, Des)  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. 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.

Meticulously researched and drawing upon the most extensive archive of the investigation, comprising of hundreds of case files, interview transcripts and police reports, the series is also based on Wicked Beyond Belief, Michael Bilton’s critically acclaimed account of the case, published by William Collins.

Award-winning actor Toby Jones will play DCS Dennis Hoban, who initially led the enquiry, with David Morrissey taking the role of DCS George Oldfield, who famously took on the investigation. Lee Ingleby is DCS Jim Hobson, whilst Katherine Kelly plays Emily Jackson with Daniel Mays as her husband, Sydney Jackson and Shaun Thomas as their son, Neil Jackson. 

Jill Halfpenny plays Doreen Hill, with Daisy Waterstone as her daughter, Jacqueline Hill.  Jasmine Lee-Jones plays Marcella Claxton, Molly Wright as Donna Deangelo, Liz White as PS Meg Winterburn and Shaun Dooley as DCS Chris Gregg.  

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.

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 – of near misses and guilt – 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.

Follow Daniel Mays on Twitter @DanielMays9 and Instagram @danielmays9

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The Long Shadow – Trailer

CONFIRMED TX DATE: Monday 25th September at 9pm ITV1, and will be made up of seven episodes.

ITV and ITVX have released the trailer for The Long Shadow. All episodes will be available on both platforms later in September. The Long Shadow is the definitive depiction of the desperate five-year hunt for serial killer Peter Sutcliffe, will sensitively focusing on the lives of the victims who crossed his path and those of the officers at the heart of the police investigation. 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. Daniel Mays is a part of this stellar ensemble cast as Sydney Jackson the husband of one the victims.

ITV, ITVX and New Pictures have announced the casting for true crime drama, The Long Shadow, solely written by award-winning screenwriter, George Kay (Hijack, Criminal: UK) and solely directed by BAFTA-winning director Lewis Arnold (Sherwood, Time, Des) coming to ITV1 and ITVX next month.

The 7 x 60 drama 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. 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.

Meticulously researched and drawing upon the most extensive archive of the investigation, comprising of hundreds of case files, interview transcripts and police reports, the series is also based on Wicked Beyond Belief, Michael Bilton’s critically acclaimed account of the case, published by William Collins.

Award-winning actor Toby Jones will play DCS Dennis Hoban, who initially led the enquiry, with David Morrissey taking the role of DCS George Oldfield, who famously took on the investigation. Lee Ingleby is DCS Jim Hobson, whilst Katherine Kelly plays Emily Jackson with Daniel Mays as her husband, Sydney Jackson and Shaun Thomas as their son, Neil Jackson. 

Jill Halfpenny plays Doreen Hill, with Daisy Waterstone as her daughter, Jacqueline Hill.  Jasmine Lee-Jones plays Marcella Claxton, Molly Wright as Donna Deangelo, Liz White as PS Meg Winterburn and Shaun Dooley as DCS Chris Gregg.  

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.

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 – of near misses and guilt – 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.

With people today holding to account the institutional foundations that foster misogyny, racism, and violence against women, The Long Shadow will speak to the societal issues of the past whilst highlighting alarming parallels between these terrible crimes and tragic events in our more recent history.

New Pictures, the award-winning independent production company behind critically acclaimed and high rating dramas including Des and White House Farm, produced the drama in Yorkshire.

ITV’s Head of Drama Polly Hill commissioned The Long Shadow, which was produced in association with Sundance Now, which holds exclusive rights in the U.S. and Canada, and All3Media International.
 
Commented Polly Hill:

“George’s scripts and Lewis’ direction together with this wonderful cast have produced a sensitive and brilliant drama that we are proud to have on ITV.”
 
The Long Shadow is executive produced by New Pictures co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Willow Grylls (Des, White House Farm, The Missing) with renowned director Lewis Arnold (Time, Sherwood, Des) directing the series. The series is produced by Matt Sandford (Des, White House Farm, Cobra – as script editor), series produced by Sarah Lewis (Noughts + Crosses, McDonald & Dodds) and co-produced by Alison Matthews (Trigger Point, Champion). George Kay, Lewis Arnold and Elaine Pyke also serve as executive producers. Polly Hill is overseeing production of the drama for ITV. 

Commented Willow Grylls: 

“George Kay, Lewis Arnold and an exceptional cast have bought to life an important event drama that is as tragically resonant today as it was over 40 years ago.”
 
All3Media International is distributing the series internationally.

(Photos and trailer courtesy of ITV and ITVX)

Follow Daniel Mays on Twitter @DanielMays9 and Instagram @danielmays9

©DanielMays.co.uk