Hearst Networks EMEA and Sky have announced a co-production on new three-part drama-documentary series, Jack the Ripper: Written in Blood, produced by Nutopia.
The series will air on Sky HISTORY in April, and rather than focusing solely on the identity of the killer, it will delve into how the Whitechapel Murders fuelled the rise of tabloid journalism in Britain. The series shines a light on one Fleet Street newspaper in particular – The Star – and its shameless exploitation of the killings to boost circulation and profits, hindering the police investigation to further its own agenda.
Through the eyes of present-day experts – including investigative journalists, former detectives, psychologists, historians, a former prostituted woman and author, and forensics experts – the series immerses viewers in the turbulent Victorian era, “offering a unique perspective on how the press manipulated the story for its own gain, ultimately obstructing justice in the process.”
Moe Dunford, stars as Thomas Power O’Connor, known as TP, the flamboyant and controversial editor of The Star alongside his wife Elizabeth, played by Chelsea Halfpenny. Under his leadership, the fledgling newspaper aggressively pursued the Whitechapel Murders. TP’s determined team included ambitious young reporter Fred Best (Mark Strepan) and shrewd sub-editor Ernest Parke (Tyger Drew-Honey). Together, along with Best’s wife Henrietta (Amy-Leigh Hickman), they infiltrated the bars, alleyways and lodging houses of Whitechapel where the “Canonical Five” victims – Polly Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes, and Mary Jane Kelly – met their tragic deaths. From bribing police officers to naming false suspects, to masterminding the infamous “Dear Boss” letter (believed at the time to have been penned by the killer), The Star’s tactics played a crucial role in escalating the media frenzy. As hysteria mounted, the public’s obsession with the “Ripper” story diverted the police investigation and may have helped the killer evade capture. The series is filmed on location in both Bucharest and London,
In addition to its focus on the press, the series brings attention to the lives of the Ripper’s victims. Through extensive historical research, the series brings the women’s personal stories to light, “offering a poignant look at their struggles in an unforgiving and class-divided Victorian society.”
Dan Korn, VP Programming at Hearst Networks EMEA said: “It’s a pleasure to be working with Nutopia on this exciting project. Whilst an iconic and frequently told story, I don’t believe anyone has tackled it in quite this way before or revealed the full extent of the press misreporting and misrepresentation of these appalling crimes.”
Hayley Reynolds, Director of Documentaries and Factual at Sky said: “This series offers audiences a startlingly contemporary lens through which to view the Jack the Ripper story. The perspectives of contributors who have personal experience of this world provide insight like never before, re-framing the story for Sky HISTORY’s audiences.”
Ben Goold at Nutopia said: “We’re thrilled to partner with Hearst Networks and Sky HISTORY once again to bring a fresh perspective to this iconic mystery. This time uncovering a new story about the Victorian newshounds who played such a pivotal role in shaping the story then, and the legend we have now.”
Dan Korn and Kathryn Taylor are the executive producers on behalf of Sky History and Ben Goold and Jane Root for Nutopia. Tom Stubberfield serves as the series showrunner and Tracey Larcombe is the series drama director. Blue Ant Studios will handle international distribution rights, excluding the UK, Ireland, CI and Isle of Man.
Jon Creamer
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