A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story, delves into the real-life narrative of Ruth Ellis, the last woman to be hanged in Britain. The series boasts a star-studded cast from Doctor Who, Coronation Street and Happy Valley.
The series, inspired by Carol Ann Lee’s book, A Fine Day For A Hanging, will shed light on the emotional and physical abuse Ruth endured at the hands of David Blakely.
The four-part series, airing on ITV1 at 9pm on Wednesday (March 5), will also examine the public outrage over her execution, which played a crucial role in the abolition of the death penalty. The new ITV drama features a stellar cast from across British TV and film, bringing this true story back to life.
Who is in the cast of A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story?
Lucy Boynton as Ruth Ellis
Lucy Boynton, playing Ruth Ellis, is a glamorous nightclub manageress in London who mingled with many celebrities and worked tirelessly as a single mother. She became the last woman to hang in the UK at just 28.
This is the latest role for Lucy Boynton, who previously appeared as Allison Adams in the Naomi Watts drama Gypsy, Astrid Sloan in The Politician, Jean Courtney in The Ipcress File. She also starred in Let Me Go, Murder on the Orient Express, Bohemian Rhapsody, The Pale Blue Eye and Barbie.
Toby Jones as John Bickford
Toby Jones plays John Bickford, the solicitor representing Ellis in her murder trial.
Toby Jones, known for his roles in Mr Bates Vs The Post Office, Detectorists, Long Shadow, The Witness for the Prosecution and Veloc, has become a familiar face on British TV. He’s also starred in films such as Infamous, The Hunger Games, Captain America, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.
Laurie Davidson as David Blakely
Laurie Davidson portrays David Blakely, a rising star in motorsport who falls for Ruth Ellis, but their relationship turns violent before she fatally shoots him. The English actor has previously appeared in Vampire Academy, Cats, The Road Trip, Mary and George and Netflix hit The Sandman.
Mark Stanley as Desmond Cussen
Mark Stanley plays Desmond Cussen, Ruth’s devoted admirer and sometime lover who becomes entangled in Ruth’s toxic love triangle with Blakely. Stanley, who got his big break playing Grenn in Game of Thrones, has made appearances in Broken, Dickensian, Little Women, Sanditon and The Little Drummer Girl.
He has recently been seen in Happy Valley, Trigger Point, Honour and The Bay.
Joe Armstrong as DCI Davies
Joe Armstrong stars as DCI Davies, the investigator of David Blakely’s murder. Armstrong is widely known for his roles in Fool Me Once, The Bay, Happy Valley, Black Mirror and Gentleman Jack.
Arthur Darvill as Victor Mishcon
Victor Mishcon, the barrister and divorce trial defending counsel for Ellis, is played by actor Arthur Darvill, who is known for his roles as Rory Williams in Doctor Who (2010-2012) and Rev Paul Coates in Broadchurch. He has also appeared in Legends of Tomorrow, Little Dorrit, Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll, Robin Hood, Our Boys, And Mrs, and Brides.
Juliet Stevenson as Dr Charity Taylor
Juliet Stevenson portrays Dr Charity Taylor, the prison governor of Holloway Prison. Her notable acting credits include Riveria, The Politician’s Wife, The Village, The Long Call and Professor T.
Nigel Havers as Mr Justice Cecil Havers
Nigel Havers takes on the role of his own grandfather, Mr Justice Cecil Havers, who presided over the murder trial. Havers is best known for his role as Lord Andrew Lindsay in the British film Chariots of Fire, as well as roles in Empire of the Sun, A Passage to India, The Gentlemen, Better Things, and Finding Alice.
Coronation Street fans will recognise him as Lewis Archer.
Who else is in the cast of A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story?
- Toby Stephens as Melford Stevenson
- Amanda Drew as Bertha, mother of Ellis
- Bessie Carter as Carole Findlate
- Amanda Drew as Bertha
- Israr Azam as Cooch Behar
- Audrey Brisson as Jacqueline Dyer
- Raye Cooper is Georgina Ellis
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Darren Charman as a foreman
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Rowan Robinson as Katie Wells
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Tony Wadham as Arthur Neilson
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Adam Lawrence as DI Peter Gill
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Ed Sayer as Anthony Findlater
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Jack Staddon as Clive Gunnell
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Pierre Bergman as a reporter
A Cruel Love The Ruth Ellis Story debuts at 9pm on Wednesday, March 5 on ITV1 and ITVX. All episodes will be available on ITVX.