Manhunt's primary photo

The Yorkshire Ripper Files: A Very British Crime Story

Manhunt (Season 1, Episode 2)
TV Episode | 59 min | Documentary, Crime

As the Ripper's murders cause terror in the north of England and the unknown killer becomes a kind of cult figure, with Yorkshire Ripper chants at football matches and Thin Lizzy's single "Killer On The Loose" reaching the top ten, "...See moreAs the Ripper's murders cause terror in the north of England and the unknown killer becomes a kind of cult figure, with Yorkshire Ripper chants at football matches and Thin Lizzy's single "Killer On The Loose" reaching the top ten, "Manhunt" explores how the police investigation became a wild goose chase. Letters and a tape claiming to come from the murderer himself lead the police to believe the killer is from the North East. Women who survived attacks by the Ripper claim police ignored their witness statements and promising lines of inquiry were derailed - all because they did not fit with senior officers' theory about the killer's motivation. Ending with the arrest of Peter Sutcliffe, it was discovered that his name was already in multiple police files: he had been interviewed nine times during the course of the investigation. Had the police arrested him the first time he was questioned in November 1977, seven women's lives might have been saved. Letters and a tape claiming to come from the murderer himself lead the police to believe the killer is from the North East. Women who survived attacks by the Ripper claim police ignored their witness statements and promising lines of inquiry were derailed - all because they did not fit with senior officers' theory about the killer's motivation. See less
Read more: Plot summary
Director
Producer
Jasmine Macnabb (as Jasmine McNabb)
Cinematographer
Liza Williams (filmed by)
Editors
Matthew Huxford (as Matt Huxford) | Nigel Warbrick
Status
Edit Released
Updated Mar 27, 2019

Release date
Mar 27, 2019 (United Kingdom)
Awards
Series awards
1 win

Contacts

Become a member to see contact information for Manhunt.

Cast

+ Add Cast
26 cast members
Name Known for
Liza Williams
Self - Narrator and Interviewer (voice) Self - Narrator and Interviewer (voice)   See fewer
Angela Gallop
Self - Forensic Scientist Self - Forensic Scientist   See fewer
Ruth Bundey
Self - Solicitor Self - Solicitor   See fewer
George Oldfield
Self - Assistant Chief Constable, West Yorkshire Police (archive footage) Self - Assistant Chief Constable, West Yorkshire Police (archive footage)   See fewer
Frank Morritt
Self - Superintendent, West Yorkshire Police Self - Superintendent, West Yorkshire Police   See fewer
Chris Gregg
Self - Detective, West Yorkshire Police Self - Detective, West Yorkshire Police   See fewer
David Zackrisson
Self - Detective Inspector, Northumbria Police Self - Detective Inspector, Northumbria Police   See fewer
Diane Simpson
Self - Handwriting Analyst (archive footage) Self - Handwriting Analyst (archive footage)   See fewer
Jeremy Thompson
Self - BBC News Reporter Self - BBC News Reporter   See fewer
Diana Muir
Self - Journalist Self - Journalist   See fewer
Dee Marshall
Self - Journalist Self - Journalist   See fewer
Joan Smith
Self - Journalist Self - Journalist   See fewer
Julie Lowry
Self - Olive Smelt's Daughter Self - Olive Smelt's Daughter   See fewer
Tracy Browne
Self - Survivor of Ripper Attack Self - Survivor of Ripper Attack   See fewer
Beryl Leach
Self - Barbara Leach's Mother (archive footage) Self - Barbara Leach's Mother (archive footage)   See fewer
Andrew Sheldon
Self - Journalist Self - Journalist   See fewer
Richard McCann
Self - Wilma McCann's Son Self - Wilma McCann's Son   See fewer
Jalna Hanmer
Self - Academic Self - Academic   See fewer
Jim Hobson
Self - Detective Superintendent, West Yorkshire Police (archive footage) Self - Detective Superintendent, West Yorkshire Police (archive footage)   See fewer
Jack Ridgway
Self - Detective Superintendent, Greater Manchester Police (archive footage) (as Jack Ridgeway) Self - Detective Superintendent, Greater Manchester Police (archive footage) (as Jack Ridgeway)   See fewer
Jack Hill
Self - Jacqueline Hill's Father (archive footage) Self - Jacqueline Hill's Father (archive footage)   See fewer
Doreen Hill
Self - Jacqueline Hill's Mother (archive footage) Self - Jacqueline Hill's Mother (archive footage)   See fewer
Ronald Gregory
Self - Chief Constable, West Yorkshire Police (archive footage) Self - Chief Constable, West Yorkshire Police (archive footage)   See fewer
Al Garthwaite
Self - Activist Self - Activist   See fewer
Richard Madeley
Self - Reporter (archive footage) Self - Reporter (archive footage)   See fewer
Peter Snow
Self - Presenter (archive footage) Self - Presenter (archive footage)   See fewer
There was an issue loading this tab.
There was an issue loading this tab.
There was an issue loading this tab.
There was an issue loading this tab.
There was an issue loading this tab.
There was an issue loading this tab.
There was an issue loading this tab.
There was an issue loading this tab.

MOVIEmeter

Members only

Become a member to access additional data

Ratings Breakdown