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A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story

A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story

TV-MA2025•45m•6.3/10
DramaCrime

Ratings

🎬TMDb
6.3/10(8)

A 1950s true crime drama about Ruth Ellis, the last woman in Britain to be hanged. This startling story reveals hidden truths about Ruth's murder of her lover, the legal case surrounding it and those who were also complicit.

Open in PickFlick

Production

Silverprint Pictures

Language

EN

Status

Ended

First Aired

February 17, 2025

Last Aired

March 5, 2025

Networks

ITV1

Created By

Kelly Jones

Trailers & Videos

Where to Watch
Region US · Lang EN
US
No providers available for this region.
Seasons & Episodes
Select a season to view episodes. Reddit links may contain spoilers.
Season
Episode 1
E1
Episode 1
Air date: 2025-02-17
Ruth Ellis is arrested for killing her lover, David, with a gun in her hand. While the police see an open-and-shut case, her solicitor, John Bickford, suspects there’s more to the story.
Episode 2
E2
Episode 2
Air date: 2025-02-17
At the Old Bailey, Ruth faces judgment shaped by British class and legal biases. Bickford fears she’s withholding vital details that could save her. Outside the courtroom, we uncover her sacrifices for David and a toxic love triangle.
Episode 3
E3
Episode 3
Air date: 2025-02-24
Found guilty and sentenced to hang, Ruth reflects on her relationship, lost dreams, and pregnancy, as her lawyer pressures the Home Office for a reprieve. Desperate and reliant on Desmond for her son, Ruth faces the weight of her looming fate.
Episode 4
E4
Episode 4
Air date: 2025-03-05
The day before Ruth's execution, she finally agrees to tell her new lawyer, Victor Mishcon, the full story, the whole truth. Mishcon has twenty-four hours to save her life.

Cast

Lucy Boynton

Lucy Boynton

Ruth Ellis

Toby Jones

Toby Jones

John Bickford

Laurie Davidson

Laurie Davidson

David Blakely

Mark Stanley

Mark Stanley

Desmond Cussen

Arthur Darvill

Arthur Darvill

Victor Mishcon

Bessie Carter

Bessie Carter

Carole Findlater

Joe Armstrong

Joe Armstrong

DCI Davies

Nigel Havers

Nigel Havers

Cecil Havers

Toby Stephens

Toby Stephens

Melford Stevenson

Juliet Stevenson

Juliet Stevenson

Dr. Charity Taylor

Ed Sayer

Anthony Findlater

Tony Wadham

Arthur Neilson

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