New Yorkshire Ripper drama to shock victims’ families by having reviled cop played by ‘heroic’ actor
IT’S the Yorkshire Ripper drama that attempts to look at Peter Sutcliffe’s reign of terror from a different angle.
But ITV’s reappraisal of his killing spree, called The Long Shadow, could raise a few eyebrows with a surprising casting in the role of George Oldfield, who led the bungled investigation.
I can reveal David Morrissey, an actor better known for playing good guys and hero cops in previous dramas, will play the former West Yorkshire Assistant Chief Constable.
A TV insider said: “The victims and their families still blame Oldfield and many of his senior colleagues for not catching Sutcliffe earlier.
“If he had been arrested sooner then fewer women would have been attacked and fewer lives ruined.
“So casting someone who is not known for playing baddies or villains is something of a revelation.”
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David is about to appear on screens next week as another cop, DCS Ian St Clair, trying to solve a murder in BBC1’s Sherwood.
“He has previously played DI Thorne in Sky drama Thorne and DI Mal Craig in BBC1’s Five Days, series two.
Sutcliffe was found guilty of murdering 13 women and attempting to murder seven others across the North of England between 1975 and 1980.
At one point, the inquiry was wrongly focused on a man with a Wearside accent after police were led off track by a hoaxer.
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During the investigation, Sutcliffe was interviewed and let go nine times.
Oldfield never responded to the waves of criticism before his death in 1985.
The Long Shadow, which is filming at the moment with Katherine Kelly and Daniel Mays also in the cast, is due to air later this year or early in 2023.
ITV declined to comment.
FARM FATALES
WHILE this year’s Love Island cast sun themselves in Majorca, ex-stars Shannon Singh and Danielle Sellers are a long way away from the villa glamour.
I can reveal that the duo are to appear in a fish-out-of-water reality show called Model Farmers.
It will follow a group of girls as they move to Jersey and learn to run a dairy farm.
The six will join real-life farmer Becky Houze to get hands-on as part of the show for OFTV – the new YouTube-style arm of OnlyFans where creators showcase more wholesome antics such as baking and gardening.
Becky said: “The girls and I had such a blast making this. They weren’t afraid to get their hands dirty.”
Shannon was booted out of Love Island on the first day of the 2021 series, and Danielle appeared in 2018.
As long as things don’t take a turn for the Rebecca Loos, I think we’ll be OK.
JAMES: I’D DO CELEB FOR CASH
INBETWEENERS actor James Buckley would be up for a stint in the I’m A Celeb jungle – if the money was right.
It is the only reality show he might consider, despite admitting he’d struggle in the tough conditions.
James, who played sex pest Jay Cartwright in the E4 comedy, said on his YouTube series At Home With Buckleys: “I’m not a huge fan of celebrity reality shows.
“But out of all of them, I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! does seem to be the most interesting – and it feels like a challenge.
“I’d be cold, I’d be hungry and even if we win a meal, I’d be like, ‘I just want a Big Mac’.
“That is why I’d never do it. But don’t get me wrong, if they show up with the reddies, Ant & Dec, give me a call.”
This year’s I’m A Celeb will be held in its usual home in Australia, following two series in a Welsh castle.
LOZZA TO REIGN ON QUEENS
SIMON GREGSON and Adam Woodyatt will swap soap for drag in Lorraine Kelly’s one-off competition Queens For The Night.
Corrie’s Simon and Albert Square regular Adam are joining celebrities including England rugby player Joe Marler and Union J’s George Shelley as they transform and perform.
Spice Girl Melanie C, comic Rob Beckett, Big Brother’s Courtney Act and West End performer Layton Williams will judge on the ITV that is due to be screened later this year.
Host Lorraine, who has appeared as a guest judge on BBC Three’s RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, said: “It’s a show that will have humour, warmth and, above all, lots and lots of glamour. I can’t wait to get started.”
JAMES IS THE LAST LATE LAD
JAMES CORDEN won’t be replaced on The Late Late Show when he finishes his tenure to return home next year.
Instead there are rumours that CBS, who screen the talk show, will scrap the programme altogether and fill the gap in their schedule with a panel show.
James announced in April that this series of The Late Late Show would be his last and that he would begin that final year with four special episodes filmed in London.
The format has run since 1995 under three other hosts before James, Tom Snyder, Craig Kilborn and Craig Ferguson.
A source said: “There’s no greater compliment than a channel scrapping a show altogether when a host leaves – never mind replacing a solo show with a panel format.
“Talk about Corden’s shoes being too big to fill!”
The London shows will stream on Sky Comedy from June 28 to July 1, with filming ongoing that week.
SHANE’S FIRM DIPS TO £490
THREE years after he last appeared on EastEnders, Shane Richie might be regretting giving up his role.
The actor who played Alfie Moon in the BBC1 soap saw his company’s value sink to £490, after a year in which he had to use the Government’s furlough scheme to help the business get by.
His firm Bluebelle Skye Productions had assets of around £250,000 but most of it was owed to creditors, company accounts have revealed.
Since leaving Albert Square in 2019 after 19 years playing Queen Vic landlord Alfie, Shane has topped up his income with panto work.
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But following the pandemic, opportunities to appear on stage were stripped away for two years.
Hopefully it won’t be long before Shane’s richie again.