A new ITV series drama, ‘Ruth’ the last woman to hang in the UK

4WardEverUK • 7 June 2023

all credits: DEADLINE

published: 13 June 2023

Image Credit: Jimmy Chan at www.Pexels.com


Bohemian Rhapsody star Lucy Boynton is to headline an ITV series about [Ruth Ellis] the last woman to hang in the United Kingdom.


Boynton will play Ruth Ellis, a nightclub hostess who was hanged at the age of 28 after fatally shooting her abusive lover David Blakely. Famous hangman Albert Pierrepoint carried out the death sentence at Holloway Prison in 1955.


The four-part series is made by ITV Studios-backed Vera producer Silverprint Pictures. It is written by Kelly Jones (The Long Call, Des) and based on Carol Ann Lee’s biography A Fine Day for Hanging: The Real Ruth Ellis Story.

Ruth is told over two parallel timelines, with one half of the story following Ellis’ entry into a dizzying upper-class London and her ultimate downfall. The other follows John Bickford, Ellis’ lawyer, as he unravels secret truths about the case that remained hidden for decades.

Kate Bartlett and Antonia Gordon are the Executive Producers for Silverprint. Angie Daniell is the Producer and Lee Haven Jones (Passenger) directs.


Ruth was commissioned for ITV by Polly Hill and Huw Kennair Jones. The series is produced in association with ITV Studios, which will handle global distribution.


Read full article here >

share this article on social media

shoppers with their bags full

Just by shopping you can support the National Memorial Family Fund

by 4WardEverUK • 9 December 2025
You can easily help raise money for the fund by shopping online for food, DIY, movies, clothing or items via over 8,000 brands including Amazon, Western Union, eBay and many other outlets.
soldier fires automatic weapon

Forgotten photos expose UK army abuses in Iraq

by 4WardEverUK • 7 December 2025
Newly published photographic evidence, alongside archived testimonies from a public inquiry, documents a pattern of systemic abuse inflicted on Iraqi civilians by British soldiers in 2003.
hands on prison bars

How many women are in prison and on death row around the world?

by 4WardEverUK • 7 December 2025
While fewer women than men are incarcerated, their numbers are rising faster and most often for non-violent offences. Experts warn of ‘global crisis’ as number of women in prison nears one million.
Medical stethoscope and papers

Concern about epilepsy deaths in the UK's prison system

by 4WardEverUK • 7 December 2025
A new Learning Lessons bulletin from the Prisons & Probation Ombudsman summarises research from investigations where a prisoner’s death was caused by epilepsy or was diagnosed with epilepsy.
Prisons & Probation Ombudsman report

“A production line of pointlessness” - Children on custodial remand

by 4WardEverUK • 6 December 2025
Since becoming the Children’s Commissioner, I have travelled across the country meeting children whose lives are shaped by decisions made far away from them, whose voices are rarely heard.
Benjamin Zephaniah

Remembrance & Memorials : The people's poet, Benjamin Zephaniah

by 4WardEverUK • 25 November 2025
"To the world Benjamin was the renowned writer, poet, human rights activist and more'. To us, his family, he was also all of these things, but most importantly he was family."
More Articles