A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story

Synopsis

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.

First Air Date: 2025-02-17

Last Air Date: 2025-03-05

Number of Seasons: 1

Number of Episodes: 4

Created By: Kelly Jones

Networks: ITV1

View Technical Specifications on IMDb

Top Cast

Lucy Boynton as Ruth Ellis
Toby Jones as John Bickford
Laurie Davidson as David Blakely
Mark Stanley as Desmond Cussen
Arthur Darvill as Victor Mishcon
Bessie Carter as Carole Findlater
Joe Armstrong as DCI Davies
Nigel Havers as Cecil Havers
Toby Stephens as Melford Stevenson
Juliet Stevenson as Dr. Charity Taylor

Seasons

Miniseries (2025)

No overview available for this season.

Episodes:

Ep. 1: Episode 1 (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.
Ep. 2: Episode 2 (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.
Ep. 3: Episode 3 (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.
Ep. 4: Episode 4 (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.