ITV reveals Lucy Boynton in A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story

FIRST LOOK: Lucy Boynton stars as Ruth Ellis in forthcoming ITV drama A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story, which details the hidden story behind the last woman in Britain to be hanged.

Toby Jones, Laurie Davidson and Mark Stanley also star in the series alongside Joe Armstrong, Arthur Darvill, Nigel Havers, Toby Stephens and Juliet Stevenson.

Set in 1955 in the glamorous and intoxicating world of London club-land, Ruth found huge acclaim, aged 28, as the capital’s youngest club manager.

But her success soon unraveled as she became entwined in an abusive relationship with racing driver David Blakely. On trial for his murder, Ruth was condemned to hang by a system which judged her for far more than her crime.

The four-part series is based on Carol Ann Lee’s biography A Fine Day for Hanging: The Real Ruth Ellis Story, and has been adapted by Kelly Jones (The Long Call, Des, Baptiste). It is produced by Silverprint Pictures (Shetland, Vera).

Silverprint creative director Kate Bartlett (Shetland, Vera, Flesh and Blood, The Long Call) executive produces the series alongside development director Antonia Gordon.

Jones has written all four scripts and Angie Daniell (World On Fire, Vigil, The Long Call) produces the series. Lee Haven Jones (Passenger, Feast, The Long Call) directs all four episodes.

ITV Studios is handling international distribution.

tagged in: A Cruel Love, ITV, ITV Studios, Lucy Boynton, Ruth Ellis, Silverprint Pictures