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A Cruel Love is set in 1955, and it’s common knowledge that Ruth Ellis was the last woman to be hung in the UK.
This four-part drama opens with the convicted eating her breakfast on her final morning, just before she’s about to be hung, which is interspersed with carrying out the deadly deed of shooting David Blakely (Laurie Davidson – The Road Trip) in cold blood, three months earlier.
Portrayed by Lucy Boynton (The Ipcress File), Ruth is introduced to lawyer John Bickford (Toby Jones – Mr Bates Vs The Post Office), yet although she admits guilt immediately, it’s her job to find a way to get her off, first seemingly thinking someone’s put her up to this.
Add in Mark Stanley (The Reckoning) as potential suitor Desmond Cussen, and while I’ve only seen the opener so far, it does seem to just cover a lot of the same ground over and over, making it feel like they really stretched it out over 4 episodes.
When it comes to the key cast members, Lucy’s fine, Toby’s the same he always is, but I don’t get any chemistry between her and Laurie Davidson as Blakely.
Meanwhile, the 1956 movie Yield To The Night is said to be based on Ruth Ellis’ case, with a stellar performance by the late, great Diana Dors. I highly recommend that film, while even just this first episode is putting me to sleep.
A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story tonight on ITV at 9pm, but is already available to stream in full on ITVX now.
It’s not yet available to pre-order on Blu-ray or DVD, but when it is, it will be listed on the New DVD, Blu-ray, 3D and 4K releases UK page.
Cert: 
Running time: 45 minutes per episode (4 episodes)
Release date: March 5th 2025
Studio: ITV
Format: 2.00:1
Director: Lee Haven Jones
Producer: Angie Daniell
Writer: Kelly Jones
Music: Samuel Sim
Cast:
Ruth Ellis: Lucy Boynton
John Bickford: Toby Jones
Dr. Charity Taylor: Juliet Stevenson
Desmond Cussen: Mark Stanley
David Blakely: Laurie Davidson
Melford Stevenson QC: Toby Stephens
DCI Davies: Joe Armstrong
Carole Findlater: Bessie Carter
Victor Mishcon: Arthur Darvill
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.