A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story

A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story, originally titled Ruth, is an upcoming, four-part British historical drama television series for ITVX, starring Lucy Boynton as Ruth Ellis, the last woman hanged in Britain, and Toby Jones as her solicitor John Bickford.

Synopsis
Ellis was the last woman to be hanged in the United Kingdom after the fatal shooting of her abusive lover.

Cast

 * Lucy Boynton as Ruth Ellis
 * Toby Jones as John Bickford
 * Laurie Davidson
 * Mark Stanley
 * Joe Armstrong
 * Arthur Darvill
 * Juliet Stevenson
 * Toby Stephens

Production
The project is produced by Silverprint Pictures for ITVX and is based on Carol Ann Lee's biography A Fine Day For Hanging: The Real Ruth Ellis Story. The script is written by Kelly Jones with Angie Daniell producing the series and Lee Haven Jones directing all four episodes, originally entitled Ruth.

On 19 February 2024, ITV announced the series' retitling to A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story and released a first-look image of Lucy Boynton in character as Ellis.

Casting
In June 2023, Lucy Boynton joined the cast. In September 2023 it was revealed the cast would also include Toby Jones, Laurie Davidson, Mark Stanley, Joe Armstrong, Arthur Darvill, Juliet Stevenson and Toby Stephens.

Filming
Filming took place at Troubadour Meridian Water Studios in September 2023 and Dorchester, Dorset in October 2023; specific filming locations included Dorchester Prison.