CRIME of passion

On 13 July 1955, Ruth Ellis became the last woman to be hanged in Britain, after she was found guilty of murdering her abusive lover David Blakely. Now, new ITV1 drama A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story, inspired by Carol Ann Lee’s factual book A Fine Day for a Hanging, takes a fresh look at the controversial case. The four-part series explores how, after a difficult past, single mother and nightclub manager Ruth (portrayed by The Ipcress File star Lucy Boynton) has a glamorous life running the ...