A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story on ITV1 tells the shocking true story of the last woman to be hung for murder in the UK.

Actress Lucy Boynton stars in the leading role as glamorous nightclub manageress Ruth, who was subsequently convicted of murder, and became the last woman to hang in the UK.

Like Until I Kill You before it, the new series will highlight the emotional and physical abuse suffered by Ruth at the hands of her lover David Blakely - who she went on to kill.

Here's everything you need to know about ITV drama A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story, including plot, real life story, episodes and start date.

What's A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story about?

A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story is a dramatisation of Ruth Ellis' life, from meeting her lover David Blakely, to eventually killing him, and the aftermath.

Ruth was convicted of murdering her lover, David Blakely. And the British government sentenced her to death.

In A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story on ITV1, we see how Ruth Ellis' solicitor John Bickford gradually realised the extent of Ruth's abuse at the hands of David Blakely. He takes on the fight to make the case for provocation.

An ITV synopsis tells us: "A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story tells the hidden story of Ruth Ellis and exposes the timeless British obsessions of class, sex and death.

"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.

Is Ruth Ellis a real person? Is this a true story?

Ruth Ellis was a real person. She was the last women to be sentenced to death in the UK in 1955. She was just 28.

The Welsh nightclub hostess fatally shoot her lover, David Blakely on Easter Sunday, 10 April 1955, outside The Magdala pub in Hampstead London.

David was a racing driver engaged to another woman. Ruth was immediately arrested by an off-duty policeman, and later found guilty of premeditated murder.

A judge subsequently sentenced her to death.She was hanged at Holloway Prison on 13 July 1955. Ruth was buried in an unmarked grave within the walls of Holloway Prison.

Her death was later criticised, as it became clear that she'd been in a violent relationship with David Blakely. He even punched her in the stomach during an argument when she was pregnant, causing her to lose the baby.

Ruth's case caused widespread controversy at the time. It provoked such intense press and public interest to the point that it was discussed by the Cabinet. She was the last woman ever to be executed in Britain.

Who's in the cast of A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story?

Actress Lucy Boynton stars in the leading role as glamorous nightclub manageress Ruth Ellis. Lucy is perhaps best known for playing Jean Courtney in The Ipcress File, or Astrid Sloan in The Politician.

TV favourite Toby Jones stars as Ruth's solicitor John Bickford, who fights for Ruth in court. Of course, Toby's known for his recent role in Mr Bates Vs The Post Office, among countless others.

Mary and George's Laurie Davidson takes on the role of Ruth's abusive lover and victim David Blakely. Meanwhile, Happy Valley's Mark Stanley plays Desmond Cussen, Ruth's devoted admirer and sometime lover who becomes caught up in Ruth's toxic love triangle alongside Blakely.

Other key roles include:

Gentleman Jack's Joe Armstrong as DCI Davies, the detective in charge of Ruth’s case.

Broadstreet's Arthur Darvill as Victor Mishcon, Ruth's charismatic divorce lawyer who took up the fight for her reprieve.

Wolf's Juliet Stevenson will play Dr Charity Taylor, Governess of Holloway Prison.

The Split star Toby Stephens plays Ruth's defence barrister Melford Stevenson QC, Corrie's Nigel Havers takes on the role of Judge Havers.

Is it based on a book?

A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story is based on Carol Ann Lee's biography A Fine Day for Hanging: The Real Ruth Ellis Story.

Kelly Jones, of The Long Call, and Des fame, Baptiste), adapted the book.

How many parts is it? When's the start date?

A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story is a four-part drama. Each episode will be one hour long, including ads.

The four-parter will arrive on ITV1 and ITVX during the winter schedule, that's between January and March 2005.

A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story will arrive on ITV1 and ITVX in early 2025.