He said: “I urged them (ITV) not to use that word - it begins with R - in the title and I’m pleased they’ve listened. Richard said he was “pleased” the production team had withdrawn the phrase, saying the series showed the killer’s casualties as “human beings” and “not just numbers”. And screenwriter George Kay said he’d agreed to change the title after criticism from the relatives of those who had been killed by the murderer. The keynote speaker said the name only served to “traumatise” victim’s families as it signified the wicked methods Sutcliffe used to kill and injure them.
Richard McCann, whose mum was murdered by Sutcliffe, urged The Long Shadow’s producers to change its name so it didn't include the moniker. The son of Peter Sutcliffe’s first murder victim has praised ITV bosses for dropping 'Yorkshire Ripper' from the title of an upcoming drama about the serial killer.
