Is the Red Riding trilogy based on a true story?

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Within the past week, the Red Riding trilogy found its home on Netflix, swiftly climbing into their list of top-viewed content, indicating that a significant number of viewers are captivated by its intense narrative.

The drama consists of three full-length parts: “Red Riding 1974,” “Red Riding 1980,” and “Red Riding 1983.” This series debuted on Channel 4 in 2009, and it unfolds against the chilling atmosphere surrounding the Yorkshire Ripper murders.

The show boasts a prominent lineup of actors, with its plot revolving around the intricate web of corruption within various institutions, offering numerous surprises and unforeseen events along the way.

Many people consider this a landmark drama in British television history, and with its availability on Netflix, some are revisiting the series while others are experiencing it for the first time.

Certainly, viewers might ponder if it’s inspired by real events. Keep reading to uncover the truth.

Is Red Riding based on a true story?

Intrigued by the gripping portrayal of crime and corruption, I must clarify that The Red Riding Trilogy, although convincingly woven around authentic themes, is not an adaptation of real-life events.

The television series originated from the writing of screenwriter Tony Grisoni, yet it’s fundamentally rooted in a four-book series by author David Peace. These books employ fictionalized narratives to depict an investigation into the notorious Yorkshire Ripper.

In the year 1999, Peace published the first book titled “Nineteen Seventy-Four”. The sequels followed: “Nineteen Seventy-Seven” was released in 2000, “Nineteen Eighty” in 2001, and “Nineteen Eighty-Three” in 2002.

The books, similar to the series, walk the fine boundary between reality and imagination when recounting the events surrounding the hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper, as he was referred to by the media during that period, in a dramatic and engaging manner.

In the end, Peter Sutcliffe was found guilty and convicted for the murders of 13 women and for attempting to kill seven more from the years 1975 to 1980.

Often referred to as one of the UK’s most productive serial killers ever, Sutcliffe’s actions terrorized Yorkshire during his reign, leading to one of the largest and costliest manhunts in British history.

During that period, West Yorkshire Police endured considerable scrutiny regarding how they managed the case and subsequent manhunt, as they interrogated Sutcliffe on no less than nine occasions throughout their five-year inquiry.

The author, Peace, hails from Yorkshire and often finds inspiration for his novels rooted in the widely discussed incident that occurred there.

Aficionados of true crime dramas might have previously encountered the sorrowful tale of the Yorkshire Ripper. ITV’s series, “The Long Shadow,” further illuminates the five-year pursuit of Sutcliffe, providing insights from his victims and their kin, survivors, and investigators alike.

As a cinephile, I must say that while The Red Riding Trilogy and The Long Shadow stand alone narratively, they share a common technique: merging truth with fiction to create a gripping tale.

In the initial installment of the trilogy titled Red Riding 1974, the narrative focuses on a young journalist named Eddie Dunford, portrayed by Andrew Garfield. As he delves into an investigation of missing children during the 1970s in Yorkshire, he unearths a network of institutional wrongdoing and dishonesty.

In the second movie titled Red Riding 1980, Paddy Considine assumes the main role as Assistant Chief Constable Peter Hunter, portrayed as a “clean” officer. As he’s tasked with assisting in the investigation of the Yorkshire Ripper case in West Yorkshire, he encounters widespread corruption, which progressively makes it harder for him to carry on his duties.

In the concluding chapter of the trilogy titled “Red Riding 1983,” actor David Morrissey from Sherwood assumes the character of Detective Maurice Jobson, a man who harbors doubts about whether the infamous Yorkshire Ripper could possibly have survived.

When a young girl gets abducted, he thinks he’s jailed an innocent person instead and endeavors to rectify the mistakes of yesteryears by setting things right.

In the Peace novel series, a total of four books were written, but it resulted in just three full-length movies that introduced new characters along with some familiar faces.

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2025-07-23 19:38