Ripper drama films on survivor’s street
Actors bring back memories of evil rampage
YORKSHIRE Ripper survivor Marcella Claxton watched as a drama was filmed yards from her home about the serial killer who attacked her with a hammer.
Corrie star Katherine Kelly stars as Peter Sutcliffe’s second victim Emily Jackson in The Yorkshire Ripper, which is being shot in Leeds.
This week they were on location near Marcella’s red-brick terraced home in Chapeltown and she spoke to a security guard standing outside the set.
The scenes involved police handing flyers to sex workers and going door-todoor and a black van displaying a huge poster appealing for information about Emily’s murder.
The mum, 42, was murdered by Sutcliffe on January 20, 1976.
Some of the victims’ families and survivors of the serial killer, including Marcella, are believed to have been in contact with the makers of the upcoming mini-series.
Marcella was 20 MONSTER when she was attacked by Sutcliffe after she had left a house party in Leeds in May 1976.
He mistook her for a sex worker and hit her over the head, leaving her needing brain surgery and more than 50 stitches.
She also lost a baby she was four months’ pregnant with.
Local residents were surprised the production company had chosen to film the serial killer drama so close to her home.
Mercy Brown, 48, said: “Imagine going for a walk in the streets where you live and seeing a film being made about your attacker’s crimes.”
Anna Williams, 46, said: “Everybody was excited but it must have been awful for the lady who survived to come across a scene which must have brought back horrific memories.”
Winston Campbell, 58, said: “Seeing the actors brought those days back to me. It was very scary times around here.
“I hope they do the victims justice and treat them with respect.”
Marcella, who still suffers headaches, dizzy spells and blackouts 45 years on, said after Sutcliffe’s death in 2020 aged 74: “I’m happy he’s gone. At least now I may be able to get some closure.”
Victim Emily’s son, Neil Jackson, now 64, who also still lives in Leeds, was 17 when his mum was killed. He met the producers and actor Daniel Mays, who plays his dad Sydney, and recalled the moment police turned up to say his mum’s body had been found.
He said: “I’ve met the producers and Daniel Mays. From what I can see he’s doing very well.
“I think it will be good, it isn’t just about the Ripper but about the family too. It’s nice to pay tribute to my mam and dad.
“I still say it – when my mam was alive, there was five in the family, me, mam, my dad and my brother and sister. My brother, sister and I have only spoken four times in 40 years. So in my eyes he murdered the whole family.”
Neil told Daniel about his difficult relationship with his dad, a roofer, who was stubborn while he described his mum as “joyful” and explained how she did the books for his father’s business.
He said he had no idea she was working the streets to help pay the bills.
ITV commissioned the drama after the success of Des and White House Farm.
Sutcliffe was convicted of murdering 13 women and attempting to murder seven others from 1975 to 1980.
It must have been awful for the lady who survived to have horrors brought back ANNA WILLIAMS RESIDENT IN STREET WHERE DRAMA SHOT