Historian Lucy Worsley, never one to shy away from a good historical enigma, returns with a new series, Lucy Worsley Investigates. This time, she’s turning her attention to one of history’s most notorious figures: Jack the Ripper. But while the Ripper’s identity remains shrouded in mystery, Worsley’s focus extends beyond the killer himself, exploring the wider context of the case and its lasting impact on true crime reporting.
Worsley examines how the Ripper case became a media sensation, fueled by the burgeoning newspaper industry of Victorian England. The Whitechapel murders, already gruesome, were amplified by the press, becoming a morbid form of public entertainment. Worsley argues that this sensationalist coverage, with its lurid details and speculative theories, laid the groundwork for the modern true crime obsession.
The episode also explores the social and economic conditions of Victorian London, highlighting the vulnerabilities of the women who became the Ripper’s victims. Worsley connects the dots between the crimes and the societal issues of the time, offering a more nuanced understanding of the case and its context.
Lucy Worsley Investigates premieres Friday, January 3, 2025, at 9:00 PM on BBC Two. This four-part series will also explore the Gunpowder Plot, Bloody Mary, and 1066.
