THE son of Peter Sutcliffe's first murder victim has spoken ahead of the final episode of an ITV drama series about the serial killer.

The Long Shadow - which ends on Monday - has been telling the story of the five-year hunt for Sutcliffe.

Bradford-born lorry driver Sutcliffe murdered 13 women and attempted to kill seven others between 1975 and 1980.

Richard McCann's mother, Wilma, was killed by Sutcliffe in 1975. She was just 28-years-old.

On BBC Breakfast this morning, Richard praised The Long Shadow.

He said: "I think they've done a fantastic job of humanising the women and their families - I don't think we've seen that before.

"I think at the end of the series on Monday, people will be left with different opinions of those families.

"The only thing I've really seen about my mum is that she was a prostitute - but it's great to see how this drama has changed the narrative.

"Seeing mum put us to bed (in the show), I cried because finally the public has seen mum as I saw her.

"We've redressed the negativity."

The show was originally named after Sutcliffe's long-standing nickname. 

In an interview with the Daily Telegraph, screenwriter George Kay said the title was changed to The Long Shadow after discussions with families of Sutcliffe's victims, including Mr McCann.

Mr McCann told BBC Breakfast: "Giving these criminals these labels, it almost glamorises what they've done.

"You could say it might have inspired him to continue doing what he did."

Mr McCann, who works as a motivational speaker, previously told the Telegraph and Argus: "I urged them (ITV) not to use that word - it begins with R - in the title and I'm pleased they've listened.

"The word serves to traumatise us families left behind because it's a description of how our loved ones were maimed, how their injuries were inflicted."

Mr McCann finished his interview with BBC Breakfast by saying a memorial is expected to be created in Leeds to remember the woman who were murdered by Sutcliffe. 

Viewers of The Long Shadow have praised the drama for "giving a voice" to Sutcliffe's victims. 

Sutcliffe, who was serving a whole-life prison term for his crimes, died aged 74 in 2020 after reportedly refusing treatment for coronavirus.

The Long Shadow ends on ITV at 9pm on Monday. It is also available in full on ITVX.