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Season 1 – Whitechapel

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – Whitechapel Feb 2009 Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
90% Tomatometer 10 Reviews 88% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
Whether it's a Jack the Ripper copycat committing horrific murders in the Whitechapel district of London, or gruesome crimes in the East End prompting a look back at 300 years of history, it's up to the investigative team led by Detective Inspector Joseph Chandler, Detective Sergeant Ray Miles and jack-of-all-trades historical adviser Edward Buchan to decipher the nightmares of the past to help solve the horrors of the present. Summoning ghosts, however, can be a tricky proposition, especially when it leads Chandler, Miles and Buchan to places darker still.
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Whitechapel — Season 1

Whitechapel — Season 1

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Whitechapel is a handsomely mounted modernization of the Ripper, bringing considerable atmosphere and verve into another examination of London's grisliest serial killer.

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Critics Reviews

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June Thomas Slate 11/26/2013
Accents, creepy historical crimes, that handsome English actor who always plays princes and posh boys, that less handsome English actor who always plays taxi drivers and oiks. What's not to like? Go to Full Review Neil Genzlinger New York Times 10/26/2011
If this clich is accurate, clearly police academy trainees on both sides of the Atlantic need to be exposed to a few more corpses before they graduate. Go to Full Review Brian Lowry Variety 10/26/2011
Whitechapel can be enjoyed for what it is - an excuse to take another bloody stroll down memory lane. Go to Full Review Matt Springer Common Sense Media 10/26/2011
4/5
It's compelling to watch these disparate men clash and collaborate, even as the suspense level quickly ratchets up with the pursuit of the Ripper copycat. Go to Full Review Mildred Stockard PopMatters 10/26/2011
7/10
Whitechapel is a show that relishes these sorts of easily drawn high-and-low dichotomies, and yet flourishes as a diverting and atmospheric crime drama despite them Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Andrea M @RT92601187 03/17/2025 I'm at a loss about the reviews. This is absolutely creepy, thought provoking, stellar British detective series. A must see! See more David F @RT34372367 12/23/2024 I've just finished watching all four seasons of Whitechapel in four days (yes, I want a medal) and I quite enjoyed it. I don't really care for Rupert Penry-Jones, he's a bit too much of a poncy stage actor for me. But Phil Davis I like, he always brings a rather villainous side even to his 'good' characters. Steve Pemberton is the comic relief and does a good job keeping his performance credible, only once or twice becoming Harvey Denton. The first two seasons are quite novel, inasmuch as they are modern retreads of the Jack The Ripper and Krays murders, but after that, it gets a bit formulaic. They have the standard detective show goofs such as the pathologist also being knowledgeable about every field of forensic science, and even doing a spot of field medicine in Season 4. And Pemberton's character changes from a person who gives Jack The Ripper tours to an expert criminologist. It's lovely to see the East End shewn in all its dubious glory, but the series is really unchallenging fluff. See more 03/10/2021 Disappointed. Expected a meaty uk crime drama. What we got was a great cast but a script a bit thin in depth. I like Rupert Penry Jones, he was great in Spooks however as this senior officer with an annoying OCD issue and a reliance on the annoying crime expert, I felt he was wasted. Basing each episode on a real historic crime didn't work for me. I watched the first few episodes and gave up. See more 07/25/2020 Watched all 4 seasons probably about 150 times and still not bored. One of the BEST series ever made. Just wish they had done season 5 and finished the story See more 02/19/2019 Homicide detectives at key scenes not wearing gloves? Jerky out of focus visual 'filler' between scenes? A DI who can't stand the sight of blood? A mature hospital nurse who doesn't answer the phone.....when the ripper is outside her door? Pro critics who give the 2nd rate first episode 90%? Yikes! See more Read all reviews
Whitechapel — Season 1

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Cast & Crew

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Rupert Penry-Jones

Joseph Chandler

Steve Pemberton

Edward Buchan

Philip Davis

Actor

Alex Jennings

Actor

Sam Stockman

Actor

Christopher Fulford

Actor

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Feb 2, 2009 Ambitious DI Joseph Chandler takes on what looks like a straightforward case of domestic violence, but when Edward Buchan connects the evidence with murders committed by Jack the Ripper, the investigation becomes a race to catch a copycat killer. Details Episode 2 Aired Feb 9, 2009 Detectives attempt to penetrate Jack the Ripper conspiracies; Chandler concentrates on trapping a suspect. Details Episode 3 Aired Feb 16, 2009 The Ripper must kill one more victim to complete his re-enactment of the 1888 murders; DI Chandler approaches a breakdown as he struggles to find an answer; the team looks to the past for clues to the killer's identity. Details

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Whitechapel — Season 1

Whitechapel View more photos

Season Info

Director
S.J. Clarkson
Executive Producer
Sally Woodward Gentle
Screenwriter
Ben Court, Caroline Ip
Network
ITV
Rating
TV-14
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date
Feb 2, 2009