Jack the Ripper 'was a woman' as bizarre police theory on brutal killer exposed

Ever since he vanished into the shadowy Victorian night, the identity of Jack the Ripper has kept historians guessing and arguing.

Investigating police officers and newspaper journalists were all putting forward their own theories at the time, some stranger than others.

Now, a new TV series invites us to step back into the shadowy streets of Victorian London with Jack the Ripper: Written in Blood - a gripping new docu-drama on Sky HISTORY this week and re-examining the infamous Whitechapel murders through a fresh lens.

Featuring dramatic reenactments and new insights, the series delves into the lives of those whose fates were intertwined with the Ripper’s brutal crimes. Written In Blood brings the five victims' stories to life (Mary Ann Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes, and Mary Jane Kelly)

All five of the women were killed between August 31 to November 9 1888. However, there is some speculation that Jack’s kill count could be as high as 11, with similar deaths occurring through to 1891, although police could not conclusively link them.

The series examines the role of police officers in trying to catch the ripper and their theories about the culprit. It also looks at the rise in tabloid journalism at the time and what the most sensational story of its time was.

The three part series examines the role of Frederick Abberline, who was a chief inspector for the London Metropolitan Police. He led the on-the-ground investigation into Jack The Ripper throughout the autumn and winter months of 1888 and had his own theories on the killer.

Described as looking like a bank manager, Abberline’s extensive knowledge of the Whitechapel area made him one of the most important members of the investigation.

He was placed in charge of various detectives working on the case, and came up with several theories as to the identity of the serial killer.

One of his most bizarre theories was that the crimes could have been perpetrated by a female. However he was not alone in his thinking.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes, also speculated at the time that the Ripper might have been female, as a woman could have pretended to be a midwife and be seen in public in bloody clothing without arousing suspicion or notice.

It was also because the fifth victim, Mary Kelly, was "seen" by witnesses hours after she was killed. Abberline thought this was the murderer running away, in Kelly's clothes.

The victims were all prostitutes, murdered and mutilated in the foggy alleyways of Whitechapel. By the surgical nature of the wounds, the killer was assumed to have some surgical knowledge, which also pointed to the possibility of it being a midwife.

However, in the end Abberline's primary suspect was Severin Antoniovich Klosowski, a Polish serial killer who went by the name of George Chapman.

The Chapman theory has continued to hold weight in recent years. He was known to have lived in the area during the murders and was later convicted of poisoning three other women.

At the time of his retirement from policing in 1892, Inspector Abberline had received 84 commendations and awards. He is played in Written In Blood by Alan McKenna, known for his various roles in Doctors, EastEnders and Emmerdale.

Meanwhile Sir Charles Warren was the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, the head of the London Metropolitan Police, during the Jack The Ripper murders, fared less well career wise thanks to the Ripper cases.

Following his appointment in 1886, Warren was universally seen as the right man for the job. However, his term would ultimately prove to be highly controversial – and his failure to catch Jack The Ripper an unfortunate lasting legacy of his time in the post.

As the murders mounted up, Warren increasingly became the target of criticism from the public and press. He was blamed for failing to track down the killer, accused of failing to offer a reward for information and criticised for assigning an inadequate number of investigators to the case.

Warren believed the criticism to be unfair, and resigned from his role – just before the fifth and final victim, Mary Jane Kelly, was murdered on 9th November 1888. He stayed on until his successor was in place before returning to a military career.

Often portrayed as a lousy cop in TV and film adaptations, Commissioner Warren was held in high regard by his peers. It’s reported that nearly every superintendent of the Met police visited his home to express their regret over his resignation.

Andrew Tiernan plays Commissioner Warren in Written In Blood.

Hayley Reynolds, Director of Documentaries and Factual at Sky said: “This series offers audiences a startlingly contemporary lens through which to view the Jack the Ripper story. The perspectives of contributors who have personal experience of this world provide insight like never before, re-framing the story for Sky HISTORY’s audiences.”

Ben Goold at Nutopia said: “We’re thrilled to partner with Hearst Networks and Sky HISTORY once again to bring a fresh perspective to this iconic mystery. This time uncovering a new story about the Victorian newshounds who played such a pivotal role in shaping the story then, and the legend we have now.”

* Jack the Ripper: Written In Blood premieres on Sky HISTORY starts Tuesday April 8th and will available on Sky HISTORY and to stream on NOW.