Dramatised documentary exploring how the Whitechapel Murders fuelled the rise of tabloid journalism in Victorian Britain, highlighting how the press manipulated the story for its own gain, ultimately obstructing justice in the process. One Fleet Street newspaper in particular - the Star - shamelessly exploitated the killings to boost circulation and profits, hindering the police investigation to further its own agenda.
The Star whips up a frenzy on the streets of Whitechapel, revealing the killer's nickname of "Leather Apron" and unleashing a wave of antisemitic violence that plunges the city into chaos. With violent clashes commonplace, the police struggle to control the streets and salvage their failing investigation. When the murderer brutally mutilates another woman, Annie Chapman, Sir Charles Warren faces public fury for his incompetence. The police are desperate for a breakthrough, but the real killer remains elusive.
With The Star at the height of its popularity and power, Fred Best finds himself at the heart of a dangerous game. As the press fuels the hysteria surrounding Jack the Ripper, circulation soars – as does the pressure to keep the story alive. On the orders of his charismatic editor, Fred forges another letter, purporting to be from the killer and escalating the myth. The police, overwhelmed with hoaxes and dead ends, are desperate for a real lead. When the Ripper commits his most brutal murder yet, Mary Jane Kelly, public outcry reaches a fever pitch. But then, the killings suddenly stop, and The Star faces its own reckoning.
