Ruth Ellis speaking

These audio clips are tape recording extracts played on episode one of "The Ruth Ellis Files" (BBC Four, 2018).
The audio begins with Ruth speaking to Desmond Cussen about David Blakely (early 1955); and ends with Ruth talking to David Blakely (around Christmas 1954, presumably in the 'The Little Club' in Knightsbridge, London, which Ruth managed). Ruth has a 'working class' background and appears to have affected a 'posh' accent at this period in her life, presumably in an attempt to fit in with post-war London 'high society'.
I am very interested in listening to the complete tape recording, so if you know of its whereabouts online, please add a link to the comments below, thank you.

[@nicolerussell5455]

She’s so pretty. Feel so bad for everything that she went through. David was a shit.

[@andrewcrocker-harris4830]

He was an utter shit, but he didn't deserve to die. Neither did poor Ruth.

[@nicolerussell5455]

@@andrewcrocker-harris4830 the best thing I’ve ever read 💖

[@barcyorky]

When you hear this you realise how hard Miranda Richardson worked to create Ruth!

[@bunnystuart3808]

Rest in peace Ruth

[@TheCrimeReel]

Thanks for sharing this on my Ruth Ellis video - cheers Danny

[@andrewcrocker-harris4830]

These recordings are very sad to listen to. Ruth Ellis was the victim of a great injustice.

[@originaldw]

Iv just watched dance with a stranger she was a very pretty woman such an injustice. Miranda Richardson did a great job and did her reashearch

[@heathstjohn6775]

Please may I direct you to the book written by Ruth Ellis' sister, Muriel Jakubait, 'Ruth Ellis, my Sister's Private Life', Robinson, 2005. The film you mention was the final provocation she needed to write it. I hope you do. Regards.

[@timcolledge3732]

I never thought I would ever hear Ruth Ellis voice. She did not deserve to die .

[@soniasmith8328]

She should never have been put to death, she was not an evil person like so many crimes in the past. I feel for her children and no wonder her son was so screwed up. If there is an after life I hope she is at peace

[@graemetaylor1765]

This truly was the greatest injustice in a British Court of the 20th century 😱

[@JohnMcPhersonStrutt]

While , like you, i emphatically believe she should not have been executed, her case was not "the greatest injustice in a British Court of the 20th century" see:- Derek William Bentley (1933 - 1953) Timothy John Evans (1924 - 1950) Mahmood Hussein Mattan (1923 - 1952)

[@scouser2010ify]

She should never of been hanged he abused her he deserved it

[@andrewcrocker-harris4830]

She shouldn't have been hanged - nobody should (the death penalty is a barbaric relic) - but Blakely, feeble and contemptible man that he was, didn't deserve to die either (although Ruth should have had the sense to distance herself from him). This is a true tragedy that resonates 65 years on.

[@scouser2010ify]

@@andrewcrocker-harris4830 I totally agree this woman clearly had issues I just wish it ended better for her

[@Patricia-kx4jp]

I agree they didn't seem to take that in consideration at the trial if so it would have been manslaughter not murder

[@scouser2010ify]

@@Patricia-kx4jp she might have turned it around but man was king back then it’s sad she paid with her life

[@Patricia-kx4jp]

@@scouser2010ify she was so brave she did it accepted the consequences but didn't deserve to be hung he was a rat

[@dnorfed]

Ruth was well spoken too, I often thought that she may have been.

[@pennydreadful5217]

Strange that these conversations were recorded

[@melgrant7404]

Well spoken

[@dire5426]

Found her unmarked grave today.

[@majorlaff8682]

Well done. Didn't know it was lost. Did you take it to the nearest police station?

[@vlloyd46]

It's fascinating to hear the actual voice of the person. There are so many photographs & books that have been written about Ruth. I don't like saying it. But her voice does sound false. David Blakely's friends were very well spoken. David Coussens was a 'man about town'. A successful businessman. He was obviously a good mixer. She might have felt pressured into putting on an accent. Shame she couldn't be 'herself'.

[@danielquill]

There's interviews with Ruth's sister, Muriel, so I wonder if they give a good idea of Ruth's natural speaking voice.

[@EC-yq4im]

She indeed speaking with a false "posh bird" accent, one used regularly by nightclub hostesses and entertainers at that time in the more affluent areas of London.

[@vlloyd46]

I've just finished watching the film Dance With a Stranger on my DVD player. The brilliant Miranda Richardson, beautiful Rupert Everett & the fantastic actor that played Desmond Cussons). Very atmospheric film. Dark & sexual. I love the film locations. So sad that Ruth's son committed suicide. David & Ruth wound each other up. (It seems). But I feel David enjoyed belittling Ruth. He seemed to have a vicious streak. I can empathise with her. RIP RUTH.

[@danielquill]

Desmond Cussen was played by Ian Holm who went on to play Bilbo Baggins in 'The Lord of the Rings'.

[@vlloyd46]

Ian Holm was a brilliant actor. Very well thought of. Died quite recently.

[@andrewcrocker-harris4830]

Her sister, Muriel Jakubait, didn't like the depiction of Ruth in the film.

[@andrewcrocker-harris4830]

@@vlloyd46 He was a superb actor. RIP.

[@vlloyd46]

Hi Andrew. I agree. Ian Holm was a fantastic actor. I’ve got another very good film he was in. Wetherby. Vanessa Redgrave was in it too. Plus a film called Chromophobia. He was very versatile. Speaking as a woman. He was attractive too! Going back to Ruth Ellis. We shouldn’t forget her awful father abused her. So in a way, she was used to men ‘using’ her. Taking advantage, manipulating her. But i also feel. They both liked to wind eachother up. They both enjoyed putting eachother down. The relationship was very sexual too. They both found eachother very attractive. Passion & jealousy are powerful emotions.

[@russellcampbell9198]

A state assisted murder/suicide.

[@daveashby9989]

Georgina Hail had it down perfectly

[@danielquill]

Hale :-)

[@bunnystuart3808]

The government has blood on its hands

[@spookyboo22]

Everybody's drunk RIP Ruth X

[@tina5203]

This was a crime of passion, and I don’t think Ruth Ellis got a fair trial . Very tragic case !!

[@kieronland4069]

It was a crime of passion,but Ruth did get a fair trial,the judge Mr.justice Havers would have made sure of that.

[@tina5203]

kieron land She didn’t get a fair trial . It only lasted a day and the state was determined to get a guilty verdict at all costs . It was a very sad and tragic case . A very passionate but self destructive relationship !!

[@kieronland4069]

She said at the trial she intended to kill David Blakely when she shot him .That's cold blooded murder and the penalty was death.She convicted herself.Also she wanted to die to be with David.

[@tina5203]

kieron land Yes but today it would have been Manslaughter. She was mentally and physically abused by him and that should have been taken into consideration . She was obviously in a severe emotional state wren she shot him and that part was ignored aswell . They were totally unsuitable which resulted in tragedy which it was . You don’t have a trial which lasts a day unless all the evidence gets ignored . This is ever happened !!

[@kieronland4069]

@@tina5203 I believe the defence did mention this in their address to the jury and the fact that she'd lost a baby after a beating from Blakely.They also asked her to dress down for the trial which she ignored and turned up looking glamorous.It's worth mentioning that the judge sent a note to the home secretary saying that in his view she should be reprieved.However the home secretary refused because a passer by at the time of the murder Gladys Yule had been hit and injured in the hand by a riccochet from one of the bullets hitting the wall.The home secretary said "We can't have people firing off guns on our streets" You also mentioned all the evidence.What evidence was there?At the time crimes of passion and severe emotional states weren't classed as reasons to murder someone.

[@bunnystuart3808]

A victim of British justice

[@simonwilliams3828]

history speaks

[@junetaylor8396]

cussens hypnotized her

[@lorenzonotarianni1667]

The sound quality of the recording reminded me of the Marks attack film and the aliens speaking their language " Ar ar ar ar ". I'm only joking. Very interesting case and video. Greetings from Italy.

[@heathstjohn6775]

I've read that the man's voice was Desmond Cussens', but you can hear Ruth Ellis say ' My apologies to one and all, Mr. Blakely is...'; and, '...this is typical David', (Blakely). Yet, it's to the same voice that she speaks about ! Blakely ?

[@danielquill]

Where you see pictures of Desmond, it's Desmond speaking, and where you see pictures of David, it's David speaking. Desmond speaks first in the video, then later David speaks. I do not believe the men are in each other's presence in either case.

[@heathstjohn6775]

Ah ha ! Thanks very ! much. I should always have been confused. I thought it was the same male voice. I can hear the obvious disinterest from DC, when, after listening many times, I finally deciphered his 'Give us a drink, darling', as his irrelevant reply to her diatribe on DB; a less naturally jovial person might not have laughed. I still can't hear the name of the man RE says '...should like to seduce these two English girls...' I'm sure that's the sound of ice being mixed, whilst she's listening to what is said to be '...typical Ruth...'. 'Jackie' I'm assuming is a quiet Jacqueline Dyer, in the room with them; would you agree ? And who do you think, please, is the equally quiet 'Bob' ? I've heard there's more of her voice in the documentary, of her singing, too, but I can't find it: do you have it, please, and if so, could you upload it ? Finally, have you read Muriel Jakubait's biography, which I refered to, elsewhere in the Comments ? If so, do you believe that DC fired a shot from the car ?

[@pennydreadful5217]

Yes David Blakely is the voice on the last recording, Christmas night 1954

[@ulrichbodscheller2013]

Interesting, but poor sound quality.

[@danielquill]

I think that's down to mid-50's commercially available audio recording equipment (and maybe not speaking directly into the mic) rather than the documentary itself.

[@stephenguppy7882]

Just watching a BBC4 documentary on her. The accent is forced, that is obvious but she was only trying to fit in with this 'set'. And she was so badly abused she should never have been hanged.

[@freyamckenzie5583]

Sub titles would help.

[@danielquill]

I think there is a transcript of what is said in Carol Ann Lee's book 'A fine day for a hanging'.

[@simonwilliams3828]

is there more ?

[@danielquill]

Yes there is, the (partial?) transcript is in 'A Fine day for a Hanging' by Carol Ann Lee, which includes Ruth singing a love song. I'd love to hear the full tape. Also, I've since found there is another sound clip on another episode of 'The Ruth Ellis Files'.

[@danielquill]

@@simonwilliams3828 ok, and likewise.

[@rssmdb1]

There’s a bit more of her chat with Desmond and her singing on the 1977 documentary “The Ruth Ellis Story”

[@danielquill]

@@rssmdb1 Do you have a link for this documentary?

[@danielquill]

​@@simonwilliams3828 Did you find a link for this documentary? I can't find it.

[@woowah32]

Where’s the proof that this is Ruth Ellis speaking?

[@danielquill]

The audio clips are from this documentary (which is referenced in the description above): www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/b09vppkn/the-ruth-ellis-files-a-very-british-crime-story

[@colinscotland2887]

The Death Penalty is wrong, thank Goodness I live in Scotland as the Scottish Government will never bring back the death Penalty, the maximum jail sentence anyone should serve is 15 years, People can be Rehabilitated back into Society.

[@danielquill]

A strong argument against capital punishment is the many people around the World who have been found innocent some time after their conviction. Another is that we can learn from offenders so as to hopefully reduce the likliehood of a recurrence of similar crimes by others in society. Yet another is execution is 'the thin edge of the wedge': it might begin with a brutal serial killer being executed, but before long it is someone like Ruth Ellis who is ordered to the scaffold. And finally, if it's punishment society wants, execution is only a punishment for the offender up until the moment the rope goes taut, but it can devastate their innocent loved ones for decades afterwards.

[@therandomguy5864]

I strongly disagree with you when it comes to the sentence thing. Some people can’t rehabilitate, it’s just hardwired into them. Take a look at Aaron Campbell, he said he would want to do what he done to a newborn.

[@eddiejohnson5183]

An executed murderer has never reoffended.

[@colinscotland2887]

@@eddiejohnson5183 but many innocent people have went to the Gallows.

[@eddiejohnson5183]

@@colinscotland2887 a lot of innocent people have been murdered by killers after release as well. With today's technology the burden of proof must leave no doubt of guilt. The Murderers of Lee Rigby is a prime example where a wrongful execution would be impossible.