The television trailers for all three Red Riding episodes bore the tagline "Based on True Events." Nevertheless, none of the characters, nor the murder victims, bear the names of real people and only a few have obvious real-life models.
The context of the series uses fictionalized accounts of the investigation into the Yorkshire Ripper, a serial killer who stalked the Yorkshire area of England in the 1970s and 1980s. The name of the series is a reference to the murders and to their location, the historic county of Yorkshire being traditionally divided into three areas known as ridings.
Columbia Pictures acquired the rights to adapt the novels and films into a theatrical film. The studio was negotiating with Ridley Scott in October 2009 to direct.
At the 2010 British Academy Television Awards, the series was nominated for Best Drama Serial while Rebecca Hall won Best Supporting Actress.
The curry house Sean Bean uses was the 'Koh-I-Noor' in Bradford on Simes Street. The building still stands, but a different business is now there.