Filming has started for ITV's new four-part drama titled 'The Lady', which follows the story of Sarah, Duchess of York's former dresser, Jane Andrews, who was convicted of murdering her lover in 2001? Game of Thrones star Natalie Dormer takes on the role of the Duchess in the upcoming royal drama, meanwhile BAFTA winner Mia McKenna-Bruce with play Jane.
Elsewhere in the cast, Outlander's Ed Speleers will play her victim Thomas Cressman, with other big names set to star being Philip Glenister, Outnumbered's Claire Skinner and Gavin and Stacey star Laura Aikman. The Lady charts the rise and fall of former royal dresser Jane Andrews, whose rags to riches fairy tale fell apart when she was convicted of murder. As the cast have been spotted filming in London, what really happened?
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Once a young working-class girl from Grimsby and born in Lincolnshire in 1967, Jane grew up in extreme poverty and battled depression from a young age, leading to a suicide attempt at just 15.
Despite a difficult upbringing, she answered an advertisement in the magazine The Lady and to the astonishment of her friends and family, became the Duchess of York’s dresser at Buckingham Palace at the age of 21.
The two quickly formed a fast friendship, and it has been widely reported that Sarah even affectionately dubbed her new employee 'Lady Jane' during the course of their connection. But the dresser reportedly tried to imitate every aspect of her life from her personal style right through to her accent.
She was often seen amongst the highest social circles in the UK, and Jane managed to secure a place in the upper-classes, only to lose her job with the Duchess after nine years of service.
Still reeling from her fall from grace, Jane went on to meet charismatic businessman Thomas Cressman and developed a relationship. Cracks began to develop in the romance Jane had pinned all her hopes on, with disastrous consequences.
One night, when he went to sleep, Jane hit him with a cricket bat and stabbed him in the chest, killing him in their Fulham flat. She went on the run and police hunted for four days until they found her in her car in Cornwall overdosed on painkillers. Jane denied murder at her 2001 Old Bailey trial, and accused Thomas of being abusive and claimed she killed him by accident in self-defence.
The jury, however, found her guilty and was sentenced to life in prison. She was told by the judge: "In killing the man you loved you ended his life and ruined your own."
After serving nine years of her sentence, Jane escaped from East Sutton Park Prison in Kent.
The former dresser was found in a hotel room with her family after three days. She was released from prison in August 2019 and has started a brand new life working for a charity-funded animal hospital.
Set in Grimsby and London, the series is currently being filmed, and the release date has not been announced yet. It will air on ITV1 and STV in the UK and be available to stream on ITVX and STV Player.
Commenting on the drama series, ITV said: "Once a young working-class girl, Jane answered an advertisement in a magazine and to the astonishment of her friends and family, became the Duchess of York’s dresser at Buckingham Palace. Moving amongst the highest social circles in Britain, Jane managed to secure a place in the upper-classes, only to lose her job with the Duchess after nine years of service."
Writer Debbie O’Malley said: "When Jane Andrews was tried for the murder of Thomas Cressman in 2001 it made headlines around the world. But behind those headlines, lay a much more complex, painful and thought-provoking story – an exploration of female ambition and human frailty and a devastating chain of events that ended in the taking of a man's life. And this story, tied up with our national preoccupation with class and our ongoing obsession with the Royal family, feels every bit as relevant now as it did twenty years ago."
With Natalie Dormer taking on the role of the Duchess, the upcoming series also stars BAFTA winner Mia McKenna-Bruce as Jane, while Outlander's Ed Speleers will play her partner Thomas Cressman.
The Lady's cast also includes Life of Mars' Philip Glenister, Outnumbered's Claire Skinner, Gavin and Stacey star Laura Aikman, W1A's Ophelia Lovibond, Adolescence's Mark Stanley, The Bay's Daniel Ryan and Doctor Odyssey's Sean Teale.
