By Jon Donnis
Filming has begun on the much-anticipated ITV drama I Fought The Law, with Sheridan Smith taking the lead role in a series that portrays the heart-wrenching true story of Ann Ming's relentless fight to bring her daughter's murderer to justice. Produced by Hera Pictures, the four-part series recounts the real-life events that led to a historic change in British law after Ann Ming's tireless campaign succeeded in reforming the Double Jeopardy Law.
Based on Ann Ming's book For the Love of Julie, the series has been written by Jamie Crichton, known for his work on All Creatures Great and Small and The Last Kingdom. The drama follows Ann's 15-year-long battle to see justice done for her daughter, Julie Hogg, after her killer was acquitted due to two mistrials, leaving him free despite his heinous crime. Ann's persistence, determination, and courage led to a groundbreaking change in the law, allowing the case to be retried, resulting in a conviction for the man who had taken her daughter's life.
Sheridan Smith stars as Ann Ming, bringing to life the role of the tenacious mother who refused to accept defeat, even as she took on some of the most powerful institutions in the country. The cast also includes Daniel York Loh as Charlie Ming, Ann's husband, and Enzo Cilenti as DS Mark Braithwaite, who plays a key role in the investigation. Other notable cast members include Marlowe Chan-Reeves, Olivia Ng, Jake Davies, Victoria Wyant, Kent Riley, Jack James Ryan, Andrew Lancel, and Rufus Jones.
The series tells the harrowing story of Julie Hogg's disappearance in November 1989 in Billingham, Cleveland. Julie, a 22-year-old mother, went missing after a late shift at a local pizza parlour. Close to her parents, Ann and Charlie, and a devoted mother to her three-year-old son, Kevin, her sudden disappearance sent shockwaves through the local community. Tragically, it was Ann herself who discovered Julie's body, concealed in her own home behind a bath panel 80 days after her disappearance. Despite initial forensic searches, the police had failed to find her, leading Ann to lose faith in Cleveland Constabulary's investigation.
Ann's dissatisfaction with the police investigation spurred her to take matters into her own hands. She challenged senior officers, applied unrelenting pressure on authorities, and sought justice for Julie when no one else seemed willing or able to. What followed was a 15-year odyssey in which Ann fought against the Criminal Justice System, the Crown Prosecution Service, the Law Commission, and even debated eminent barristers on television. She lobbied two Home Secretaries and brought her case to the highest levels of government in her quest to change the Double Jeopardy Law, which prevented a retrial for her daughter's killer. Ann's battle would eventually lead to a landmark ruling that changed the course of British legal history.
Commissioned by ITV Head of Drama Polly Hill and Senior Drama Commissioner Helen Ziegler, I Fought The Law promises to be a powerful, emotionally charged exploration of one family's quest for justice. Directed by Erik Richter Strand (The Crown), the series is being produced by Mark Hedges, known for his work on Time series 2, with Liza Marshall and Charlotte Webber serving as executive producers for Hera Pictures.
Filming is currently taking place across Teesside and the surrounding areas, in collaboration with North East Screen and the North East Production Fund. Hera Pictures, the production company behind Mary & George and Temple, is known for creating high-quality, thought-provoking dramas. I Fought The Law looks set to continue that legacy, bringing Ann Ming's extraordinary story to life on screen.
With a gripping narrative grounded in real-life tragedy and triumph, I Fought The Law will air on ITV1 and ITVX, offering viewers an intense, moving portrayal of one woman's unrelenting pursuit of justice, and the profound impact it had on the British legal system.
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