The Crown Producer Left Bank Pictures presents a new detective series titled The Lady on ITV, which will tell the story of Jane Andrews – convicted killer and former dresser to the Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson.

The four-part drama series will offer a “partially fictionalized” account of Andrews’ life, following her journey from abject poverty to becoming the confidante of a royal family member and the murderer when, in 2001, she was found guilty of stabbing her lover. Thomas Cresman to death with a kitchen knife.

At the time of Cressman’s murder, Andrews had worked for the Duchess of York for almost a decade; the murder earned her the nickname “fatal attraction killer”. According to the show’s description, “The Lady charts the rise and fall of former royal dresser Jane Andrews, whose fairytale of riches came crashing down when she was convicted of murder.

ITV previously released a documentary about her called Fergie’s Killer Dresser: The Jane Andrews Story in 2021. As for the next drama series, The Lady will be written by Debbie O’Malley and led by Lee Haven-Jones. The Crown producer Florence Hadden-Cave signed as executive producer.

“Debbie’s compelling and brilliant storylines reevaluate what we think we know about Jane Andrews and the events that led to the tragic end of Thomas Cressman’s life. » Helene Zieglerwho will oversee production on behalf of ITV and ITVX, said on Wednesday (December 4): statement.

Keep scrolling to find out more about ITV The Lady:

Who is Jane Andrews?

Sian McWilliamscreative director of Left Bank Pictures, said of the series: “(O’Malley’s) beautifully nuanced storylines deftly explore the tragic series of events that led to the murder of Thomas Cressman and ask the question: who is the real Jane Andrews? »

Andrews was born into poverty in 1967 and grew up in Lincolnshire. She struggled with depression and eating disorders from a young age and attempted suicide for the first time when she was 15. He was later diagnosed with borderline personality disorder during the murder trial.

As for how she landed her job at Buckingham Palace, Andrews reportedly found an anonymous job posting looking for a personal dresser posted in The Lady review. Six months later, Andrews was hired as Ferguson’s personal dresser. She was 21 years old.

Andrews and Ferguson reportedly got along very quickly. It was said that Ferguson even began calling her new dresser “Lady Jane” as an affectionate nickname.

However, at his trial, Andrews was described as a relentless social climber, obsessed with Fergie and trying to copy everything from her, from the Duchess’s style to her accent.

In 1998, she began an intense romantic affair with Cressman, a former stockbroker. Before her murder, the couple had vacationed together and Cressman was said to have rejected any thoughts of marrying Andrews. When they returned home, the two men got into such a heated argument that Cressman called the cops, fearing for their safety. Later that night, after falling asleep, Andrews hit Cressman with a cricket bat and stabbed him in the chest, killing him.

After working for the Duchess for nine years, Andrews was sentenced to life in prison.

Who is in the cast of “The Lady”?

No casting announcement has been made for The Lady Again. There is also no trailer or release date. The series will be set in Grimsby and London and will begin filming in early 2025. The Lady will be announced closer to the start date of filming.

What to expect from “The Lady” series?

Robert Schildhousepresident and CEO of BritBox North America and BritBox International, described the series as a “captivating exploration of ambition, desire and the pursuit of social mobility”, adding that the series will aim to portray “this true crime drama with nuance and depth.” .”

He added: “We know that the universal themes of power, class and belonging will resonate with audiences around the world. »

In the same statement, O’Malley, the show’s writer, noted: “When Jane Andrews was tried for the murder of Thomas Cressman in 2001, it made headlines around the world. She added: “But behind these headlines lies a much more complex, painful and thought-provoking story – an exploration of female ambition and human frailty and a chain of devastating events that culminated in the death of a man. »

According to O’Malley, Andrews’ story is “connected to our national preoccupation with class and our ongoing obsession with the royal family”, saying that it “seems just as relevant today as it did twenty years ago years “.