A year after Netflix's The Crown concluded its six-season run to the dismay of fans worldwide, a riveting update from Left Bank Pictures has set pulses racing. They've announced an all-new Royal thriller, centred on the life and crimes of Jane Andrews, the former aide to Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, turned convicted murderer.
The ITV series, aptly named 'The Lady', delves into Andrews' tumultuous journey from humble beginnings to the Duchess’s confidante, preceding her 2001 conviction for killing Thomas Cressman. Branded as "the fatal attraction killer" by the media, Jane Andrews’ sinister tale captured grim headlines, as she had served the Duchess faithfully for nearly ten years before the heinous murder took place.
The Lady will offer viewers a "partially fictionalised" glimpse over four episodes as it traces Andrews’ precipitous ascent and subsequent downfall, from Cinderella-like fantasy to notorious inmate. Notably, ITV isn't unfamiliar with the subject, having previously explored the case in the 2021 documentary 'Fergie's Killer Dresser: The Jane Andrews Story'.
With Debbie O'Malley penning the script and Lee Haven Jones at the helm, producer Florence Hadden-Cave, associated with The Crown, joins as an executive producer, ensuring that this tale of deception and tragedy is told with meticulous detail.
Helen Ziegler, overseeing the production for ITV and ITVX, praised the scripts in a statement, saying: "Debbie's compelling and brilliant scripts re-evaluate what we think we know of Jane Andrews and the events that led to the tragic end of Thomas Cressman's life."
The show's writer, O'Malley, added: "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.", reports The Mirror.
Sian McWilliams, the creative director at Left Bank Pictures, also revealed that the show aims to answer one crucial question: "Who is the real Jane Andrews? "
So, who is she?
Jane Andrews, born in Lincolnshire in 1967, grew up in extreme poverty and battled depression from a young age, leading to a suicide attempt at just 15. Despite surviving, her health struggles continued, and she was later diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (now known as emotionally unstable personality disorder) during her murder trial.
Despite her tragic early life, Andrews was given a second chance at the age of 21 when she was employed by the Duchess of York as a personal dresser. She had responded to an anonymous advert in The Lady magazine and quickly formed a close bond with Sarah, who affectionately nicknamed her "Lady Jane".
However, during her trial, it was revealed that Andrews was "obsessed" with Fergie, even going so far as to mimic her style and accent. While working for the Duchess, Andrews began a passionate relationship with former stockbroker Thomas Cressman.
Despite a promising start, Cressman reportedly rejected any idea of marriage during a holiday shortly before his death. After their return, a heated argument led Cressman to call the police out of concern for their safety.
When things seemed to have calmed down, he retired to bed. Tragically, the situation escalated again, and while he slept, Andrews attacked him with a cricket bat and stabbed him in the chest, resulting in his death.
For her crime, Jane Andrews received a life sentence.
