Latest news with #DoubleJeopardyLaw
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Sheridan Smith says traumatic childhood memory aided 'hardest job ever done'
Sheridan Smith has taken on a new role that claimed was her toughest yet as she played real-life hero Ann Ming who battled to put her daughter's killer behind bars Sheridan Smith has admitted that a traumatic childhood memory helped her to take on one of the most challenging roles of her career. The actress has opened up about her new project, I Fought the Law, as she claimed it was "the hardest job I have done" and left her "bawling her eyes out." Sheridan, 44, has also confessed that she is "sober for real" while discussing her addiction battle. Speaking in a new interview, Sheridan talks about her role, telling the real-life story of Ann Ming, who spent 15 years campaigning for the UK's 800-year-old 'double jeopardy' law to be overturned following the murder of her daughter Julie Hogg. Sheridan said that she would draw on her own experience to fulfil the role. She told The Guardian, "I'd remember the night my brother died and my mum screaming, so I'd tap into that. Now, as a mum, I imagine what if something happened to your child." Sheridan's brother Julian died of cancer when he was 18, and Sheridan was just eight years old. She said playing Ann "took it out of her" and made her think about the kind of roles she will take in the future. She explained, "I have to always remember that the real-life characters have actually gone through this, but I think a little bit of each character stays in me." Sheridan then addressed her sobriety saying: "I was always going back and forth between drinking and sobriety. But this time I feel it's for real." Ann Ming's daughter Julie was murdered by William 'Billy' Dunlop, but jurors failed to find him guilty twice, which meant he couldn't be tried again legally. But Ann and her husband Charles - who sadly passed away in 2013 - did not give up and kept campaigning until they got the law amended. Billy is now serving a life sentence after the brutal murder of Julie, who was just 22 when she died and a mother to a three-year-old, Kevin. Julie's body was found 80 days after Billy murdered her, concealed underneath the bath in the bathroom of her home. Police officers and forensics teams had carried out extensive searches of her home but failed to find the body, which was eventually discovered by her family as they investigated a smell. Billy had strangled and sexually mutilated Julie. Ann said, "My daughter's killer was wrongfully acquitted, and a number of years later confessed to her murder, for which he could only be prosecuted for perjury due to the 800-year-old Double Jeopardy Law. I wasn't going to let this stand in my way of getting justice for Julie. I'm overwhelmed that Sheridan Smith will be playing me. "Having such an iconic and talented actress portray me is truly wonderful." Speaking about the role, Sheridan said, "I am so honoured to have been asked to play the role of Ann Ming, a mother so determined to fight for justice for her murdered daughter that she spent 15 years campaigning for the Double Jeopardy Law to be changed. "She is a truly courageous and remarkable woman to whom we all owe a debt of gratitude."
ITV News
04-08-2025
- Entertainment
- ITV News
I Fought The Law
EMBARGO: Information from this press pack is embargoed until 14th August 2025 We also ask that the interviews in this press pack are used within ensemble pieces only. Permission isn't granted to use any of the quotes for solo features. I Fought The Law is a brand new four part drama series from ITV and Hera Pictures starring BAFTA winning actor Sheridan Smith. Sheridan portrays Ann Ming in the heartbreaking and inspiring real-life story of a mother who, driven by unimaginable grief, finds strength to challenge the centuries-old Double Jeopardy Law to see her daughter's murderer finally brought to justice after a 15 year battle. Produced by Hera Pictures (What It Feels Like For A Girl, Mary & George, Hamnet, Temple, Honour) the four-part series is written by Jamie Crichton (All Creatures Great and Small, The Last Kingdom, Grantchester) and is based on Ann Ming's book 'For The Love of Julie'. The drama follows the tragic, moving, and deeply inspiring journey of the Ming family after the murder of their beloved 22-year-old daughter, Julie. In the wake of multiple police failings, Ann relentlessly pressures the authorities to uncover the truth and ensure the man responsible is brought to justice - despite initially seeming he will get away with murder. Driven by love, grief, and extraordinary determination, Ann and her family campaign tirelessly in Julie's name. In her steadfast and indomitable style, Ann takes on the entire justice system - challenging the Crown Prosecution Service, the Law Commission, prominent defence barristers in television debates, the Government, the Lord Chancellor, the Attorney General, and two Home Secretaries - as she bravely 'fought the law.' Commissioned by ITV's Director of Drama Polly Hill, I Fought The Law also features Daniel York Loh (Scarborough) as Ann's husband, Charlie Ming, and Enzo Cilenti (The Crown) as DS Mark Braithwaite. The series also features Marlowe Chan-Reeves (Doctor Who), Olivia Ng (Phoenix Rise), Jake Davies (Grace), Victoria Wyant, Kent Riley (Mr Bates vs. The Post Office), Jack James Ryan (Passenger, Vera), Andrew Lancel (Unforgotten) and Rufus Jones (Hijack). Hera Pictures produced the series in association with All3Media International. The Executive Producers for Hera Pictures are Liza Marshall and Charlotte Webber. The series is directed by Erik Richter Strand (The Crown) and produced by Mark Hedges (Time).
ITV News
04-08-2025
- Entertainment
- ITV News
ITV AND HERA PICTURES REVEAL FIRST LOOK IMAGES FROM I FOUGHT THE LAW STARRING BAFTA WINNER SHERIDAN SMITH AND DANIEL YORK LOH
***NEW DOCUMENTARY ALSO PLANNED FOCUSING UPON ANN MING'S HISTORIC CAMPAIGN*** DOWNLOAD IMAGES HERE ITV and Hera Pictures have today released first look images from I Fought The Law, a brand-new drama starring BAFTA winning actor Sheridan Smith. Sheridan portrays Ann Ming in the heart breaking and inspiring real-life story of a mother who, driven by unimaginable grief, finds strength to challenge the centuries-old Double Jeopardy Law to see her daughter's murderer finally brought to justice after a 15-year battle. Produced by Hera Pictures (What It Feels Like For A Girl, Mary & George, Hamnet, Temple, Honour) the four-part series is written by Jamie Crichton (All Creatures Great and Small, The Last Kingdom, Grantchester) and is based on Ann Ming's book 'For The Love of Julie'. The series will launch the autumn season for ITV and STV and will be available to stream on ITVX and STV Player. The drama follows the tragic, moving, and deeply inspiring journey of the Ming family after the murder of their beloved 22-year-old daughter, Julie. In the wake of multiple police failings, Ann relentlessly pressures the authorities to uncover the truth and ensure the man responsible is brought to justice - despite initially seeming he will get away with murder. Driven by love, grief, and extraordinary determination, Ann and her family campaign tirelessly in Julie's name. In her steadfast and indomitable style, Ann takes on the entire justice system - challenging the Crown Prosecution Service, the Law Commission, prominent defence barristers in television debates, the Government, the Lord Chancellor, the Attorney General, and two Home Secretaries - as she bravely 'fought the law.' As a consultant throughout the production process, Ann Ming commented on the television adaptation: 'I am very pleased that ITV and Hera Pictures will tell the story of my campaign to overturn the Double Jeopardy Law. My daughter's killer was wrongfully acquitted, and I wasn't going to let this law stand in my way of getting justice for Julie. I'm overwhelmed that Sheridan Smith will be playing me. Having such an iconic and talented actress portray me is truly wonderful.' On her role, playing Ann, Sheridan Smith commented: 'I am so honoured to have been asked to play the role of Ann Ming, a mother so determined to fight for justice for her murdered daughter that she spent 15 years campaigning for the Double Jeopardy Law to be changed. She is a truly courageous and remarkable woman to whom we all owe a debt of gratitude.' Commissioned by ITV's Director of Drama Polly Hill, I Fought The Law also features Daniel York Loh (Scarborough) as Ann's husband, Charlie Ming, and Enzo Cilenti (The Crown) as DS Mark Braithwaite. The series also features Marlowe Chan-Reeves (Doctor Who), Olivia Ng (Phoenix Rise), Jake Davies (Grace), Victoria Wyant, Kent Riley (Mr Bates vs. The Post Office), Jack James Ryan (Passenger, Vera), Andrew Lancel (Unforgotten) and Rufus Jones (Hijack). Hera Pictures produced the series in association with All3Media International. The Executive Producers for Hera Pictures are Liza Marshall and Charlotte Webber. The series is directed by Erik Richter Strand (The Crown) and produced by Mark Hedges (Time). I Fought The Law will air on ITV and STV and be available to stream on ITVX and STV Player this autumn, followed by I Fought The Law: The Ann Ming Story documentary. Produced by MultiStory Media the documentary, which is narrated by Sheridan Smith, takes a detailed look at the case from Julie's disappearance in 1989 until the murderer was retried and jailed for life in 2006, becoming the first person convicted under the changed law. Featuring exclusive interviews with Ann, her family and friends, retired police officers, and other key individuals close to the story, the documentary will also include rare archive and images that tell the story of one mother's unwavering resolve to get justice for her daughter. The documentary shows Ann's extraordinary campaign, her unshakable determination, and how her fight for justice has since helped secure other landmark convictions, including those of Stephen Lawrence's killers.
Daily Mirror
04-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Sheridan Smith unrecognisable in first look at harrowing true-crime drama
ITV has released first-look images for I Fought The Law. BAFTA-winning actor Sheridan Smith, known for two pints of lager and a packet of crisps, is set to star in ITV's upcoming drama based on harrowing true events, titled I Fought The Law. The drama follows Ann Ming (played by Sheridan Smith, who recently starred in The Castaways), a mother who strives to change the centuries-old Double Jeopardy Law to see her daughter's murderer finally brought to justice after a 15-year battle. The heartbreaking and inspirational drama, following a mother driven by unimaginable grief, will be made up of four episodes. A release date is yet to be revealed for the series, which is based on Ann Ming's book 'For The Love of Julie'. Julie was 22 years old when she was murdered and the synopsis continues: "In the wake of multiple police failings, Ann relentlessly pressures the authorities to uncover the truth and ensure the man responsible is brought to justice - despite initially seeming he will get away with murder." "Driven by love, grief, and extraordinary determination, Ann and her family campaign tirelessly in Julie's name. "In her steadfast and indomitable style, Ann takes on the entire justice system - challenging the Crown Prosecution Service, the Law Commission, prominent defence barristers in television debates, the Government, the Lord Chancellor, the Attorney General, and two Home Secretaries - as she bravely fought the law." Ann, who worked as a consultant throughout the production process, said she was "overwhelmed" at the prospect of actress Smith portraying her. She added: "Having such an iconic and talented actress portray me is truly wonderful.' Smith looks unrecognisable in the first-look images. She also expressed her pride in playing Ann, saying: "I am so honoured to have been asked to play the role of Ann Ming, a mother so determined to fight for justice for her murdered daughter that she spent 15 years campaigning for the Double Jeopardy Law to be changed. "She is a truly courageous and remarkable woman to whom we all owe a debt of gratitude." The series also features Marlowe Chan-Reeves, Olivia Ng, Jake Davies, Victoria Wyant, Kent Riley, Jack James Ryan, Andrew Lancel and Rufus Jones. I Fought The Law will air on ITV and STV and be available to stream on ITVX and STV Player. It will be followed by I Fought The Law: The Ann Ming Story documentary. The documentary, which is narrated by Smith, sheds light on the case from Julie's disappearance in 1989 until the murderer was retried and jailed for life in 2006. Featuring exclusive interviews with Ann, her family and friends and retired police officers, the documentary includes evidence that tells the story of her unwavering resolve to get justice for her daughter. Her fight for justice has since helped secure other landmark convictions, including those of Stephen Lawrence's killers. I Fought The Law airs on ITV in the autumn.
Cosmopolitan
27-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Cosmopolitan
I Fought the Law is the heartbreaking Sheridan Smith drama based on a true story
ITV is renowned for producing gripping and sensitively handled dramas based on true stories. I Fought the Law, a new series coming later this year, is one of them. Starring BAFTA-winning actor Sheridan Smith in the leading role, it follows the harrowing story of Ann Ming, a grieving mother who campaigned to change the Double Jeopardy Law after her daughter was murdered. The drama retells Ming's long fight for justice — a 15-year battle that finally led to permanent change in the criminal system — and some closure for her family. Ahead of its release date, let's take a deeper dive into I Fought the Law, from the full plot, the cast, and when viewers can expect it to land on their screens. Currently, there is no release date for the drama. However, we do know it's coming to ITV1 and ITVX later this year. There is a trailer, however, which shows Smith in character as Ming, along with a taste of what's to come. The four-part limited series explores the real-life events of Ann Ming and her family, after her daughter, Julie, was murdered in 1989. After disappearing following a late-night shift at a pizza restaurant in Cleveland, Ming is convinced that her daughter has been killed. 80 days later, Ming tragically discovers Julie's body concealed behind the bath panel in her daughter's home. This is despite police forensics teams failing to find Julie after extensive searches of the property. During the episodes — which are also based on Ming's 2008 book, For the Love of Julie — the grieving mother works tirelessly to change the 800-year-old Double Jeopardy Law. After 15 years of campaigning, Ming finally manages to overturn the law: Having been acquitted following two mistrials, Julie's murderer was previously allowed to walk free. The Double Jeopardy Law meant he couldn't be tried again for the same crime. However, in 2006, the man responsible for killing Julie was finally sentenced to life in prison. Sheridan Smith, who many will recognise from Mrs Biggs, Cilla, and Gavin & Stacey, leads the cast. Below is a full list of cast members and the roles they play: While the show has yet to be released, it will be available to watch on ITV1 and ITVX
