Left Bank Pictures is making a 4-part drama about Jane Andrews, the Duchess of York’s former aide and convicted murderer.
The Lady will chart the rise and fall of Andrews, who as a young working-class girl from Grimsby, answered an ad in the magazine, The Lady, and to the surprise of her friends and family was chosen to become the Duchess of York’s dresser at Buckingham palace.
She held the role for 9 years, but lost her job and “fell from grace” and later fell in love with businessman, Thomas Cressman. But then cracks began to develop in the romance, “with disastrous consequences.”
“When Jane Andrews was tried for the murder of Thomas Cressman in 2001 it made headlines around the world,” said writer Debbie O’Malley (Payback, Humans, Harlots).
“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.”
Florence Haddon-Cave (Everything Now, Quiz, The Crown) will produce the series while Executive Producers for Left Bank Pictures are Creative Director, Sian McWilliams, CEO Andy Harries and Rebecca Hodgson.
Robert Schildhouse, Jess O’Riordan and Stephen Nye executive produce on behalf of BritBox International.
Lee Haven Jones (The Feast, Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story, Passenger) will direct the series.
“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,” said Helen Ziegler, who will oversee production on behalf of ITV and ITVX.
“We are thrilled to be working with the Left Bank team to bring this complex exploration of class, celebrity, ambition and identity to ITV and ITVX.”
Set in Grimsby and London, The Lady will commence filming during the early part of 2025.
