The Lady is a four-part limited series delving into the rise and fall of the former Duchess of York’s royal aide.
‘Tragically heartbreaking’ royal true crime drama The Lady is airing very soon(Image: ITV)
The Lady is set to grip ITV viewers with the royal true crime drama brought to life by the same producers of Netflix’s award-winning The Crown.
For weeks now, ITV has been teasing the release of The Lady, a true rags to riches tale that ends in convicted murder.
Sarah Ferguson’s former dresser Jane Andrews worked for the royal for nine years. Three years after she was let go, she murdered her boyfriend Thomas Cressman.
But how did she go from rubbing shoulders with those at Buckingham Palace to spending her days behind bars as a killer?
Here’s everything there is to know about The Lady on ITV as fans don’t have long before the drama drops.
ITV The Lady release date
The wait is almost over for the grand debut of The Lady with the limited series premiering on Sunday, February 22, on ITV and ITVX.
The Lady will consist of four episodes with instalments one and two airing on Sunday, February 22, and Monday, February 23, and episodes three and four the following Sunday and Monday.
Alternatively, fans can binge-watch the entire series on the day of its initial release via the free streamer ITVX.
ITV The Lady cast
At the heart of ITV’s The Lady is Jane Andrews, the working-class woman from Grimsby who got a chance of a lifetime when she was hired to work as Sarah Ferguson’s royal dresser before her life spiralled out of control.
She is brought to life by actress Mia McKenna-Bruce who has starred in How To Have Sex, The Fence, Get Even and Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials on Netflix.
McKenna-Bruce is joined by actor Ed Speleers – famed for his roles as Stephen Bonnet in Outlander, Jimmy Kent in Downton Abbey and Rhys Montrose in You on Netflix – who plays Jane’s boyfriend and victim Thomas Cressman.
Meanwhile, Sarah Ferguson is portrayed by actress Natalie Dormer, remembered for playing Margaery Tyrell in HBO’s Game of Thrones and Anne Boleyn in The Tudors on Channel 4.
What to expect from The Lady on ITV
Described as a “working-class girl from Grimsby”, Jane Andrews’ life changed forever when she answered an advertisement in the magazine The Lady.
Much to her surprise, she was hired to become the former Duchess of York’s official dresser at Buckingham Palace.
However, no one expected that following her time working for the royals that Jane would go on to murder her boyfriend Thomas Cressman, hitting him with a cricket bat before stabbing him in the chest.
Writer and executive producer Debbie O’Malley commented: “There’s a saying that ‘truth is stranger than fiction.’
“I’m not sure I’d always agree but when I first heard about the case of Jane Andrews, it was immediately clear that her true story was every bit as intriguing, compelling and tragically heartbreaking as any fabricated thriller.
“The fascinating tale of a working-class girl who became the dresser to a duchess, with a dramatic twist that ultimately sees her on trial for murder.
“This story looks beyond the headlines while remaining high stakes and uniquely British.
“It also poses thought-provoking questions about class and entitlement whilst exploring issues around mental health that have never been more relevant than they are today.”
The Lady premieres on Sunday, February 22, at 9pm on ITV.