The True Story Behind Upcoming ITV Series Joan
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1 month ago
Starring Sophie Turner in the leading role
There’s already a lot of buzz about Joan, an upcoming six-part ITV drama starring Sophie Turner in the title role. Here’s everything we know so far about the series, plus the true story underpinning it.
Joan: Plot, Cast, Release Date & More
Back in May 2023, ITV announced filming had commenced for Joan, a new miniseries centred on notorious British jewel thief, Joan Hannington, wirrten by Anna Symon. A collaboration with the US’ CW Network and All3Media International, Joan will finally land on our screens in just a few months.
What Will Happen?
Across six episodes, Joan will peer into the life of jewel thief Joan Hannington. Backdropped by the vibrant ‘80s, the series opens with Joan in her twenties, fiery and uncompromising, yet deeply scarred and vulnerable. At this point, she is a devoted mother to six-year-old Kelly, but she is trapped in a marriage with violent criminal Gary. So, when Gary goes on the run from another of his crimes, Joan seizes the opportunity to escape and create a new life for herself and Kelly.
But that’s not the end of crime in Joan’s life. Moving through the world with various identities and making the most of her sharp intelligence and talent for impersonation, Joan becomes a masterful jewel thief, and embarks on a thrilling, high-stakes journey that challenges her every limit. It all comes back to Kelly, who Joan is desperate to protect, care for, and create a secure home for.
Trailer
A teaser trailer was posted by Turner on Instagram at the end of June 2024.
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Who Stars?
- Sophie Turner as Joan Hannington
- Frank Dillane as Boisie, a London antique dealer
- Kirsty J. Curtis as Nancy, Joan’s older sister who works in a salon
- Gershwyn Eustache Jnr as Albie, an old acquaintance of Boisie who has made a new life in Spain
- Laura Aikman as Val, Albie’s wife
- Tomi May as King
- Alex Blake as Bernard
- Nick Blood
- Jack Greenlees
- Caroline Faber
- Dorothy Atkinson
- Harry Pittard
On being cast in the leading role, Turner said: ‘I’m so excited to be bringing Joan Hannington’s fascinating life story to screen in Joan. She is one of the most notorious figures in the criminal underworld of London, earning her the nickname “The Godmother.” A woman who goes between her thriving and daring career as a jewel thief, all whilst trying to get her daughter back from social services, we see a mother in despair swept up in the exhilarating world of crime.’
Where Was Joan Filmed?
Joan was filmed at Herne Bay in Kent, Birmingham, Leamington Spa and Malvern.
SOPHIE TURNER as Joan and FRANK DILLANE as Boisie. © ITV
Is It Based On A True Story?
Joan is inspired by the life of Joan Hannington, a British woman who grew from a loveless childhood and disastrous first marriage to ‘the Godmother’ of the diamond heist and Britain’s most notorious jewellery thief. Born in London in 1957, today Hannington lives beside the sea with her dogs but, back in the ‘80s, she led a glamorous life of crime.
Who Is Joan Hannington?
Joan Hannington was one of Britain’s most notorious thieves for 11 years. As she discussed in her memoir I Am What I Am: The True Story of Britain’s Most Notorious Jewel Thief, Hannington entered the criminal underworld out of desperation after escaping her criminal husband Ray. Longing to protect her daughter Debbie (renamed Kelly in the ITV series), Hannington asked social services to put her in a temporary foster home. Hannington eventually escaped Ray while he was in prison for another armed robbery. Desperate to see her daughter and consumed by guilt for abandoning her, Hannington stole a car so she could drive to Debbie. Unluckily for her, Hannington was quickly caught and sentenced to 30 months in prison; Debbie remained in social care.
Upon release, Hannington grappled to get a job and rebuild her life so she could regain custody of her daughter. Struggling thanks to her criminal record, Hannington eventually used fake references to get a job working at a top jewellery store in London’s West End. One day, Hannington was sent into the back of the shop to collect some loose diamonds; she noticed there wasn’t any CCTV operating there. When she opened the safe, trays of brilliant diamonds glimmered back at her, and Hannington realised this might just be her chance to earn some money and get Debbie back. She grabbed a handful and swallowed them – then grabbed another handful and quickly swallowed those, too. Twelve hours later, nature took its course and Hannington sterilised the diamonds in a bowl of gin; they were never missed at work, because nothing was catalogued. She slowly sold them through dodgy jewellery dealers.
A few weeks later, Hannington met an antiques dealer called Benny (renamed Boisie in the TV series), who really made most of his money as a high-class thief. He was 17 years older than her and not all that attractive, but he was smart and he treated Hannington with respect. The two quickly fell in love and became a thieving duo. Benny took Hannington to auctions and taught her all about hallmarks – how to differentiate between real and fake.
A master of disguise and imitation, Hannington used her wits to evade detection and exploited people’s underestimation of her. Having worked at a jewellery store, she understood the behind-the-scenes operations and used this to her advantage. Meanwhile, Hannington was honing her skills at cheque fraud, which would help her shop on someone else’s dime and, most importantly, keep changing her appearance. With a penchant for glamour, she seamlessly blended into the high net worth society she was moving through as an undetected mastermind. One day, she would be blonde with a Scottish accent, the next day an American brunette – but she would always be wealthy. Most importantly, Hannington was constantly evolving, using new techniques to stay ahead of law enforcement and adapting to new security measures.
One day, Hannington donned a mink coat and slid her best diamond rings onto her fingers. She hired a limousine and travelled to an exclusive London jewellery store. Using an American accent, she asked to see a diamond ring – one she had studied earlier and created a perfect dupe of using a real gold band with all the correct markings, topped with a fake diamond. She studied the diamond intently, and when the shop assistant eventually looked away, she switched the two rings, slipping her fake onto her finger. She pretended to sneeze, swallowing the real ring, and handing the fake back to the assistant telling him she couldn’t decide, and that she’d be back tomorrow.
This is just one example of how Hannington and Benny stole thousands of pounds worth of diamonds and gems every week, stashing the goods in deed boxes at a private bank. The couple continued to live in their council flat so as not to raise suspicion. Inside, it was brimming with valuable antiques and artwork. Their friends knew nothing of their double life.
In 2003, Hannington wrote in the Scottish Daily Record, ‘I never felt guilty about what I was doing. I knew the jewels and antiques were insured and I only stole from people who could afford it. I think it’s wrong to mug a vulnerable old lady.’
Eventually, when she gave birth to Benny’s son, Hannington’s interest in a life of crime started to wane. She had never managed to regain custody of Debbie, and she didn’t want her son leading the same kind of life as she was. One day, Benny went out on a job and never came home; four days later Hannington found out he had been blown up while trying to torch a house for insurance money. This was the catalyst for Hannington, now a 33-year-old widow, straightening her life out. She sold Benny’s antique shops, moved to Islington and works flipping old council houses; her autobiography I Am What I Am: The True Story of Britain’s Most Notorious Jewel Thief was snapped up by the first publisher she approached, bringing her double life to light.
On commissioning the series, ITV’s head of drama Polly Hill said: ‘Joan’s story is incredible, making a success of life when the stakes seem stacked against her, by not playing by the rules.’ Hannington has worked closely with ITV and Joan screenwriter Anna Symon on bringing her story to life on the small screen.
Did She Ever Go To Prison?
Hannington has been to prison twice in her life: once for stealing a car, and another time for using a stolen cheque book. ‘I did not complain,’ she wrote in 2003. ‘I viewed my jail time as an occupational hazard. I put my head down and kept as quiet as possible.’ She never went to prison for her jewellery theft.
Release Date
Joan will air in the UK in September 2024 on ITV1 and stream on ITVX.
In the US, Joan will kick off on 2 October on The CW.
