A still from The Crown season 4, including Jessica Aquilina as Sarah Ferguson. (Netflix/Ollie Upton)

The Crown Producer Is Working On A New Royal Drama For ITV

1 week ago

Everything we know so far

This post may contain affiliate links. Learn more

The Crown Producer Is Working On A New Royal Drama For ITV

A still from The Crown season 4, including Jessica Aquilina as Sarah Ferguson. (Netflix/Ollie Upton)

The Crown may have concluded, but there’s no shortage of royal tales to tell – and this one is pretty juicy. Just announced by ITV, The Lady delves into the scandal surrounding one of the dressers and aides of Duchess of York, fondly known as Fergie: Jane Andrews. Because in 2001, Jane was convicted of murder…

The Lady: Plot, Cast, Release Date & More

What Will Happen?

Across four episodes, The Lady will retell the true story of Jane Andrews, a dresser and aide of Fergie from 1988 to 1997. Reportedly paid a salary of £18,000 (equivalent to £61,000 today), Jane worked for the Duchess at Buckingham Palace, and developed a rather opulent lifestyle as a result. She gained a higher social status, new circle of friends and developed relationships with upper class men, but was eventually dismissed in 1997 – due to cost-cutting, Buckingham Palace maintains. However, since it is being described as ‘partly fictionalised’ by writer Debbie O’Malley, we’re sure The Lady will delve into more of the rumoured scandalous goings on in the Palace: that Fergie was allegedly having a secret affair with a Tuscan aristocrat who, in turn, had his own feelings for Jane – and that’s why the aide was dismissed.

Regardless, Jane left Buckingham Palace and Fergie’s side, hopped between jobs and began a relationship with former stockbroker Thomas Cressman in 1998. Jane was infatuated with Thomas, pinning all of her marriage and children hopes on the wealthy businessman. In 2000, the couple holidayed Italy together, before visiting Thomas’ family villa on the French Riviera. On this lavish trip, Jane was expecting Thomas to propose – but instead, he revealed he had no intention of marrying Jane at all. Upon their return to London, a heated argument ensued, with Thomas even phoning the police fearing one or the other of them might get hurt. No police came. Eventually, Thomas fell asleep – when Jane, scorned, hit him with a cricket bat and stabbed him with a knife, killing him.

Jane fled the scene, texting friends to inquire after Thomas’ whereabouts in an attempt at an alibi. Police searched for Jane, who claimed Thomas was being blackmailed, and found her overdosed in her car in Cornwall. She survived the suicide attempt and was eventually arrested and charged with Thomas’ murder.

‘When Jane Andrews was tried for the murder of Thomas Cressman in 2001 it made headlines around the world,’ shares series writer Debbie O’Malley. ‘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.’

The official synopsis for The Lady is as follows: ‘The Lady charts the rise and fall of former royal dresser Jane Andrews, whose rags to riches fairy tale fell apart when she was convicted of murder.

‘Once a young working-class girl from Grimsby, Jane answered an advertisement in the magazine The Lady and to the astonishment of her friends and family, became the Duchess of York’s dresser at Buckingham Palace.

‘Moving amongst the highest social circles in Britain, Jane managed to secure a place in the upper-classes, only to lose her job with the Duchess after nine years of service.

‘Still reeling from her fall from grace, Jane went on to meet charismatic businessman Thomas Cressman and fell deeply in love.

‘Soon cracks began to develop in the romance Jane had pinned all her hopes on, with disastrous consequences.’

‘Inspired by true events, The Lady is a riveting exploration of ambition, desire, and the pursuit of social mobility,’ shares Robert Schildhouse of BritBox, which is co-producing the series with ITV. ‘With a brilliant script penned by Debbie O’Malley, and with the creative partnership of Left Bank Pictures and ITV, we are intent on portraying this true crime drama with nuance and depth. We know the universal themes of power, class, and belonging will resonate with audiences everywhere.’