Sheridan Smith has embodied the real-life campaigner Ann Ming on the set of ITV’s new crime drama.
The forthcoming four-part series, I Fought The Law, tells the story of Ms Ming’s determination to change the law and bring her daughter’s murderer to justice. In photos from the set in Shiremoor, North Tyneside, the 43-year-old actor looks almost recognisable.
The mum-of-one can be seen sporting short blonde locks and rocked a quilted dark magenta jacket as she stood outside a row of houses. Ms Ming, who campaigned for years to get the 800-year-old law changed, is acting as a consultant throughout the production process.
Her daughter, 22-year-old Julie Hogg, died in Billingham back in 1989 by William Dunlop. The assailant strangled her and hid her mutilated body behind a bath panel where it lay undiscovered for months.
Sheridan is playing Ann Ming in the ITV drama (Image: PA)
Dunlop was tried twice for Miss Hogg’s murder, but both juries failed to reach a verdict. When the killer found himself serving time behind bars for another crime, Dunlop confessed to the crime and admitted lying in court.
He boasted that there was nothing anyone could do about it because of the double jeopardy rule in place at the time. According to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), the Criminal Justice Act 2003 – which came into effect in 2005 – “reforms the law relating to double jeopardy, by permitting retrials in respect of a number of very serious offences, where new and compelling evidence has come to light”.
Previously, the law did not permit a person who has been acquitted or convicted of an offence to be retried for that same offence. In 2006, Dunlop was convicted of murder under the new rules and jailed for life with a minimum term of 15 years.
The real Ann is a consultant on the series (Image: PA)
Ms Ming was made an MBE in 2007 in recognition of her services to the criminal justice system. The Gavin and Stacey star previously told ITV she was “honoured” to play Ms Ming.
She 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.” The script for the upcoming series is based on Ann’s book For The Love Of Julie.
Sheridan said she is ‘honoured’ to be playing Ann (Image: PA)
It tells how she and her family coped when Julie, who was mum to a three-year-old son, vanished in November 1989 after she had worked her late shift at a local pizza restaurant. The grieving mum 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.” I Fought The Law, written by Jamie Crichton, is based on Ms Ming’s book For The Love Of Julie and will air on ITV1 and ITVX.
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