At the North East screening of ITV’s new drama, I Fought The Law, held at the Gala Theatre in Durham on Thursday, Sheridan Smith and Ann Ming were present. Sheridan Smith managed to hold back her tears during the event.
In the intense true-crime television series, the actress, aged 44, who plays the younger version of Ann, showed obvious signs of emotion as she dabbed her tears with a tissue during a particularly touching scene on stage.
As a die-hard fan, I couldn’t contain my excitement when I was given the chance to be part of the exclusive crowd that got to witness a special sneak peek of the premiere episode, before it even hit the screens! The honor was even more thrilling knowing that the legendary Sheridan and Ann, both in their 79th year, were among us. This event was masterfully orchestrated by North East Screen – what an incredible opportunity to share this moment with them!
Afterward, they connected with Executive Producer Charlotte Webber, Screenwriter Jamie Crichton, and Director Erik Richter Strand for an interactive question-and-answer session.
In an interview with ChronicleLive, BAFTA-winning actor Sheridan, most recently featured in the Gavin & Stacey Christmas special, conveyed heartfelt appreciation and esteem towards Ann. This remarkable woman dedicated 15 years to advocating for a law change, driven by her deep love for her daughter Julie who had passed away.
In simpler terms, Ann, being deeply engaged in the process, expressed that there could be no one more suitable to portray her character than Sheridan. She even likened watching him perform to seeing herself on screen.
Ahead of the screening, the pair posed for photos together.
In simpler terms, Sheridan appeared elegantly casual in a beige jacket and coordinating pants, whereas Ann exuded a fashionable vibe with a navy blue polka-dot dress worn underneath a navy-patterned top.
As a lifestyle and social advocate, I’m thrilled to share an inspiring story about a remarkable encounter. I had the privilege of standing alongside Ann, a resilient mother from Teesside, whose unwavering pursuit of justice significantly altered the course of British law. Her tenacity played a pivotal role in overturning the long-standing double jeopardy rule, a law that once barred individuals who had been acquitted of a crime from being retried. Ann’s journey serves as a powerful reminder of the impact one person can have when they stand up for what is right.
In 1989, Ann’s 22-year-old daughter, Julie, experienced an unspeakable tragedy when she was cruelly taken from her by William Dunlop. Despite being charged with the crime twice during the 1990s, Dunlop was wrongfully acquitted on both occasions.
Eventually, he admitted guilt and was ultimately found guilty in 2006, with Ann’s unwavering pursuit of justice being the key factor in securing this triumph, as the law had been modified previously.
In early March, during an appearance on This Morning hosted by Rylan Clark and Sian Welby, Ann expressed that she could not envision anyone other than Sheridan taking up her role in telling the story.
‘I came on set twice, and she didn’t know I was there,’ Ann said, surprising Sheridan.
In that challenging scene where we revealed the truth to Kevin, I observed her acting as if she were me. It felt like watching myself.
This prompted Sheridan herself to well up and say: ‘All I wanted was Ann to be proud.’
Ann added: “I believe there wasn’t anyone else who could’ve portrayed the character as perfectly as she did. She transforms herself into the role.
The courageous mother played an active role in turning her tale into a dramatic presentation and provided guidance as a consultant for the four-episode series.
At first, Ann confessed that she harbored some doubts regarding the series when ITV first reached out to her.
The show, written by Jamie Crichton, is notably based on Ann’s book ‘For The Love Of Julie’.
She said: ‘I had a team of lawyers backing me all the way. They didn’t think it was a one-man band.
1) Later on, they mentioned considering asking Sheridan Smith, but I’ve seen all her work. I couldn’t imagine someone more suitable to portray me.
2) They revealed their plan to ask Sheridan Smith, and I’ve always admired her performances. I didn’t think anyone else could embody the character as well as she could.
3) After they hinted at approaching Sheridan Smith, I realized that I couldn’t imagine a better fit for the role than her, given all the great work I’ve seen her do.
4) They mentioned potentially casting Sheridan Smith, and I’m a fan of everything she does – I didn’t think anyone else could portray me as effectively as she could.
5) As they suggested asking Sheridan Smith for the role, I couldn’t help but think that no one else could bring my character to life as beautifully as her.
Additionally to the show, ITV plans to broadcast a companion documentary titled “I Fought The Law: The Ann Ming Story.” This film will provide a more in-depth exploration of the true events that inspired the television series.
William Dunlop, originally given a life sentence with a minimum of 17 years, recently submitted an application for parole. However, in March, this request was denied by the Secretary of State.
I Fought The Law is scheduled to premiere on August 31 at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
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2025-08-29 04:21