Story behind the new show Joan and where “Godmother” is now | Television & Radio | Showbiz and television

Game of Thrones star Sophie Turner stars in new ITV crime series Joan, which follows the life of Britain’s most notorious jewel thief.

Joan Hannington became part of the criminal world in the 1980s when she began stealing diamonds for the thrill and to raise money to free her daughter Kelly – real name Debbie – from care. The series recreates the events of why Hannington lost her child, her first theft in which she impulsively swallowed jewels, and her life of crime.

Written by Anna Symon, the series will air on ITV1 and ITVX and will offer viewers an insight into the gritty reality of 1980s London and the true story of Joan Harrington. Here’s who to expect in the new ITV drama, how to tune in and what to expect as the series progresses.

In the new ITV series, which airs on Sunday September 27, viewers will wonder what happened to the real Joan Hannington.

Joan Hannington, once called “the Godmother,” was one of the most notorious figures in London’s criminal underworld.

Born in Acton, Joan Hannington was the youngest of six children of Irish parents Richard and Josephine O’Leary. She recalled living a life of poverty and abuse at the hands of her abusive father.

His torture, in which she and her siblings were nearly drowned in the bath, led to her leaving home at the age of 13. In 1974, at the age of 17, she married convicted armed robber Ray Pavey.

This unhappy marriage led to her losing her daughter Debbie to foster care and Joan becoming determined to win her daughter back – but she also began a life of crime.

Her 2002 memoir “I Am What I Am” revealed that Joan swallowed diamonds and then sterilized them in gin.

Joan estimated the value of her first diamond haul at around £10,000, and at the height of her theft she had buried more than £800,000 worth of gemstones in a biscuit tin in her garden.

She then married antiques expert and member of the criminal elite Boisie (played by Frank Dillane in the ITV drama).

The couple became rich and became one of Britain’s most successful diamond thieves. Joan lived a life of glamor and luxury with daily visits to the hairdresser, owned fast cars and had a wardrobe full of furs and designer clothes.

Joan Hannington was married to Boisie Hannington for 11 years before he died while trying to burn down a house to collect insurance money.

Boisie’s death caused Joan to reconsider her criminal career. She sold her husband’s antiques business and moved to Islington, north London. She started a business renovating old council houses and stuck to the straight and narrow.

Joan Hannington first told her story in her memoir “I Am What I Am” in the early 2000s and quickly became a bestseller.

Joan currently has two children and a granddaughter and lives on the south coast with her two dogs.

Hannington was asked by ITV to adapt her book alongside author Anna Symon, who created the six-part series. Hannington supported the show to ensure that the writers and actors got every detail right.

She even became close friends with actress Sophie Turner and raved about her performance. Hannington said at a news conference: “I think she’s great and I think everyone here knows me well enough.” [to know] that I would say it if I didn’t like it.

While she’s happy with the show, Hannington also expressed how strange it feels to have her life back in the spotlight with a new drama, adding, “Sitting here at 68 with my son and granddaughter and over to talk to me, I still think it’s a bit… I’m not a showbiz person, I’m a very private person and I just think it’s great.