The upcoming ITV drama I Fought the Law is shaping up to be a real tear-jerker, diving into the true story of Ann Ming’s fight to change a centuries-old law after her daughter’s murder. With Sheridan Smith leading the charge, this four-part series has everyone talking. Here’s the lowdown on when it might hit screens, who’s in the cast, and what the story’s all about.
I Fought the Law Potential Release Date
No official word on the release date yet, but the buzz points to late 2025. Filming kicked off in August 2024 across Teesside, Hartlepool, and Newcastle upon Tyne, wrapping up not long after. Given how ITV dramas usually roll, post-production could take a bit, so expect I Fought the Law to land on ITV1 and ITVX around late autumn or early winter 2025. Some whispers hint at a mid-2025 premiere, but that feels ambitious. As soon as ITV drops a confirmed date, this page will be updated, so check back!
I Fought the Law Expected Cast
Sheridan Smith stars as Ann Ming, the determined mom at the heart of the story. Known for stealing hearts in Four Lives and The Moorside, Smith’s a perfect fit to bring Ann’s grit and grief to life. Ann herself called it “mind-blowing” to have such a star play her, which says a lot about the passion behind this project.
The rest of the cast is just as impressive:
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Daniel York Loh plays Charlie Ming, Ann’s rock-solid husband.
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Enzo Cilenti steps in as DS Mark Braithwaite, a detective tied to the case.
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Victoria Wyant portrays Julie Hogg, Ann’s daughter, whose tragic death sets everything in motion.
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Rounding out the lineup are Marlowe Chan-Reeves, Olivia Ng, Jake Davies, Kent Riley, Jack James Ryan, Andrew Lancel, and Rufus Jones, all bringing their A-game.
With Ann Ming herself consulting on the series, expect performances that feel raw and real.
I Fought the Law Potential Plot
Based on Ann Ming’s 2008 book, For the Love of Julie, I Fought the Law tells a story that’s equal parts heartbreaking and inspiring. It all starts in November 1989, when Julie Hogg, a 22-year-old mom working late at a pizza parlor in Billingham, County Durham, goes missing. Her mom, Ann, finds her body 80 days later, hidden behind a bath panel in Julie’s home—after police searches missed it.
The suspect, William Dunlop, went to trial twice in 1991, but both times, the jury couldn’t decide, and he walked free. Years later, while in prison for another crime, Dunlop bragged about killing Julie, knowing the UK’s 800-year-old double jeopardy law meant he couldn’t be tried again. That’s when Ann and her husband Charlie took matters into their own hands, pushing against the legal system, the Crown Prosecution Service, and even government bigwigs to get the law changed. Their 15-year fight paid off in 2006, when Dunlop became the first person retried under the new rules, landing a life sentence with a 17-year minimum.
This four-part drama, penned by Jamie Crichton (Grantchester), weaves together Ann’s personal loss and her relentless drive to make history. Each hour-long episode promises to pull at the heartstrings while showing how one woman’s love for her daughter changed the UK’s legal landscape.
