A chilling new ITV drama is set to put one of the most salacious royal-related stories back in the spotlight: The Lady, a four-part series from award-winning production company Left Bank Pictures (yep, the same team behind The Crown) will air in 2026 and recount the shocking true story of Jane Andrews, a young woman who went from royal dresser to convicted murderer.
The drama stars Mia McKenna-Bruce as Andrews, with Natalie Dormer portraying Sarah Ferguson, the former Duchess of York, who employed Andrews as her personal dresser for nearly a decade. Ed Speleers takes on the role of Thomas Cressman, the wealthy businessman whose death sits at the heart of the story.
The series traces Andrews’s rise from a working-class upbringing right into the heart of the Palace, as she secures a coveted position within Ferguson’s inner circle. As her career unravels and personal relationships collapse, the show shows how Andrews ultimately went on to kill (and be convicted for) the murder of her partner, Cressman.
The production is already courting controversy, with the family of Cressman publicly stating it could blend fact and fiction and reopen wounds nearly a quarter-century after the tragedy.
Natalie Dormer, who plays Sarah Ferguson, has also vowed not to promote the show after scrutiny over Feguson's links to convicted paedophile, Jeffrey Epstein, made headlines late last year.
Speaking to Variety, Dormer said: "When I agreed to take the role in The Lady, I knew portraying the script’s Sarah Ferguson would require nuance. People are layered, their journeys are full of highs and lows, and as an actor, my job is to lean into those elements and bring them to life with honesty and empathy.
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"Since completing the project, new information has come to light that makes it impossible for me to reconcile my values with Sarah Ferguson’s behaviour, which I believe is inexcusable. For that reason, I will not be taking part in the promotion of the project."
A release date for The Lady has not yet been confirmed.
Who is Jane Andrews?
Jane Dawn Elizabeth Andrews is an English former royal dresser born in 1967 in Lincolnshire. She gained national attention after hitting her partner, Thomas Cressman, round the head with a cricket bat as he slept, before stabbing him in the chest and going on the run. During the time police were out searching for her, Ferguson left Andrews two voicemails urging her former assistant to turn herself in.
Andrews was found four days later in her car, after having taken an overdose, and was later sentenced to life in prison. During her trial, Andrews claimed she had been abused and was suffering from diminished responsibility.
She spent more than 15 years behind bars before her release, but was subsequently returned to custody in later years following other incidents.
What is Sarah Ferguson’s connection to Jane Andrews?
Andrews worked as Sarah Ferguson’s personal dresser at Buckingham Palace for around nine years. It was a role that afforded her access to elite social circles and a life far removed from her modest origins.
The friendship and professional relationship between Andrews and the Duchess ended before the murder, but Ferguson was involved in efforts to persuade Andrews to surrender to police after the killing.
During her years at the Palace, Andrews was widely described as one of Ferguson’s closest aides, travelling extensively with her and becoming part of her trusted inner circle at a time when the then-Duchess was under intense media scrutiny.
