The Lady on ITV charts the 'extraordinary rise and fall' of Jane Andrews 'from Buckingham Palace to convicted murderer'
A young working-class girl became Sarah Ferguson's dresser at Buckingham Palace, but it ended in death
The Lady, coming to ITV in 2026, brings to life the genuinely shocking true story of the Royal aide turned killer Jane Andrews.
As the broadcaster revealed its top tier dramas coming up in 2026, they also shared a first look at Mia McKenna‑Bruce as the Buckingham Palace dresser who went on to commit a heinous crime.
The upcoming drama “examines ambition, class and identity against the backdrop of the British establishment”. It charts “the extraordinary rise and fall of Jane Andrews” who went from Buckingham Palace to convicted murderer.
Here’s everything you need to know about The Lady on ITV, including plot, cast, start date, and all the latest news.
Is The Lady on ITV a true story?
The Lady centres on the true story of Jane Andrews. She was a young working-class girl who became Sarah Ferguson’s dresser at Buckingham Palace – much to the astonishment of her friends and family.
Moving amongst the highest social circles in Britain, Jane managed to secure a place amongst the upper-classes in the Duchess of York’s office. However, she lost the prestigious job after nine years of service.
The ITV synopsis tells us: “Still reeling from her fall from grace, Jane went on to meet charismatic businessman Thomas Cressman and fell deeply in love. But soon, cracks began to develop in the romance Jane had pinned all her hopes on, with disastrous consequences.”
In fact, Jane Andrews killed Thomas Cressman after a heated argument in 2000. He called police to say that “somebody is going to get hurt”, but the police did not visit his flat. Later that night, Jane hit him with a cricket bat and then stabbed him with a knife while he was sleeping.
Police arrested Jane Andrews and charged her with Cressman’s murder, but not before she attempted suicide. She eventually went to jail, but was subsequently released in 2015.
The Lady is based on the true events surrounding Jane Andrews. Payback’s Debbie O’Malley wrote the partly fictionalised drama, while Passenger’s Lee Haven Jones directed.
When’s the start date of The Lady in ITV?
The Lady is due to air on ITV and STV, and be available for streaming on ITVX and STV Player next year.
Although we don’t have a confirmed start date, we know it’s in the winter schedules. So expect it to land before Easter.
How many episodes is the Jane Andrews drama?
From award‑winning producer Left Bank Pictures (the company behind The Crown), The Lady will be four episodes.
Each episode will be one hour long.
Who is in the cast?
Mia McKenna‑Bruce portrays Jane Andrews in the cast of ITV’s The Lady. The actress won the BAFTA Rising Star Award in 2024, and is probably best known for her early career as a child star.
She started her career in 2008, at the age of 11, playing Penny in five episodes of EastEnders. The London-born star went on to portray Tee Taylor in The Tracy Beaker Survival Files, and Tracy Beaker Files. She reprised the role in the subsequent spin-offs The Dumping Ground. Other notable roles came in Get Even, and Vampire Academy.
More recently, Mia – now 28 – has appeared in the 2025 Matt Dillon film The Fence, and played the lead role of Tara in 2023’s How to Have Sex.
Her sister Anya McKenna‑Bruce is also an actress, and known for her roles in Cleaning Up, Adult Material, Amandaland, and The Hack.
Natalie Dormer portrays Sarah Ferguson. She’s known for playing Margaery Tyrell in Game of Thrones, and Anne Boleyn in The Tudors. Other famous roles include Niamh Cranitch in Silk, Sarah in The Fades, Jamie Moriarty in Elementary, and Mrs. Appleyard at Picnic at Hanging Rock. More recently, she’s appeared in Penny Dreadful: City of Angels, and White Lines.
Ed Speleers stars as murder victim Thomas Cressman in The Lady on ITV. The actor is known for playing Jimmy Kent in Downton Abbey, Jimmy Penwarden in Echo Beach, and Slean in Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands. Wolf Hall, and Outlander are also among his credits. In the past few years, he’s played Rhys Montrose in You, and Jack Crusher in Star Trek: Picard.
The series also features an impressive ensemble cast including: Philip Glenister, Claire Skinner, Laura Aikman, Ophelia Lovibond, Mark Stanley, Daniel Ryan and Sean Teale.
Read more: The 30 best ITVX dramas you missed on ITV
