I Fought The Law: release date, cast, plot, trailer and everything we know

I Fought The Law is an ITV drama starring Sheridan Smith which follows the real-life case of mum Ann Ming who campaigned to overturn the double jeopardy law. The drama shows how after discovering her 22-year-old daughter Julie’s dead body and seeing her killer escape justice after two mistrials, Ann battled for 15 years to get the law changed so he could face trial again. The four-part drama is based on Ann Ming’s book For The Love of Julie.

“I am very pleased that Hera Pictures will tell the story of my campaign to overturn the double jeopardy law,” says the real Ann Ming. “My daughter’s killer was wrongfully acquitted, and a number of years later confessed to her murder, for which he could only be prosecuted for perjury due to the 800-year-old double jeopardy law. I wasn’t going to let this stand in my way of getting justice for Julie. I’m overwhelmed that Sheridan Smith will be playing me. Having such an iconic and talented actress portray me is truly wonderful.”

Sheridan Smith adds: “I am so honoured to have been asked to play the role of Ann Ming, a mother so determined to fight for justice for her murdered daughter that she spent 15 years campaigning for the double jeopardy law to be changed. She is a truly courageous and remarkable woman to whom we all owe a debt of gratitude.”

Here’s everything you need to know about the ITV drama series I Fought The Law…

I Fought The Law release date

The four-part drama series I Fought The Law will air on ITV1 and ITVX from Sunday, August 31 at 9 pm and the second episode will follow on Monday, September 1 at 9 pm.

The remaining two episodes will air on Sunday, September 7 and Monday, September 8.

All four episodes will be available on ITVX as a box set from Sunday, August 31.

I Fought The Law plot 

I Fought The Law shows how Ann’s 22-year-old daughter Julie Hogg, devoted mother to three-year-old Kevin, was murdered in Billingham, County Durham in 1989 and her killer hid her mutilated body behind a bath panel where Ann found her 80 days later. William Dunlop was tried twice for the murder but both juries failed to reach a verdict. Three years later, while in prison for another crime, Dunlop confessed to the murder but boasted that nothing could be done about it because of the double jeopardy law. However, Ann and her family took on a 15-year campaign to change the 800-year-old law so he could be charged with the same crime twice. To do so she took on the Criminal Justice System, the Crown Prosecution Service, the Law Commission, eminent defence barristers in television debates, the Government, the Lord Chancellor, the Attorney General, and two Home Secretaries as she ‘fought the law.’

I Fought The Law cast — Sheridan Smith as Ann Ming

Sheridan Smith plays grieving mother Ann Ming In I Fought The Law. She has a string of hit shows under her belt having starred in Four Lives, The Moorside, The Huntsman: Winter’s War, The Castaways, Cilla and Mrs Biggs. She’s also starred in Accused, The Teacher, Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, Gavin & Stacey and Rosie Molloy Gives Up Everything.

Who else is starring?

I Fought The Law also stars Daniel York Loh (Scarborough) as Ann’s husband, Charlie Ming, and Enzo Cilenti (The Crown) as DS Mark Braithwaite. Other actors include Marlowe Chan-Reeves (Doctor Who), Olivia Ng (Phoenix Rise), Jake Davies (Grace), Victoria Wyant, Kent Riley (Mr Bates vs. The Post Office), Jack James Ryan (Passenger, Vera), Andrew Lancel (Unforgotten) and Rufus Jones (Hijack).

Is there a trailer? 

Yes Hera pictures has released the trailer on Instagram so do take a look below...

Behind the scenes and more on I Fought The Law

I Fought The Law is commissioned by ITV’s Director of Drama Polly Hill. Hera Pictures produced the series in association with All3Media International. The Executive Producers for Hera Pictures are Liza Marshall and Charlotte Webber. The series is directed by Erik Richter Strand (The Crown) and produced by Mark Hedges (Time).

All3Media International will be responsible for the international distribution of I Fought The Law and I Fought The Law: The Ann Ming Story documentary (see below).

I Fought The Law: The Ann Ming Story documentary

Produced by MultiStory Media the dram will have an accompanying documentary, I Fought The Law: The Ann Ming Story, narrated by Sheridan Smith, and which takes takes a detailed look at the case from Julie’s disappearance in 1989 until the murderer was retried and jailed for life in 2006, becoming the first person convicted under the changed law.

Featuring exclusive interviews with Ann, her family and friends, retired police officers, and other key individuals close to the story, the documentary will also include rare archive and images that tell the story of one mother’s unwavering resolve to get justice for her daughter.

The documentary shows Ann’s extraordinary campaign, her unshakable determination, and how her fight for justice has since helped secure other landmark convictions, including those of Stephen Lawrence's killers.