Sheridan Smith captivates audiences as Ann Ming in the new ITV true crime drama *I Fought the Law*, which premiered on August 31, 2025.
This four-part series tells the emotional story of a mother’s relentless 15-year fight to change the UK’s double jeopardy law after her daughter’s brutal murder.
Based on Ann Ming’s real-life memoir *For the Love of Julie*, the show highlights police failures, family grief, and one woman’s triumph over a 800-year-old legal barrier.
Viewers in Europe and the UK praise Smith’s powerful acting, with all episodes now streaming on ITVX as of 10:45 AM IST today, September 1, 2025.
The True Story Behind the Drama
The series draws from the tragic 1989 murder of 22-year-old Julie Hogg in Billingham, Teesside.
Julie vanished after a night shift at a pizza shop, and her body was hidden behind a bath panel in her flat by killer William “Billy” Dunlop.
Police searched the house five times but missed it, leaving Ann to discover her daughter’s remains 80 days later.
Dunlop, a local builder, faced trial twice, but hung juries led to his acquittal under the double jeopardy rule, which barred retrials for the same crime.
Years later, Dunlop confessed to the murder and even bragged about it in prison, but the law protected him.
Ann, an NHS nurse, launched a tireless campaign, writing letters to MPs, facing bureaucratic hurdles, and testifying before the House of Lords.
Her efforts, supported by her husband Charlie, led to the law’s reform in 2005, allowing retrials on new evidence.
Dunlop was convicted in 2006 and sentenced to life. Ann received an MBE for her bravery, and the change has helped other families seek justice.
Plot and Episode Breakdown
*I Fought the Law* unfolds over four episodes, blending family life with the grueling legal battle.
Episode 1 (aired Sunday, August 31 at 9pm on ITV1) introduces the Mings’ normal world before Julie’s disappearance and Ann’s shocking discovery.
It shows police incompetence and the initial trial’s heartbreak.
Episode 2 (Monday, September 1) dives into Ann’s growing frustration as Dunlop walks free, with her starting petitions and media appeals.
Episode 3 (Sunday, September 7) covers the campaign’s escalation, including meetings with politicians and the emotional toll on Charlie.
The finale (Monday, September 8) climaxes with the law’s overturn and Dunlop’s retrial, ending on a note of hard-won justice.
The drama avoids gore, focusing on emotional impact through flashbacks and Ann’s determination.
Each 60-minute episode builds tension, emphasizing themes of grief, resilience, and systemic flaws in justice.
Sheridan Smith’s Standout Performance and Cast
Sheridan Smith, a BAFTA winner known for *Cilla*, *Mrs Biggs*, and *Four Lives*, plays Ann Ming with raw emotion.
Reviewers call her “brilliant” and “utterly believable,” noting how she captures an ordinary woman’s extraordinary strength.
The Guardian praises: “Ordinary women in extraordinary circumstances are what she does, and few do it better.”
Ann Ming herself said, “Sheridan portrayed me as though she was inside me.”
Smith described the role as “the hardest job I’ve ever done,” drawing from personal tragedies to fuel her performance.
Supporting cast shines too. Daniel York Loh plays Charlie Ming, showing quiet grief and support.
Jack James Ryan chillingly portrays killer Billy Dunlop with “chilling ordinariness.”
Victoria Wyant is Julie Hogg, Enzo Cilenti is DS Mark Braithwaite, and others include Marlowe Chan-Reeves, Olivia Ng, Jake Davies, Kent Riley, Andrew Lancel, and Rufus Jones.
Produced by Hera Pictures and written by Jamie Crichton (*All Creatures Great and Small*), the series filmed in Hartlepool and Newcastle in 2024.
Critical Reception and Viewer Buzz
Critics hail the show as “harrowing yet inspiring.” Radio Times gives it high marks for Smith’s tour-de-force, while The Independent calls it “agonising” but vital.
Digital Spy notes its “stylistic choices” like flashbacks add depth without sensationalism. It earned four Daytime Emmy nominations in previews, with Smith tipped for awards.
Viewers on ITVX report tears, with one saying, “Sheridan is the best actor on the planet—powerful stuff.”
On X, fans share emotional reactions. One posted, “Just finished I Fought the Law—Sheridan’s performance blew me away. Ann Ming’s story is heartbreaking.”
Another tweeted, “I Fought the Law on ITV—tears and chills. Sheridan Smith nails it!”
How to Watch and Why It Matters
Stream all episodes on ITVX now or catch ITV1 airings (Sundays/Mondays at 9pm).
Runtime: 60 minutes each. Genre: True crime drama.
This series not only entertains but educates on legal reform, inspiring viewers to value persistence.
Ann Ming’s story reminds us one voice can change history.
Stay tuned for more TV updates!