Debbie O'Malley, writer of the upcoming ITV series The Lady, has discussed how the drama portrays the story of Jane Andrews without featuring Prince Andrew. The four-part series focuses on Andrews's relationship with Sarah Ferguson and the tragic events leading to her partner's death in 2000. O'Malley emphasizes integrity in handling the true crime narrative.
The ITV1 drama The Lady tells the story of Jane Andrews, who served as dresser to Sarah Ferguson, the former Duchess of York. Andrews killed her partner, Thomas Cressman, in 2000, an event that forms the core of the series. Writer Debbie O'Malley has clarified that Prince Andrew, formerly known as such, does not appear in the production.
O'Malley described the series as centered on the "female, domestic world" of Sarah, played by Natalie Dormer, and Jane's role within it. "We only ever see the Sarah that Jane got to see," she explained. The dynamic between the two women is portrayed as "as close as friends but with a difference in status that will never go away," contributing to what O'Malley calls Andrews's "toxic fairy-tale."
Andrews, from ordinary beginnings, rose to mix with high society, including at Buckingham Palace, before the story takes a tragic turn. O'Malley noted the challenges of true crime storytelling: "If you’re writing true crime, there are things you can never know, and we wanted to be transparent about that." The series depicts key moments in Jane and Tommy's relationship through the perspectives of their friends to maintain accuracy where possible.
The writer underscored the responsibility involved, particularly in not losing sight of the victim. "When you’re trying to understand a complex protagonist, it’s easy to lose sight of the victim. And that was something that was important from the beginning – to remember that a man lost his life and his family and his friends are still grieving that loss," O'Malley said. She approached the project with integrity, aiming not to upset those affected.
The Lady premieres on Monday, 23 March, at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX, with the next episode on Tuesday, 24 March.
