ITV's new four-part series 'The Lady' has been heavily criticised for its insensitive portrayal of the real-life story of Jane Andrews, a former dresser to Sarah Ferguson who murdered her partner. The drama, produced by Left Bank Pictures, has been described as a 'gaudy mess' that fails to handle the serious subject matter with the sensitivity it deserves.
The series focuses on Andrews, an M&S employee from Grimsby who served as a dresser to the Duchess of York from 1988 to 1997. In 2000, she was convicted of murdering her partner, Thomas Cressman, after he reportedly refused to marry her. The drama attempts to blend royal soap opera, police procedural, and domestic drama, but critics say the tonal shifts are jarring and the presence of Sarah Ferguson overshadows everything.
Natalie Dormer plays Ferguson, and her portrayal has been singled out for criticism. In one scene, Ferguson bursts into Andrews' job interview at Buckingham Palace, shouting 'Have you come far, Jane Andrews?' and making jokes about the north of England. The drama also includes shopping montages, champagne receptions, and a soundtrack featuring Depeche Mode's 'Just Can't Get Enough', which critics say clashes with the grim reality of the murder.
The series has been accused of turning a 'horribly bleak and upsetting real-life crime into entertainment'. Dormer has said she donated her fee to charity following revelations about Ferguson's involvement with Jeffrey Epstein. Despite being produced by the same company behind 'The Crown', 'The Lady' has been described as a 'maddening concoction' that fails to read the room.
