Jane Andrews, a former royal dresser to Sarah Ferguson, is the focus of ITV’s true crime drama The Lady.The Lady: Natalie Dormer stars in Britbox trailer
The Lady delves into the “devastating” true story of the rise and fall of Sarah Ferguson’s ex-royal aide Jane Andrews.
ITV ’s The Lady premieres tonight, Sunday, February 22, at 9pm on ITV and ITVX and it’s expected to be a gripping true crime watch with a twist.
Lincolnshire-born Jane Andrews had a rags-to-riches story when she was hired to work as the former Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson’s royal dresser.
She worked at Buckingham Palace for nine years but her downward spiral initially began when Jane was made redundant.
A few years later, she met former stock broker Thomas Cressman who Jane dated for three years, living together in Fulham, London.
But after she was left disappointed that Thomas didn’t propose on holiday, upon their return, Jane hit him with a cricket bat while he was sleeping before fatally stabbing him.
Jane Andrews worked as the royal dresser for Sarah Ferguson for nine years until the late 1990s. (Image: GETTY)
Where is Jane Andrews now?
Jane Andrews faced a murder trial for Thomas Cressman in 2001 at the Old Bailey where she claimed that she was acting in self-defence.
Despite her claims, Andrews was convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Eight years into her sentence, she was transferred to the women’s open prison in East Sutton Park at Sutton Valence, in Kent.
However, she had only been there for four days before Andrews managed to escape but after a nationwide police hunt, she was found staying just a few miles away at a Premier Inn.
ITV The Lady cast: Jane Andrews and Sarah Ferguson played by Mia McKenna-Bruce and Natalie Dormer. (Image: ITV)
Police said at the time she had been sleeping rough following her escape and had only booked into the hotel a few hours prior to her arrest.
Andrews was returned to East Sutton Park where she served out the rest of her sentence before being released in 2019.
Ferguson’s former royal aide is now 58-years-old and lives a private life far away from the world of the upper class.
It isn’t known where Andrews is currently living but it’s been reported that she now works for a charity-funded animal hospital.
Sarah Ferguson’s former assistant Jane Andrews arrives at the Court Of Appeal in 2003. (Image: GETTY)
The organisation has dozens of dog and cat kennels, offering free treatments to pet owners with financial struggles, as well as a bereavement service.
When asked about his thoughts on Andrews’ charity work, Thomas Cressman’s brother Rick told The Mirror last year: “I can never be sympathetic. She’s served her sentence.
“I can only say she has a life to continue with but the sentence for me and my family continues for the rest of our lives.”
The Lady is available to watch on ITV and ITVX.