In the annals of British television, few dramas grip the heart and soul quite like ITV’s I Fought the Law, a four-part series that premiered on August 31, 2025, and has already been hailed as a masterpiece of emotional storytelling. Starring the incomparable Sheridan Smith as Ann Ming, a mother whose relentless pursuit of justice rewrote legal history, this series lays bare a true story so harrowing it feels almost too raw for the screen. Based on the 1989 murder of Julie Hogg and her mother’s 15-year battle to overturn the 800-year-old double jeopardy law, I Fought the Law exposes the failures of a justice system that tried to silence a grieving family. With Smith’s gut-wrenching performance at its core, this drama is a testament to love, loss, and the indomitable human spirit. Prepare to be moved as we unravel the shocking true story, the systemic failures it exposed, and why this series is a must-watch triumph.

A Mother’s Nightmare: The Murder of Julie Hogg

The story begins in Billingham, County Durham, on November 16, 1989, when Julie Hogg, a 22-year-old single mother and pizza delivery driver, vanished after a late-night shift. Julie, described by her mother Ann as a vibrant soul with a “heart of gold,” was devoted to her three-year-old son, Kevin. Her sudden disappearance sent shockwaves through her tight-knit community, but the response from Cleveland Police was maddeningly dismissive. Officers suggested Julie might have “run off to London” for a new life, a theory Ann, who spoke to her daughter daily, rejected outright. “Julie would never leave Kevin,” Ann told ITV’s Real Crime in 2002. “Something was wrong.” Her instincts proved tragically correct.

Eighty days later, on February 4, 1990, Ann made a discovery that would haunt her forever. Visiting Julie’s home, where her ex-husband Andrew Hogg had moved back with Kevin, Ann noticed a foul smell in the bathroom. Leaning against a wall to investigate, her knee dislodged a bath panel, revealing Julie’s naked body wrapped in a blanket. She had been sexually assaulted and strangled by William “Billy” Dunlop, a local laborer with a history of violence. The police’s failure to find her body despite multiple searches was a devastating blow, weakening the evidence presented at trial. Two juries failed to reach a verdict, and Dunlop was acquitted in 1991, protected by the double jeopardy law, which barred retrial for the same crime.

Dunlop’s acquittal was only the beginning of Ann’s ordeal. In 1997, while serving a seven-year sentence for assaulting another woman, he confessed to Julie’s murder in a taped police interview, boasting that the law shielded him. “I just lost it and strangled her,” he admitted, believing he was untouchable. Charged only with perjury, he received a six-year sentence, leaving Ann and her husband Charlie in a state of “limbo,” as she later described to the Liverpool Echo. “We’re living a life sentence,” Ann said in 2024, her voice heavy with grief. Fuelled by love for Julie and outrage at the injustice, Ann embarked on a crusade that would challenge the very foundations of British law.

Sheridan Smith as Ann Ming: A Performance for the Ages

Enter Sheridan Smith, the BAFTA-winning actress whose portrayal of Ann Ming has been described as “career-defining” by The Guardian. Known for roles in Cilla, Mrs Biggs, and Gavin & Stacey, Smith brings a raw, visceral intensity to Ann, capturing her grief, grit, and unwavering resolve. “I am so honoured to have been asked to play Ann Ming,” Smith said at a press screening. “She’s a truly courageous woman to whom we all owe a debt of gratitude.” Ann, who served as a consultant on the series, was deeply moved by Smith’s performance. “I cried all the way through,” she told HELLO! Magazine. “Sheridan’s done it, hasn’t she? She’s definitely done it.”

Smith’s preparation was exhaustive. She met Ann multiple times, forging a bond that transcended the set. “I wanted to feel even a fraction of what Ann went through,” Smith told Radio Times. “As a mother myself, it was fierce.” Her performance is a masterclass in restraint and eruption, from quiet moments of despair—kneeling by Julie’s bath, reenacting Ann’s discovery—to fiery confrontations with bureaucrats. The series, written by Jamie Crichton and produced by Hera Pictures, balances the personal and political, with Smith’s Ann embodying both a grieving mother and a legal revolutionary. Supporting performances, including Daniel York Loh as Charlie Ming and Jack James Ryan as the chillingly ordinary Dunlop, add depth, but Smith is the undeniable heartbeat.

The Fight to Change History: Ann Ming’s Battle

Ann Ming’s campaign to overturn the double jeopardy law, enshrined since the Magna Carta, was a David-versus-Goliath struggle. The law, designed to prevent prosecutorial overreach, became a shield for Dunlop’s guilt. Ann, a retired surgical nurse with no legal background, took on the Criminal Justice System, Crown Prosecution Service, Law Commission, and even the House of Lords. “I didn’t slag off police or judges,” she told The Guardian. “I just took it step by step, writing letters.” Her persistence was relentless: she debated defense barristers on television, lobbied two Home Secretaries, and addressed Lord Goldsmith without notes. “Nobody’s better than you,” she said, reflecting her no-nonsense ethos.

Her efforts bore fruit in 2005, when the Criminal Justice Act amended the law to allow retrials for serious offenses with “new and compelling evidence.” In 2006, Dunlop became the first person retried under the new rules, convicted of Julie’s murder and sentenced to life. Ann’s victory was monumental, not just for her family but for others seeking justice. She was awarded an MBE in 2007 for services to the criminal justice system and continues to speak at police training conferences, never shying away from critiquing past failures. Yet, the emotional toll lingers. “We’re forever haunted,” she told woman&home. “I’ll be 80 this year, but I’m living a full life sentence.”

The series doesn’t shy away from these complexities. It portrays Ann’s PTSD, her strained marriage to Charlie (who passed away in 2013), and the agony of Dunlop’s 2025 parole bid, which was denied after public outcry. A particularly poignant scene shows Ann comforting Kevin, now an adult, as they face the parole hearing. “The safety of the public is paramount,” Kevin told Teesside Live, praising Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s decision to keep Dunlop in a closed prison.

Systemic Failures and a Buried Truth

I Fought the Law pulls no punches in exposing the justice system’s failures. Cleveland Police’s initial inaction—dismissing Julie’s disappearance and botching the search—cost crucial evidence. “They didn’t search the house properly,” Ann told Radio Times. The delay meant forensic details were compromised, contributing to the hung juries. The series also critiques the legal establishment’s resistance to change, with scenes of Ann facing condescending officials who underestimated her resolve. Screenwriter Jamie Crichton, who dislikes “harrowing” true-crime tropes, frames Ann as a superhero, her “iron resolve” a beacon in a flawed system.

The drama’s authenticity is enhanced by its filming in Hartlepool and Newcastle, grounding the story in Teesside’s working-class heart. Ann’s book, For the Love of Julie, serves as the narrative backbone, ensuring her voice permeates every frame. Yet, the series doesn’t glorify her triumph; it lingers on the cost—sleepless nights, family strain, and a grief that never fades. “I believe Julie will be waiting for me when I die,” Ann told the BBC. “I think she’ll be pleased I did what I did.”

Critics have lauded the series for its sensitivity. The Guardian praises Smith’s ability to “elevate” a formulaic structure into “genuinely moving TV,” while Cosmopolitan calls it “heartbreaking” yet handled with care. The accompanying documentary, I Fought the Law: The Ann Ming Story, narrated by Smith, adds depth with exclusive interviews, cementing the story’s impact.

Why This Drama Resonates

I Fought the Law strikes a chord because it’s more than a crime drama—it’s a universal story of a parent’s love and a citizen’s defiance. Ann Ming’s journey resonates in an era of distrust in institutions, where ordinary people often feel powerless. Her success proves that one voice, fueled by love and determination, can move mountains. Smith’s performance amplifies this, making Ann both relatable and heroic. “I’m completely in awe,” Smith told Radio Times. “I wish I had her strength.”

The series also taps into the zeitgeist of true-crime storytelling, following hits like Mr Bates vs The Post Office. Yet, it avoids sensationalism, focusing on human cost over lurid details. Its airing schedule—Sundays and Mondays on ITV1, with all episodes on ITVX—ensures accessibility, while social media buzz (#IFoughtTheLaw) reflects its cultural impact. Fans on X praise Smith’s “uncanny” portrayal and Ann’s courage, though some critique the series for not delving deeper into systemic corruption.

For Ann, now 80, the drama is bittersweet. “It was more emotional than writing the book,” she told luxurylondon.co.uk. She hopes it inspires change globally, even suggesting ITV send a copy to Donald Trump to reform America’s double jeopardy laws. Her life now—filled with line dancing and family—reflects resilience, though the pain endures. “I do things I want now,” she told The Telegraph.

A Legacy of Justice

I Fought the Law is a triumph of storytelling and a tribute to Ann Ming’s legacy. Sheridan Smith’s portrayal, coupled with a script that honors the truth, makes it ITV’s most compelling drama of 2025. It exposes a system that tried to bury Julie’s murder but couldn’t silence a mother’s love. As Ann continues to fight—opposing Dunlop’s parole and advocating for victims—this series ensures her story, and Julie’s, will not be forgotten. Watch it, weep, and marvel at the power of one woman who changed history.