Sophie Turner swallows diamonds in the opening episode and from that moment the series never looks back. Set in 1985, the drama follows a Battersea barmaid who flees her abusive partner, loses custody of her daughter, and discovers that a photographic memory and gift for accents are perfect tools for stealing gems. Turner plays the real Joan Hannington, dubbed "the Godmother" by underworld contemporaries, with a restless intelligence that makes every scam feel like survival rather than glamour.
Creator Anna Symon keeps the pace tight across six episodes, each directed by Richard Laxton with neon-soaked period detail and a synth score from Harry Escott that nails the era without pastiche. Frank Dillane brings louche charm as Boisie Hannington, the antiques dealer who becomes Joan's mentor, lover and eventual husband, while Mia Millichamp-Long haunts the margins as Kelly, the little girl Joan keeps losing and stealing to retrieve.
The show aired on ITV1 from 29 September to 14 October 2024, averaging 4.1 million viewers and scoring 81% on Rotten Tomatoes. Filming bounced between Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter and seaside Kent, doubling for Thatcher-era London, with Joan Hannington's real son cameoing as the bartender who serves the couple their first drink. The series ends with Joan walking away from a final heist, diamonds in her pocket and her daughter still out of reach, the closing shot holding on Turner's face as the future stays unspoken.
Production Details
ITV1 / 1 Season / 6 Episodes / 2024
Created by: Anna Symon
Writer(s): Anna Symon
Producer(s): Paul Frift
Music: Harry Escott
Main Cast
Sophie Turner as Joan Hannington
Frank Dillane as Boisie Hannington
Kirsty J. Curtis as Nancy
Gershwyn Eustache Jr. as Albie
Tomi May as King
Mia Millichamp-Long as Kelly
Mark Hawkins as Mr. Green
Kyle Abdullah as Malcolm
Henry Eaglesfield as Mr. Stanford
