Joan Hannington’s criminal past explained as ITV drama airs | Television & Radio | Showbiz and television

ITV drama Joan chronicles the criminal lifestyle of notorious jewel thief Joan Hannington.

Also known as the Godmother, she was a notorious figure in London’s criminal underworld in the 1980s, stealing diamonds for fun and to raise money to rescue her daughter from care.

The six-part series recreates the events that led to Hannington losing her child to foster care, her first theft in which she impulsively swallowed jewels, and her subsequent life of crime.

The final two episodes will air on Sunday and Monday on ITV1. The entire series is currently available to watch in full on ITVX.

Viewers will have seen Joan’s robberies and lavish lifestyle, but did she ever go to prison and was she ever locked up for a jewel heist?

The real Boisie Hannington died, but he was killed trying to burn down a house to collect insurance money. In an exclusive interview with the Scottish Daily Record in 2003, the real Joan recounted her time with Boisie: “He wasn’t good-looking, but he was smart and treated me with respect.”

“Benny was officially an antiques dealer, but he made his money as a high-class thief. We fell in love and within a few weeks he had moved in.”

Joan was never imprisoned for an armed jewelry raid or any of her criminal acts.