The story of the life of Charmian, ex-wife of Ronnie Biggs, is to be told in a five part ITV drama produced by ITV Studios.
Written by award-winning writer and Executive Producer Jeff Pope (The Murder of Stephen Lawrence, See No Evil: The Moors Murders, Appropriate Adult as executive producer), ‘Mrs Biggs’, will chronicle Charmian’s life from the fateful moment that, as a teenager on a train, she first met and fell in love with the flirtatious and worldly Biggs.
It will recount the story of their struggle to stay together in the face of fierce opposition from Charmian’s family - aghast at Biggs’ criminal record - and their idyllic life as the parents of young children before money worries forced Biggs to ask for a loan from an old friend to pay the deposit on a house they wanted to buy for their growing family. That friend was Bruce Reynolds, at that moment planning the most famous crimes in British history - the Great Train Robbery of August 1963.
Set on location in London, Surrey, Buckinghamshire, Paris, Adelaide, Melbourne and Rio de Janeiro, ‘Mrs Biggs’ is a co-production with Melbourne based December Media for Seven Network in Australia.
‘Mrs Biggs’ will be produced by Kwadjo Dajan (Appropriate Adult as co- producer) and directed by Paul Whittington (Vera, DCI Banks).
‘Mrs Biggs’ has been commissioned for ITV by Director of Drama Commissioning, Laura Mackie and Controller of Drama Commissioning Sally Haynes.
“‘Mrs Biggs’ is the heartbreaking story of Charmian’s enduring love for Ron Biggs. It’s a very moving and emotional narrative, which Jeff has written beautifully,” said Laura. “We are delighted to have commissioned five episodes from ITV Studios.”
Filming will begin in Manchester in February 2012 before moving to Australia, and will continue for eleven weeks. Casting details will be made known prior to commencement of production.
Press contact: Janice Troup
Tel: 0161 952 6220 Janice.Troup@itv.com