Joan is set in the brash and aspirational world of 1980s London and stars Game of Thrones actor Sophie Turner as notorious real-life jewel thief Joan Hannington.
The six-part series is from writer Anna Symon (Mrs Wilson) and helmed by award-winning director Richard Laxton (The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe). It's based on Joan’s memoirs detailing her extraordinary life from petty offender to criminal mastermind.
"I'm so excited to be bringing Joan Hannington’s fascinating life story to screen in Joan," says Sophie Turner. "She's one of the most notorious figures in the criminal underworld of London, earning her the nickname The Godmother. A woman who goes between her thriving and daring career as a jewel thief, all whilst trying to get her daughter back from social services, we see a mother in despair swept up in the exhilarating world of crime."
So here’s everything you need to know about Joan…
Joan release date
Joan launches on ITV1 and ITVX on Sunday September 29 2024 at 9pm, with the second episode airing on Monday 30 September at 9pm. The series will all be available to watch on ITVX after episode one has aired and goes out in weekly double bills,
In the US, Joan will be shown on the streaming service The CW Network from October 2 2024.
Is there a trailer for Joan?
Yes there's a trailer for Joan. It's really taking us back to the 1980s. Here you go below...
What is the plot of Joan?
Joan begins with Joan in her twenties in a disastrous marriage to a violent man Gary. When Gary goes on the run, she seizes the moment to leave her old life along with her six-year-old daughter, Kelly (Mia Millichamp-Long). She want to keep Kelly safe and flees to London.. Inspired by her desire to care for Kelly and create a secure home for her daughter, Joan makes some heart-breaking decisions as she sets her sights on a better life. Making full use of her sharp intelligence, charm, and her talent for impersonation and performance, we follow the twists and turns in Joan’s life, the ups and downs, the heartache and the joy.
Adopting new identities and making new acquaintances along the way, Joan becomes a masterful jewel thief. She embarks on a thrilling, high-stakes journey that challenges her every limit, driven by her desire to care for her daughter and create a secure home for them both.
Joan cast — Sophie Turner interview on playing Joan Hannington
In Joan, Sophie Turner plays petty criminal-turned-jewel thief Joan Hannington in the series. Here, in an exclusive interview with Sophie, 28…
What appealed to you most about this role?
Sophie Turner says: "What really drew me to Joan was the fact she was a young woman capable of pulling off some pretty major crimes. She had such ambition and resilience. I knew nothing of her beforehand, which is surprising for a girl like me who loves true crime!"
Could you talk us through the audition process?
"I had to do two self-tapes. I was heavily pregnant with my second daughter at the time of the first tape and I was about four days post-partum when I heard they wanted a second tape. I wanted this role so badly and I had that ‘just-given-birth-new-mother-ferocity’ in me, the need and desire to protect her at all costs, so I felt I could bring that to the audition tenfold. I think that’s what got me the role!"
What research were you able to do?
"I read Joan’s book [I am What I am: The True Story of Britain’s Most Notorious Jewel Thief] so many times that I probably know it off by heart now. Her personality just leaps off the page and it gave me a real sense of who she was and the way she thinks. I was also able to meet her in person and we talked for hours about her life. What was so interesting about those meetings was her bravado and her presence. She can light up a room and totally command it."
The drama charts Joan’s transformation into a jewel thief. How risky are the heists we see her take on?
"They are pretty risky from the get-go but get more elaborate and daring as she goes along. In the first episode, we see her swallowing some diamonds to steal them. That’s not only risky in terms of the crime itself but also a big health risk to her body. Everything Joan does in this series is for her daughter, Kelly. It was the need to provide a better life for her."
Is Joan’s partnership with Boisie a key part of the story?
"Yes, it’s completely central. They’re both people who need to feel love and who are scared of abandonment, so they need each other in that respect. They’re a great team and their dynamic is exhilarating. However, there’s also a huge part of Joan which doesn’t allow any man to control her destiny."
Did you enjoy working alongside Frank Dillane, who plays him?
"Frank was an absolute delight on and off camera. He’s so particular and so immersive – it was a joy to watch his acting process and he consistently blew me away. We’ve become great friends. My favourite scenes to film were always with Frank and with Mia. Their characters are Joan’s kryptonite, and Frank and Mia are so brilliant and beautiful – I adore them."
Were there any new skills you had to learn for the part?
"Mainly how to perform some pretty nifty jewellery swapping, but I was lucky that ‘movie magic’ could assist me in my shortcomings. I don’t think I’d make a very good thief!"
Did any of the filming locations particularly stand out for you?
"I loved shooting all over the West Midlands and Birmingham. I grew up in the West Midlands and we even shot in the town I spent most of my childhood in, so I felt very at peace there. It gave us that grit of 80s London that we couldn’t replicate in modern London. It all felt very authentic."
Was it fun recreating the 1980s?
"I loved it. The fashion was so bold and colourful, and our costume designer Richard Cooke was wonderful at sourcing amazing vintage pieces from that era. There was a gorgeous green jumpsuit that he made for me that rocked my world! Joan was such a fashionista and really leaned into the glamour, so it was a joy to play. The outfits, hair, make-up and music was all so instrumental in me stepping into her psyche. I had [British synth-pop band] Bronski Beat on speaker with my wig, makeup and clothes on. That’s when Joan came alive!"
What do you think will set Joan apart from other TV dramas?
"Her story is so extraordinary. If you explained her life to anyone who doesn’t know about her, they’d say it was made up. She’s a criminal, she’s a mother, she is so multifaceted and every episode is a shock and surprise. Look out for episode six which was definitely the most challenging to film for reasons I can’t disclose. Eek! You’ll have to wait and see what happens…"
* Sophie Turner made her acting debut as Sansa Stark in the epic fantasy series Game of Thrones and has gone on to star in X-Men Apocalypse and the HBO Max and Sky series The Staircase.
Who else is starring in Joan?
Other stars of Joan include Frank Dillane (The Essex Serpent) as London antiques dealer Boisie, Kirsty J Curtis (Harlots), who plays Joan's older sister and salon worker Nancy while Gershwyn Eustache Jnr (I May Destroy You, Top Boy) is playing Albie, an old acquaintance of Boisie who’s made a new life in Spain with his wife Val, played by Laura Aikman (The Split, Gavin & Stacey). Mia Millichamp-Long plays Joan's young daughter Kelly, while Nick Blood (Safe) plays Joan's violent and criminal ex Gary Darvil.
Also joining the series are Jack Greenlees (Strike), Alex Blake (The Crown), Caroline Faber (Grantchester) and Dorothy Atkinson (The Gold, Stonehouse).
Behind the scenes and more about Joan
Filming on Joan started in London in Spring 2023 (see the first look picture above). Joan writer Anna Symon met with criminal mastermind Joan Hannington several times while penning the screenplay, so we expect it to be pretty true to Joan’s real life experiences.
"From penniless single parent to accomplished diamond thief, Joan Hannington’s life story is a thrilling, rags-to-riches rollercoaster," says Anna, who has also adapted The Essex Serpent and Deep Water.
"I couldn’t be more excited to watch the stellar talent Sophie Turner step into Joan's shoes. Ever since I first read Joan’s explosive memoir, I have been desperate to bring her story to screen."
In addition to Anna Symon, Helen Black writes episode four. The series is helmed by BAFTA award-winning director Richard Laxton (Rain Dogs, The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe, Mrs Wilson) and produced with The CW Network, USA in association with All3Media International. Joan is executive produced by Ruth Kenley-Letts (Stonehouse, The Midwich Cuckoos, Strike), CEO of Snowed-In Productions, Jenny Van Der Lande (Strike, You Don’t Know Me, Too Close) Creative Director of Snowed-In, Neil Blair (The Midwich Cuckoos, Strike, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore) Chairman of Snowed-In and Richard Laxton. Paul Frift (Anansi Boys, Deep State, Good Omens) is the producer. Joan was commissioned for ITVX by ITV's Head of Drama Polly Hill.
