I Fought The Law: Sheridan Smith films in Shiremoor

Sheridan Smith has been pictured filming in the North East for new ITV drama I Fought the Law.

Camera crews were spotted on set in Shiremoor, North Tyneside, this week as filming continues for the series, which is based on real-life double jeopardy campaigner Ann Ming.

The 43-year-old will be embodying Ms Ming, from Billingham, who campaigned for 17 years to overturn the 800-year-old double jeopardy law.

Ann's daughter Julie Hogg, 22, died in Billingham in 1989 after William Dunlop strangled her and hid her mutilated body behind a bath panel where it lay undiscovered for months.

Sheridan Smith on set filming for new ITV drama I Fought the Law in Shiremoor, North Tyneside (Image: Owen Humphreys/PA)

The four-part series - which will air on ITV1 and ITVX - will follow Ms Ming's determination to bring her daughter's murderer to justice and overturn the law, which prevented people being tried twice for the same offence.

The former Gavin and Stacey actress was photographed in a short blonde wig wearing a quilted dark magenta jacket standing outside a row of houses.

Crews have also been spotted in Newcastle, with the latest batch of filming coming days after teams were pictured in Hartlepool.

Sheridan Smith on set as Ann Ming (Image: Owen Humphreys/PA)

Smith previously told ITV she was “honoured” to play Ms Ming, describing her as a "truly courageous and remarkable woman to whom we all owe a debt of gratitude".

Dunlop twice stood trial for the killing in 1991, but two juries could not reach verdicts.

While serving time behind bars for another crime, Dunlop confessed and admitted lying in court - but walked free due to the double-jeopardy rule.

Filming was taking place in Shiremoor (Image: Owen Humphreys/PA)

And thanks to Ms Ming and her husband Charlie's determination, supported by a long-running The Northern Echo campaign, Dunlop's prison confession was used against him.

Ann Ming's (left) fight to bring daughter Julie Hogg's (right) killer to justice will be the subject of a new ITV drama starring Sheridan Smith (Image: PA)

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Under the new rules, he was jailed for life in 2006, with a minimum term of 15 years.

William Dunlop was set to make his latest attempt to secure his freedom at a parole hearing in June - but this was adjourned until an unknown date after new evidence came to light.

Ms Ming is acting as a consultant throughout the production process of I Fought The Law, which has been written by Jamie Crichton and is based on Ms Ming’s book For The Love Of Julie.

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